Patient Advocacy Associate Director

The Patient Advocacy Associate Director functions in a leadership role on the Medical Affairs team. This position supports the US based Precision Oncology and Pipeline Patient Advocacy program, which currently spans more than 60 leading patient advocacy organizations in breast, colon, lung, liver, and prostate cancer. The expectation is that as the pipeline matures, additional disease-specific communities will be added to the Patient Advocacy portfolio.

The Patient Advocacy Associate Director will leverage patient advocacy relationships to advance mutual goals, while developing and implementing customized collaborations to deliver measurable results. Additionally, the Patient Advocacy Associate Director will collaborate with cross-functional internal stakeholders to develop and implement our partnership strategies in a way that meets the needs of and connects opportunities across the larger organization, while strategically positioning Exact Sciences.

This is a highly visible, fast-paced leadership position; the Patient Advocacy Associate Director must lead efforts to strategically identify and fully develop collaborative opportunities, bringing them from idea to fruition, and clearly communicate plans to internal and external partners.

• Serve in a leadership capacity as one of the faces of Exact Sciences and our mission to effectively pursue earlier cancer detection, treatment guidance, and monitoring through our work with traditional and non-traditional patient advocacy organizations.
• Work with leadership to define strategic advocacy plans, aligning objectives and goals that develop mutually beneficial, trusting, and sustainable relationships with patient advocacy organizations.
• Work with leadership to build an overall communication plan and disseminate information to key audiences and stakeholders.
• Manage a portfolio of patient advocacy partnerships and programs spanning relevant products and positioning company as a leader in cancer.
• Leverage third party advocacy partnerships to support patient education and engagement for available precision oncology products; working closely with the commercial function.
• Build relationships and assist in the development of organizational and key opinion leaders as potential speakers and collaborators for Exact Sciences.
• Collaborate with cross-functional internal stakeholders to identify projects where the patient perspective is required and help to support execution of these projects.
• Lead creative and strategic efforts to collaborate with multiple partners and lead external communication efforts to ensure effective engagement with stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to anticipate company and team needs.
• Excellent English written and oral communication skills.
• Effective formal presentation skills.
• Ability to manage time effectively.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to integrate and apply feedback in a professional manner.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and executive-level engagement.
• Superb attention to detail, notably through succinct, high-quality writing.
• Self-starter: ability to work well independently.
• Strong creative, analytical, problem solving, and decision-making skills.
• Uphold company mission and values through accountability, innovation, integrity, quality, and teamwork.
• Support and comply with the company’s Quality Management System policies and procedures.
• Regular and reliable attendance.
• Ability to work designated schedule.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds on an occasional basis.
• Ability to work seated for approximately 80% of a typical working day. Ability to work standing for approximately 20% of a typical working day.
• Ability to work in front of a computer screen and/or perform typing for approximately 90% of a typical working day.
• Ability to frequently and accurately communicate with employees and customers face-to-face, via telephone, or by email.
• Ability to travel 25% of working time away from work location, may include overnight/weekend travel.

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, or a field related to essential duties.
• 10+ years of relevant patient advocacy or related health care experience.
• Demonstrated strong understanding of molecular diagnostics for cancer.
• Demonstrated strong understanding of U.S. healthcare system functioning and intricacies.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage external partners and engage with stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully engage with professionals in healthcare or another highly regulated industry.
• Authorization to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Demonstrated ability to perform the Essential Duties of the position with or without accommodation.

• Experience with working in healthcare industry, notably with a focus on cancer detection and/or oncology.
• Experience working with and/or for patient advocacy groups and professional societies.
• Experience managing multiple overlapping deadlines and workstreams.
• Strong sense of teamwork and collaborative focus that inspires confidence within the organization and with external partners.
• Ability to balance the needs of various internal and external parties with flexibility and a steady temperament.
• Collaborative mindset to ensure that Exact Sciences’ messaging and style guidelines are used consistently across materials.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and any other status protected by applicable local, state or federal law. Applicable portions of the Company’s affirmative action program are available to any applicant or employee for inspection upon request.