Director, Scientific Communications & Engagement

Director, Scientific Communications & Engagement

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Contract Details

• Position Type: Contract
• Contract Duration: 9 months
• Start: July 13, 2026
• Pay Rate: $80.00 $85.00 / Hour (USD)
• Shift / Schedule: Normal business hours, 8:00 AM 5:00 PM
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Job Summary

The Director, Scientific Communications & Engagement, will lead the internal communications and engagement strategy for two global multi-site functions in Oncology R&D Biologics Engineering (BE) and Oncology Targeted Discovery (OTD). Working with diverse stakeholders, including scientists, senior leaders, and corporate affairs, you will use proven and innovative mechanisms to bring our strategy and portfolio to life and inspire communities as we work towards achieving our bold ambition for 2030. Through creative and impactful communications, the successful candidate will contribute to our ambition of building a culture of learning and transparency. This critical role leads the internal science engagement and communications strategy for two functions, Biologics Engineering and Oncology Targeted Discovery, acting as a key partner and point of contact for the SVP, providing dedicated strategic communications and support to this innovative, progressive, and highly visible leader. Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, you will develop an exciting internal communications agenda featuring innovative solutions to enhance employee engagement and tell the BE and OTD stories. You will partner with R&D corporate affairs to align and shape science communications that enhance the external reputation of these organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and implement the internal science communications and engagement strategy for BE and OTD, working closely with diverse stakeholders, including the SVP, Business Planning & Operations (BPO) lead, and the BE and OTD Leadership Teams.
• Work directly with the SVP and leadership teams to define the strategic focus and develop content for internal and external engagements (e.g., external scientific presentations and Town Hall meetings).
• Provide strategic input into our broader Oncology R&D (ORD) internal communications strategy (events, awards, overarching campaigns).
• Responsible for the overarching internal editorial calendar and messaging to raise the visibility of BE achievements and to communicate our scorecard (goals) progress.
• Support the SVP with their external and internal scientific presentations.
• Lead the strategy for enhancing the engagement of the BE Leadership team internally.
• Strong immersion in the scientific portfolio and project pipeline, understanding and championing the innovative scientific breakthroughs.
• Drive innovative solutions (including digital media and AI) to communicate our scorecard and scientific priorities, and bring the BE science to life.
• Overall accountable for the delivery of key business reports to capture scientific achievements/deliverables.
• Partner with Oncology R&D Corporate Affairs to craft external communications to enhance the external scientific reputation of BioEngineering and Oncology Targeted Discovery.
• Work as a strong, matrix stakeholder business partner to deliver collaboratively and engagingly, leading to successful delivery against goals.

Required Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Proven capability to clearly articulate complex scientific data and turn it into compelling communications that are appropriate for the audience.
• Prior pharmaceutical/healthcare experience in a strategic communications role.
• Broad knowledge of the pharmaceutical drug discovery and development process.
• Strong influencing, networking, and team-leading skills with all levels of peers and colleagues; self-starter with a track record of quickly building trust.
• A proven track record of delivering tasks promptly; comfortable with prioritization and trade-off conversations.
• Experience in working within complex, fast-paced, high-performing teams.
• Experience supporting executive communications to engage and motivate internal associates across geographic, seniority, and functional levels.

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of external communication requirements with a particular focus on social media and traditional media engagement.
• Scientific knowledge in Oncology or related science areas.
• Experience leading change or transformation communications.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree (or higher) in life sciences required.
• PhD or MSc in Life Science desirable.

Required Experience

• 5 years of experience working as a senior communicator (for example, director level) supporting a highly visible and senior leader/executive as a strategic partner.

Important Notes

• Candidates should have experience leading scientific communication activities and should be able to walk through an example detailing the scientific challenge, communication objective, key stakeholders involved, and success metrics.
• Candidates must have experience preparing materials for key audiences such as: healthcare professionals; key external experts (KEs), also known as Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) in the industry; and internal employees.
• Candidates need to have led activities such as: internal town halls, scientific presentations to KEs/KOLs, and internal scientific educational events.
• Interview Process: Two rounds Round 1: 30-minute video interview; Round 2: one-hour in-person interview.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
• 401k Retirement Fund

About GTT

GTT is a minority-owned staffing firm and a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation, a Native American-owned company in Alaska. We highly value diverse and inclusive workplaces and support Fortune 500 organizations across banking, financial services, technology, life sciences, biotech, utilities, and retail sectors throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Job Number: 26-06869

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