Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement

Who We Are:

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on developing novel precision therapies to treat a broad range of patients with unmet medical needs. Cogent’s lead program, bezuclastinib, is designed to selectively and potently inhibit exon 17 mutations found within the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, including KIT D816V. KIT D816V is responsible for driving a rare and serious condition called Systemic Mastocytosis, and exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Bezuclastinib has exhibited promising initial data across all three trials: APEX in AdvSM, SUMMIT in NonAdvSM and PEAK in GIST, including an encouraging safety profile across 600+ patients in single agent and combination dosing. 

The Role:

Cogent is seeking a Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement. The successful candidate is someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about making an impact on the lives of patients with unmet medical needs. Reporting to the Executive Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement, this role will develop and execute strategic advocacy engagement initiatives for our Systemic Mastocytosis programs, ensuring alignment throughout the product development lifecycle, with a special focus on new product launches and patient-centered outcomes. The Senior Director/Director will work collaboratively with cross functional team members to increase awareness of our programs in the patient community, bring the patient voice into the everyday operations of Cogent, and highlight critical patient insights to help inform strategic decision making.

Responsibilities:

• Establish Cogent as a strong partner to the global Systemic Mastocytosis patient advocacy community by building strategic, long-term partnerships, strengthening existing collaborations, and identifying new groups for engagement
• Develop, lead, and execute annual strategic plan for Patient Advocacy & Engagement to support our Systemic Mastocytosis programs, including commercial launches
• Lead our external patient advocacy engagement strategy through the identification, negotiation, and execution of mutually beneficial opportunities for strategic partnerships with relevant Patient Advocacy Groups and medical associations in alignment with company’s objectives
• Develop and execute innovative patient-facing educational initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of Cogent’s programs, disease education, and optimizing access to care; identify opportunities to co-create and collaborate on initiatives with key patient advocacy groups
• Support the development of global, national, and local patient advocacy organizations through relationship building, networking, capacity building, and sharing best practices
• Gather and champion patient insights by conducting virtual and in-person patient advisory boards to inform key cross-functional initiatives and proactively share ongoing insights from patient advocacy group engagements
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members from Marketing, Market Access, Patient Services, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Patient Recruitment, Legal, Regulatory, and Research to deliver on workstreams and initiatives that support program goals including clinical trial awareness and commercial launch efforts
• Oversee vendors for patient advocacy and engagement initiatives (e.g., patient advocacy webinars, patient videos, awareness initiatives, etc.) including management of budget, timelines, and deliverables
• Coordinate and plan Cogent’s presence at key patient meetings and participation in awareness days/months (e.g., sponsorships, materials, booth presence, employee engagement activities, etc.)
• Represent Cogent at U.S. and global patient advocacy meetings and events as well as key scientific congresses
• Develop metrics to measure the success of advocacy initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals
• Continually innovate and elevate Cogent’s approach to patient advocacy and engagement

• Maintain a high level of cross-functional coordination, strategic planning, budget adherence, compliance, customer service and creativity in managing and executing all aspects of the patient advocacy and engagement function

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required
• 8-12+ years in patient advocacy, patient engagement, patient marketing, patient services or related experience in the pharmaceutical industry required; level commensurate with experience
• Deep understanding of commercialization and R&D, including experience with successful commercial product launches
• Demonstrated success in navigating regulatory and legal compliance related to advocacy efforts
• Proven leadership and effective collaboration in Cross-Functional Teams
• Experience in rare diseases, hematology, allergy/immunology, or oncology preferred
• Agile, strategic leader able to successfully navigate fast-paced environments
• Experience developing and executing patient-facing disease education and awareness resources and initiatives
• Experience in patient digital health initiatives and campaigns a plus (e.g., virtual booths, webinars, podcasts, social media platforms, CRM, paid search/SEO, etc.)

• Excellent organizational, planning, and interpersonal skills
• Strong executive presence and communication skills
• Self-starter who motivates, is detail-oriented, solutions-oriented, has tack, diplomacy, leadership skills and who has a flexible and positive approach 
• Able to make sound decisions and communicate recommendations after careful consideration of various courses of action, decision support data, and regulatory environment
• Experience working with all levels of management and consulting with key business stakeholders with an ability to influence for greater outcomes
• Attention to detail and the ability to work individually, within a multi-disciplinary team, as well as with external partners and vendors
• Ability to travel to key U.S. and global congresses and patient events, as needed (Up to 30%)
• Role can be U.S. remote or located in one of our U.S. office locations: Waltham, MA or Boulder, CO

Salary Range

$220,000 to $250,000 USD 

Target Bonus: 20%
Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Our Locations

Waltham, MA: Our headquarters is located in the Greater Boston life sciences community, with an open, collaborative office environment designed to support teamwork and connection. Employees benefit from convenient on-site amenities, including free on-site parking and gym facilities in the building. 

Boulder, CO: Our Boulder location is home to Cogent’s discovery research organization and a key scientific hub with strong leadership based on site. Situated in the greater Denver-Boulder biopharmaceutical corridor, this office plays a central role in advancing our discovery efforts and pipeline. 

Our Offer To You 

At Cogent Biosciences, we offer a competitive salary, bonus, and ongoing stock awards, alongside a benefits package that sets us apart. We cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your family, and help reduce out-of-pocket costs by funding up to 75% of in-network deductibles. Our benefits also include a 401(k) match with immediate vesting, generous paid time off, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, paid family and medical leave for all employees regardless of location, and company-paid short-term disability coverage for up to 20 weeks. Additional perks like wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and inclusive family-forming support help you thrive at work and beyond. 

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.