Position: Executive Director, Corporate Communications

Location: Bothell, WA/ Open to Remote / Hybrid

Department: Communications

Hiring Manger: Chief Operating Officer

About Athira:

Athira Pharma is a clinical stage biotechnology company with the mission to restore lives by advancing bold therapies, thoughtfully and urgently. With our platform of innovative regenerative brain-penetrant small molecules, our focus is on restoring neuronal health for those suffering from neurological diseases so that patients can regain their memories, lives and family relationships. Our lead asset, fosgonimeton (ATH-1017) is in late-stage clinical studies for Alzheimer’s disease. Fosgonimeton is also being studied outside of Alzheimer's disease in both Parkinson’s disease dementia and Dementia with Lewy bodies. Beyond our lead asset, our platform of novel therapeutics has the potential to impact other neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions ranging from depression, multiple sclerosis, and neuropathy. Join our motivated and impassioned team working to provide better care for people through innovative research and accessible products committed to making a positive impact on human health.

About this role:

Athira is seeking a talented and highly motivated Executive Director, Corporate Communications, who will play a critical role in designing, building, and implementing our overall communications strategy. This individual will be responsible for strategic and operational leadership of all company communications, including investor, public and community relations, ensuring consistent messaging across all platforms to all stakeholders. 

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, management, and maintenance of strategic corporate, IR and PR communication materials. Create press releases, presentation decks, scripts, Q&A’s, reports, web content, announcements, and other communication materials in support of investor and analyst events, roadshows, conferences, achievement of corporate milestones and other noteworthy accomplishments.
• Develop compelling, authentic, and consistent messaging related to Athira’s strategies, initiatives, pipeline, and performance. Ensure that all communications incorporate Best Practices and comply with pertinent SEC rules and FD regulations.
• Oversee Athira’s brand identity and serve as corporate brand ambassador and provide corporate communications recommendations to help achieve organizational goals.
• Work collaboratively with the CEO, COO, Executive Team, and IR agency to manage the company’s participation in annual and quarterly meetings/calls, analyst events, roadshows, and other critical events to successfully achieve investor relations strategies and plans.
• Provide leadership, development, direction, and management of all external and internal communications strategy and initiatives, including media relations, digital and social media campaigns.
• Collaborate with cross-functional team members on external-facing materials and events, including unbranded, branded, medical, industry and research meetings, presentations, and announcements to ensure consistency with the Company’s disclosures and corporate identity.
• Oversees all community engagement functions including existing relationships with patient advocacy groups. Proactively outreach and establish new relationships with other advocacy organizations as strategically appropriate
• Provide strategic analysis of issues and recommend appropriate proactive and reactive messaging to enhance and improve the reputation of the organization and support the vision and direction.
• Understands and applies knowledge about major issues in the pharmaceutical industry and works with the team to anticipate and plan accordingly.
• Oversee executive presentation development and media training, as necessary.
• Foster relationships with investors, analysts, key media outlets and reporters.
• Manage agency partners and budget.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 12 years of experience working in the biotech/pharmaceutical industry, with direct experience leading corporate communications and/or investor relations within a publicly traded company and/or in an agency setting.
• Proven ability to speak the language of a pharmaceutical/biotech company and break down complex scientific concepts for both internal and external audiences.
• Demonstrated track record of conducting successful, proactive global communications programs that employ creativity and use of a variety of tools, forums, media and metrics.
• Experience and confidence in providing strategic advice and counsel to senior leadership team, including executives and our CEO, related to communications strategy, crisis and reputation management and investor relations.
• Trusted for flawless execution of proactive and reactive initiatives.
• Knowledge of capital markets with trusted relationships with investment community, including sell side analysts preferred.
• Maintains excellent relationships with healthcare reporters, and industry media.
• Knowledge of up-to-date compliance, legal, regulatory and other issues that impact communications and can apply them, accordingly, including knowledge of SEC and disclosure requirements.
• Strategic agility, able to balance proactive/planning with reactive elements of the position.
• Superb written, verbal, interpersonal and public speaking and presentation skills.
• Dynamic, team player with excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and influence skills. Experience working with and managing agency partners.
• Enthusiastic about Athira’s vision and mission.
• Endorse and promote our values: People, Perseverance, Transformation, Inclusion, Resourcefulness, Collaboration, and Integrity.

Apply by emailing your resume and cover letter to: recruiting@athira.com

All positions with Athira will require a COVID-19 vaccination and/or regular COVID testing. Where permitted by law, applicants who are offered a position with Athira will be asked about their vaccination status, which must meet minimum business requirements. Requests for medical or religious accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Athira is an equal opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of an individual’s race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline and termination.