Senior Director Corporate Communications

Who We Are: MapLight Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotech company that focuses on drug discovery for central nervous system disorders. We combine cutting-edge technologies including optogenetics, in vivo physiology, and spatial transcriptomics to identify novel drug targets and develop effective therapies to address psychiatric symptoms.

What You’ll Do: MapLight is seeking a talented and strategic Senior Director of Corporate Communications to lead our communications efforts. Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, this role will be pivotal in shaping and executing our corporate communication strategy. The Senior Director will drive initiatives across all areas of internal and external communications, including managing press releases, social media, and overseeing web content to effectively communicate our company’s mission, milestones, and initiatives to various stakeholders.

Responsibilities: Build MapLight presence as a corporate brand externallyExtend company awareness with key stakeholders to support business goals and strategyCollaborate with key stakeholders to ensure consistent messaging and brand positioningLead the creation, distribution, and management of press releases to announce corporate news, product updates, clinical trial results, and other significant developmentsWork cross-functionally to build and manage consistency of MapLight corporate messages to align with MapLight’s goals and missionMaintain FAQs and talking points with C-suite leadership speaking externally about MapLight products and programsSupervise the creation and maintenance of engaging and informative content for the company’s website, ensuring accuracy, relevance, and alignment with brand guidelinesContinuously optimize website content and user experience to drive engagement and support business objectivesManage social media efforts across all sites including LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Instagram, and others. Help develop creative content and social media strategyEstablish Issues Management team and develop proactive strategies and protocols for managing potential crises or reputational risksCultivate and maintain relationships with media outlets, journalists, and industry influencers to maximize coverage and visibilityField, manage, and triage media inquiriesDevelop and execute media training for C-suite leadership speaking to external audiencesEstablish and manage MapLight presence within industry-specific groups for our therapeutic areas including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's and autismChampion advocacy events with an externally-facing component such as walks and other fundraisers where cross-functional groups of employees engageEstablish key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of communication efforts

Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, or related fieldMinimum of 8 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations, or related roles, with at least 3 years in a managerial or leadership capacityProven track record of developing and executing successful communication strategies in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industryExceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to distill complex scientific and technical information into clear and compelling messagingStrong media relations experience, with a network of contacts in relevant industry publications and outletsDemonstrated proficiency in digital communications platforms, content management systems, and analytics toolsStrategic thinker with the ability to anticipate trends, identify opportunities, and navigate challenging situations with professionalism and poiseExcellent interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and influence key stakeholders at all levels of the organization