Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

Company: Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Location: Denver
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs The--VP, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs leads Atara's internal and external corporate communications and helps articulate, elevate, and steward Atara's corporate identity and policy positions. Key responsibilities include building company visibility and thought leadership in cell therapy, media relations, multimedia corporate communications, company branding, internal communications, crisis management, and public affairs and public relations activities.
Reports to:--Chief Commercial Officer
Location:--California-based; South San Francisco, CA or Thousand Oaks, CA Travel:--Travel required (up to 35%)
Responsibilities:

• Serves as the key leader for corporate communications and public affairs for the company, working with the executive team and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops and manages the corporate communications strategy. Translates to and executes on a plan to build visibility for and awareness of the company with key stakeholders including investors, employees, collaborators, potential business partners, the healthcare community, etc.
• Protects and grows the corporate brand and reputation.
• Drives implementation of communications strategy across multiple platforms, (social media, print, web, etc.)
• Monitors external environment for important regulatory, legislative, and other policy issues. Helps Atara articulate and communicate company positions on issues, either on a standalone basis or in conjunction with others. Develops plans to build constituent and influencer support in service of policy debates and decision making on topics of interest to the company.
• Sets and drives press strategy. Develops relationships with key reporters and industry publications to enable routine ongoing information sharing to raise the profile of the company to an appropriate level over time.
• Serves as a key spokesperson for the company.
• Serves as needed in crisis management situations
• Prepares / oversees preparation of press releases. Drives and/or contributes to external company presentations and annual/quarterly reports in a timely manner and ensuring consistency of messaging as a key partner to the IR team.
• Monitors news sources for competitive information and industry issues and trends and disseminates to stakeholders throughout Atara.
• Leads cross-functional efforts to identify and address emerging issues of interest, including those of policy, legislation, and regulation. Organizes Atara engagement with trade associations as needed to advance work on the issues (e.g. ARM, BIO)
• Leads the corporate communications and public affairs team; attracts, develops, and retains strong talents. The VP will coach and guide a team currently sized at two staff including one Senior Director and one more early-tenure position.
• Manages PR agency partners and plans and delivers to budget.
• Collaborates and coordinates with other functional areas (Medical Affairs, Commercial, Development, Regulatory, Tech Ops, Human Resources, Finance, etc) to develop messaging that authentically promotes Atara's brand to a range of audiences, and is able to evolve that communication easily as business needs require. Qualifications
  • 15+ years experience in healthcare industry with focus in corporate communications and public affairs.
  • Bachelor's or higher degree in life sciences or business combined with journalism, communications, or public relations is required, ideally with clinical education.
  • Scientific or technical experience is desirable, as understanding and communicating Atara's science is key to the role. Oncology, autoimmune/inflammation and/or cell therapy experience is a plus.
  • Excellent analytical and quantitative skill set and aptitude for working with the investment community.
  • Experience leading teams and supporting team's performance and development.
  • Experience writing investor presentations, scripts and press releases as well as in developing media contacts and relationships and agency management.
  • Evidence of a collaborative approach with multiple constituencies. Personal Qualifications:
    • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people in diverse and different settings, with a demonstrated track record and ability to drive results.
    • Proven people leader who has demonstrated ability to develop talented staff members to their full potential.
    • Flexibility of thinking that allows one to juggle multiple priorities and change course in a fast-paced environment.
    • Ability to drive change and achieve results.
    • Strong verbal communication and writing skills.
    • Ability to present clearly using scientific and clinical terminology.
    • Ability to influence and persuade at appropriate times and serve as key participant with management team members.
    • Intellectual curiosity and rigor, and well-developed program and project management execution skills.
    • Strong business acumen.
    • Sound organizational skills.
    • Possesses a sense of urgency; identifies challenges and problems and takes the initiative to identify solutions.
    • A goal-oriented person who both plans for the long-term and executes for the short term.
    • An innovative, data-driven person with a "can do" attitude and willingness to do the work.
    • High bar personal ethics with a "patients first" value system. More About Atara Bio We launched--Atara Biotherapeutics--in August 2012 to help patients with serious diseases and few therapeutic options. We are considered a leading off-the-shelf T-cell immunotherapy company (Nasdaq--ATRA) developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases. We're proud of our team of 425+ Atarians co-located by design in 4 different locations including South San Francisco (corporate headquarters), Thousand Oaks (R&D and manufacturing headquarters), Zug, Switzerland (european headquarters) and a R&D site in the Denver, Colorado area. Our Southern California hub is anchored by a new 90,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art Atara T-Cell Operations and Manufacturing (ATOM) facility.
      
      Our mission - "Transform the lives of patients with serious medical conditions through pioneering science, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence." Our vision - "T-Cell Immunotherapy for every patient, any time." Atara offers a competitive benefits packages that includes medical/dental/vision benefits, life and disability, retirement and stock program, as well as a generous paid time off and wellness plan that supports the well-being of our staff. Visit www.atarabio.com/careers to learn more.
      Atara Bio is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit and other lawful factors. In accordance with applicable law, the Company prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, expression or dysphoria, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, transgender status or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or because of the individual's association with a member of a protected group or connection to an organization or group related to a protected group.
      
      We comply with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act. All applicants must have authorization to work for Atara Bio in the United States. South San Francisco, California
      Thousand Oaks, California Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs

Keywords: Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., Denver , Vice President, Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Executive , Denver, Colorado