Associate Director, Patient Engagement and Advocacy

Overview of Role: Summit Therapeutics is seeking a dynamic and strategic Associate Director of Patient Engagement and Advocacy to support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of patient engagement and advocacy strategies for ivonescimab across oncology indications including bladder, breast and gynecological cancer. This role will help ensure that patient perspectives are appropriately considered in Medical Affairs planning, clinical trial awareness, patient education, and external stakeholder engagement. The Associate Director will collaborate cross-functionally with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Market Access, Commercial, Regulatory, Compliance, Medical Communications, and external partners to support compliant, patient-centered programs aligned with Summit’s scientific, clinical, and business objectives.

The ideal candidate will bring experience in patient advocacy, oncology, stakeholder engagement, and project management, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative, and launch-oriented environment.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Support the development and execution of pre-, peri-, and post-launch patient engagement and advocacy strategies for ivonescimab.
• Assess patient engagement and education needs related to ivonescimab and support the development of programs, resources, and external partnerships to address identified gaps.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Commercial, Regulatory, Compliance, and Medical Communications to help integrate appropriate patient insights into clinical development, Medical Affairs, and commercialization planning.
• Engage with patient advocacy organizations, clinical experts, and other external stakeholders to understand patient and caregiver needs, disease burden, educational gaps, and opportunities for collaboration.
• Support patient-friendly communication of scientific and clinical information, including development and review of educational materials that communicate complex information in a clear, accurate, and compliant manner.
• Monitor patient advocacy trends, oncology patient engagement best practices, and evolving external stakeholder needs to inform continuous improvement of patient engagement programs.
• Support planning and execution of patient advocacy activities at medical congresses, advisory boards, educational programs, and other Medical Affairs initiatives as appropriate.
• Partner with internal teams and external vendors to manage project timelines, budgets, documentation, compliance reviews, and program deliverables.
• Develop metrics, status updates, and insights summaries to communicate program progress, stakeholder feedback, and opportunities for improvement to Medical Affairs leadership.

Experience, Education, and Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, nursing, pharmacy, life sciences, social work, or healthcare-related discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of relevant experience in patient advocacy, patient engagement, Medical Affairs, oncology, or related roles within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare industry.
• Experience supporting or leading patient engagement, advocacy, education, or external stakeholder programs in a cross-functional environment.
• Understanding of healthcare compliance requirements, patient advocacy engagement principles, and regulatory considerations relevant to pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.
• Strong project management, organizational, and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex scientific and clinical information into clear, patient-appropriate language.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional, matrixed, and fast-paced organization.
• Experience in oncology and launch-stage organizations preferred;
• Experience working with patient advocacy organizations, external vendors, healthcare professionals, academic institutions, and patient or caregiver communities preferred.
• Experience managing budgets, timelines, vendor relationships, documentation, and compliance review processes preferred.
• Proficient user of standard Microsoft Office applications; experience with electronic document management systems, project management tools, and document review platforms is desirable.
• High attention to detail, accuracy, confidentiality, and sound judgment when managing sensitive information and external stakeholder interactions.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to work independently while escalating issues appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to shifting priorities, manage time-sensitive deliverables, and operate in a collaborative environment.
• Domestic and international travel may be required, expected to be approximately 20-30% of the time and as needed.