Executive Director, Corporate Communications

Position Summary:

The Executive Director of Corporate Communications is a senior communications leader responsible for shaping, elevating, and protecting the organization’s reputation, strengthening its corporate narrative, and ensuring clear, consistent, and compelling communication with internal and external audiences.

This leader will shape, evolve, and execute an integrated corporate communications strategy aligned with the organization’s business priorities, culture, and long-term objectives. The role serves as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and partners closely with executives, business leaders, Human Resources, Legal, Marketing, Investor Relations, and other key stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, exceptional storyteller, experienced people leader, and calm, credible advisor who can operate effectively in a complex, fast-moving environment.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, exceptional storyteller, experienced people leader, and calm, credible advisor who can operate effectively in a complex, fast-moving environment.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities include the following:

• Develop and lead Ocular’s corporate communications strategy, incorporating components of corporate reputation, executive communications, media relations, thought leadership, and issues management.
•  Serve as a trusted communications advisor to the executive leadership team, providing counsel on business developments, organizational changes, sensitive issues, and reputational matters.
• Consistently reinforce and evolve the company’s corporate narrative, positioning, messaging, and key proof points through key milestones and events.
• Lead proactive media (earned, paid, and social) relations and strategic engagement opportunities and projects in partnership with agency partners, journalists, industry publications, and other influential and external audiences.
• Oversee crisis management and issues communications, including preparation of response strategies, messaging, executive briefings, and communications plans.
• Develop high-impact executive communications, including speeches, presentations, talking points, town halls, internal announcements, and external thought leadership.
• Lead internal communications strategies that inform, engage, and align employees around business priorities, culture, and organizational change.
• Partner with Marketing, Investor Relations, Government Affairs, Legal, HR, and other functions to ensure consistent and coordinated communications.
• Build and maintain relationships with key media, industry influencers, strategic partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Establish communications measurement and reporting frameworks to evaluate impact, reach, engagement, and reputation.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing communications team while effectively managing external agencies and other strategic partners.
• Manage communications budgets and resources to maximize business impact.
• Stay current on evolving media, digital, social, employee engagement, and communications trends and incorporate innovative approaches into the organization’s strategy

Qualification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Marketing, Business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate communications, public relations, executive communications, or related discipline.
• Extensive experience advising C-suite executives and senior leadership teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing enterprise-level communications strategies for a biotech or pharmaceutical organization. Preferred experience with product launches.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in complex organizations.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and storytelling skills.
• Outstanding judgment, discretion, and ability to navigate sensitive or confidential matters.
• Ability to translate complex business, financial, technical, or organizational issues into clear and compelling communications.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to connect communications priorities to measurable business outcomes.
• Proven ability to operate effectively under pressure, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions in rapidly changing environments.
• Capability to collaborate with key stakeholders and function in a change-oriented environment
• Requires up to 30% travel