📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: VP, Enterprise Communications & Public Affairs
🔹 Company: DNAnexus
🔹 Location: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-time
🔹 Category: Biotechnology Research
🔹 Date Posted: May 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 10+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and executing comprehensive communication strategies
- Managing the company's public image and promoting its services
- Engaging with stakeholders, internal employees, and media
- Ensuring accurate and positive messaging across all communication channels
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strategic mindset, strong writing skills, and proven experience in crisis communication and media relations within the healthcare landscape.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Strategic Communication Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies aligned with the company's business strategy. Identify key audiences and create messaging frameworks to effectively communicate complex healthcare concepts to diverse audiences.
✅ Internal Communications: Develop and execute internal communication plans to keep employees informed about company updates, initiatives, and key messages. Foster a positive company culture through transparent communication channels.
✅ Media Relations: Build and maintain strong relationships with key healthcare journalists and media outlets. Develop and disseminate press releases, media pitches, and other communication materials. Respond to media inquiries promptly and effectively, including crisis situations.
✅ Social Media Management: Oversee the development and execution of social media strategies across all platforms. Monitor social media conversations and respond to inquiries in a timely manner.
✅ Thought Leadership: Position company executives as thought leaders in the healthcare industry through speaking engagements, publications, and industry events. Develop and disseminate research findings and clinical data in a clear and impactful way.
✅ Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all communications adhere to relevant healthcare regulations and legal requirements. Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to review communication materials.
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of collaboration across different departments and requires excellent leadership and interpersonal skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, or a related field
Experience: 15+ years of experience in healthcare and/or life sciences communications, with a focus on enterprise change management, market-facing functions, and B2B communications
Required Skills:
- Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to craft compelling messaging
- Deep understanding of digital communications and social media platforms
- Experience as a speech writer
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across different departments
- Experience managing a team
- Experience supporting board material development
- Proven track record of successful media relations and crisis communication management
- Experience managing media/press and working with agencies
- Knowledge of healthcare regulations and compliance requirements
- Experience with video production and editing
- Experience with data analysis and reporting
- Blog writing experience
Preferred Skills:
- Boston area highly preferred
ASSUMPTION: Given the role's focus on strategic communication and crisis management, candidates with experience in similar roles or relevant transferable skills are encouraged to apply.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $275,000 - $300,000 annually, with an additional annual bonus component. Factors affecting starting pay may include geography, skills, education, experience, and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Life, long-term, and short-term disability insurance
- Flexible paid time off
- 12 weeks of paid parental leave
- National holidays paid
Working Hours: Full-time position, with standard business hours and occasional flexibility based on project needs and company events.
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for similar roles and may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Biotechnology Research, with a focus on precision health and genomics
Company Size: 201-500 employees, offering a mid-sized company environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration
Founded: 2009, with over 15 years of bioinformatics innovation and genomics expertise
Company Description:
- DNAnexus is the enterprise platform for precision health, on a mission to accelerate the development, approval, and delivery of personalized treatments
- The company provides a cloud platform that centralizes and enriches multimodal omics data, supports an extensive suite of informatics use cases, and allows secure collaboration across the care continuum
- DNAnexus powers a connected ecosystem trusted by the world's precision health leaders, making omics and real-world data accessible, actionable, and secure while unlocking insights that improve patient lives
Company Specialties:
- Data management
- Computational biology
- Bioinformatics
- Cloud computing
- Clinical-grade security
- Electronic Health Records
- Multimodal data
- Population health
- and Precision Health
Company Website: http://dnanexus.com
ASSUMPTION: DNAnexus is a well-established company in the biotechnology research industry, with a strong focus on precision health and a commitment to improving patient lives through innovative data management solutions.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Executive-level role, reporting directly to the CEO or another C-level executive
Reporting Structure: This role may have direct reports, including communication specialists, media relations managers, and other relevant team members
Work Arrangement: On-site, with occasional flexibility for remote work based on project needs and company policies
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a more senior role, such as SVP or Chief Communications Officer, as the company expands
- Opportunities to lead strategic initiatives and drive company-wide communication efforts
- Chance to work closely with C-level executives and other key stakeholders, gaining valuable experience and insights
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to make a meaningful impact on the company's communication strategies and overall success.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Corporate office environment, with a focus on collaboration and open communication
Office Location(s): Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Geographic Context:
- Boston is a major hub for biotechnology and healthcare innovation, offering ample networking opportunities and industry events
- The city is known for its rich history, cultural attractions, and high quality of life
- Boston has a diverse and highly educated population, with a strong focus on education and research
Work Schedule: Standard business hours, with occasional flexibility based on project needs and company events
ASSUMPTION: The Boston office offers a dynamic and collaborative work environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Initial phone or video screening to assess communication skills and cultural fit
- In-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including the hiring manager and other team members
- Presentation or case study component to evaluate strategic thinking and communication skills
- Final interview with the CEO or another C-level executive
Key Assessment Areas:
- Strategic communication planning and execution
- Crisis communication and media relations experience
- Leadership and team management skills
- Understanding of the healthcare landscape and relevant regulations
- Alignment with company values and culture
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Demonstrate your understanding of the healthcare industry and DNAnexus' mission and values
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication skills, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities
- Research recent company news and industry trends to show your enthusiasm and preparation for the role
ATS Keywords: Strategic communication, crisis management, media relations, healthcare communications, enterprise change management, B2B communications, thought leadership, regulatory compliance, digital communications, social media management, team management, board material development, data analysis, video production, blog writing
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role is likely to be comprehensive and competitive, with a focus on assessing the candidate's strategic communication skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)
- Project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Social media management platforms (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social)
- Video production and editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, iMovie)
- Data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the company's existing tech stack and the candidate's areas of expertise.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Innovation: DNAnexus fosters a culture of continuous learning and improvement
- Collaboration: The company values open communication and teamwork across departments and disciplines
- Excellence: DNAnexus strives for the highest standards in all aspects of its work
- Integrity: The company is committed to ethical and responsible business practices
- Patient-centric: DNAnexus prioritizes the needs and well-being of patients in all its efforts
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on driving results and achieving goals
- Collaborative and team-oriented, with a strong emphasis on open communication and cross-functional collaboration
- Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to take on new challenges and learn from feedback
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you align with DNAnexus' commitment to innovation and continuous learning?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully managed a team through a significant change or crisis?
- How do you approach building and maintaining strong relationships with key stakeholders, both internally and externally?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with DNAnexus' values and work style are more likely to succeed in this role and make a positive impact on the company's communication efforts.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing complex communication strategies across multiple departments and stakeholders
- Navigating the dynamic and evolving healthcare landscape, with its unique regulations and ethical considerations
- Balancing the need for strategic, long-term communication planning with the demands of immediate, real-time media relations and crisis management
- Adapting to the fast-paced and sometimes unpredictable nature of the biotechnology industry
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be overcome with strong leadership, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of the healthcare landscape and relevant regulations.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is similar to a VP of Corporate Communications or VP of Public Affairs in other industries, but with a focus on the unique challenges and opportunities of the healthcare landscape
- Compared to other VP-level roles, this position offers a high degree of strategic influence and the opportunity to drive company-wide communication efforts
- Career progression in this role may include advancement to SVP or Chief Communications Officer, as the company grows and expands
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in similar roles or relevant transferable skills are encouraged to apply, as the unique aspects of this role offer significant opportunities for growth and impact.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive communication strategy for a major product launch or clinical trial announcement
- Managing a crisis communication response to a negative media story or data breach
- Creating and implementing a thought leadership campaign to position company executives as industry experts and influencers
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the strategic and high-impact nature of the role, with a focus on driving results and achieving goals.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does this role fit into the company's overall communication strategy, and what are the key priorities for the first 90 days?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics, and how does this role collaborate with other departments and stakeholders?
- How does DNAnexus approach thought leadership and executive visibility in the industry, and what opportunities are there to grow and expand these efforts?
- What are the key challenges facing the company in the next 12-24 months, and how can this role help address them through strategic communication?
- How does DNAnexus support the professional development and growth of its employees, and what opportunities are there for advancement in this role?
ASSUMPTION: These questions demonstrate a candidate's strategic thinking, curiosity, and commitment to driving results in the role.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role, emphasizing your strategic communication, leadership, and crisis management abilities
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions that focus on your communication skills, leadership experience, and problem-solving abilities
- Research recent company news and industry trends to show your enthusiasm and preparation for the role
- Follow up with the hiring manager or HR representative within one week of submitting your application, inquiring about the status of your application and expressing your continued interest in the position
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
