Director of Patient Advocacy-Firdapse at Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Inc – Chicago, Illinois

The Director of Patient Advocacy will play a key leadership role in advancing Catalyst’s patient centric mission by building strong relationships with advocacy organizations, key stakeholders, and internal teams. Reporting to the Executive Director of Patient Advocacy, this role will help shape and drive strategy, oversee programs and initiatives, and position Catalyst as a trusted partner in the patient community. Success in this position requires strategic thinking, strong communication, and a deep understanding of patient needs to ensure impactful, mission aligned outcomes.

Responsibilities included but not limited to:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive advocacy strategy that aligns with the organization's mission and objectives
• Identify emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in the advocacy space to adapt and refine strategies
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups and community leaders
• Develop strategies to effectively partner with and support patient organizations
• Liaise between Catalyst, patient advocacy organizations, and patient advocates
• Share company activities and interests with patient advocacy groups and key advocacy leaders as appropriate
• Lead the development and execution of advocacy campaigns, initiatives, and programs to support patients, communities, or target populations
• Oversee the creation of resources and tools to empower patients and amplify advocacy efforts
• Coordinate and assist in the development of internal and external advocacy programs
• Monitor and evaluate the impact of advocacy programs to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement
• Provide strategic guidance and support to team members to ensure the successful execution of advocacy initiatives
• Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., marketing, digital marketing, sales, and medical affairs) to align advocacy efforts with broader organizational goals
• Serve as the voice of the patient both internally and externally by representing the organization at conferences, panels, and media forums; leading partner and vendor engagements; and ensuring patient perspectives are integrated into strategic decision-making
• Develop messaging and communication strategies to amplify advocacy goals and organizational impact
• Represent the company at key patient advocacy group events and community meetings
• Participate in public speaking opportunities including conferences, workshops, panels, videos, and podcasts
• Provide oversight of patient advocacy grant and sponsorship programs, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, compliance standards, and community impact goals
• Direct annual and multi-year budget planning for patient advocacy initiatives, optimizing resources to maximize reach and sustainability
• Lead financial forecasting and resource allocation in partnership with cross-functional leaders, ensuring fiscal accountability and strategic investment in advocacy priorities
• Additional responsibilities as assigned

Education/Experience/Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree and 7-10 years of relevant patient centric advocacy experience in nonprofit and/or biotech/pharma sectors
• 3-5 years in a leadership or managerial role overseeing advocacy programs, partnerships, or teams
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including editing, and the ability to create effective communications, including educational materials and visual presentations, etc. Strong commitment to fostering a patient-focused approach throughout the organization
• Demonstrated passion for advocating on behalf of patient communities and addressing their needs
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborative team member who is eager to work closely with colleagues
• Strong organizational skills
• Excel in project management, prioritize tasks, organize and manage multiple projects. The role requires frequent extended hours and approximately 30%-40% business travel, including evenings, weekends, and multi-day trips. The ability to travel on short notice and as business needs arise is essential

Catalyst is committed to providing competitive wages and comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, a retirement savings plan with Company Match, and more. Further details about our benefits package can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/catalystforrare/life/life-at-catalyst/?viewAsMember=true

The base salary for this position will range from $213,000 to $235,000. Candidate experience, professional licensing, and geographic location will be taken into consideration.

EEO Statement

Catalyst Pharmaceuticals is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender, gender identity or expression; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Catalyst Pharmaceuticals does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Agency resumes will only be accepted if the agency is formally engaged by Catalyst Human Resources.