About Avalyn
Avalyn aims to transform the treatment paradigm for pulmonary fibrosis and other serious, rare respiratory diseases. The company is advancing optimized inhaled formulations of established antifibrotic medicines designed to deliver drug directly to the lungs, enhance local efficacy, and reduce systemic side effects. Avalyn's AP01 program is an optimized inhaled formulation of pirfenidone currently being evaluated in MIST, a global Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). AP01 has demonstrated encouraging safety and clinical activity across Phase 1b and an ongoing, multi-year open-label extension trial, with long-term data supporting the potential to preserve lung function while improving tolerability relative to historical oral pirfenidone. Avalyn's AP02 program is an optimized inhaled formulation of nintedanib currently being evaluated in AURA, a global Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Avalyn is also advancing AP03, an inhaled fixed-dose combination of pirfenidone and nintedanib, designed to deliver multiple antifibrotic mechanisms through a single lung-targeted platform. By leveraging its proprietary drug-device approach and deep expertise in rare respiratory disease development, Avalyn aims to establish a new standard of care in pulmonary fibrosis through inhaled, lung-targeted therapies. For more information, please visit avalynpharma.com and follow the company on LinkedIn.
Position Overview
The Senior Manager/Associate Director, Scientific Communications will play an integral role in the development and execution of Avalyn's scientific communications strategy, with a particular emphasis on medical congress planning, scientific exchange, publication support, and medical affairs content development.
Reporting to the Director, Scientific Communications & Medical Education, this position will partner closely with Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Corporate Communications, and external vendors to ensure consistent, accurate, and impactful scientific communication of Avalyn's clinical and scientific data.
Success in this role will be demonstrated through the flawless execution of annual congress strategies, timely delivery of high-quality scientific communication materials, successful management of publication and presentation activities, and establishment of strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. This individual will thrive in a fast-paced biotech environment and bring a solutions-oriented, hands-on approach to advancing Avalyn's medical affairs objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Scientific Communications Strategy & Execution
- Support the development and implementation of scientific communication plans aligned with overall Medical Affairs and corporate objectives.
- Collaborate with the Director of Scientific Communications to execute scientific communication activities across Avalyn's portfolio.
- Assist in the development and maintenance of scientific platforms, core slide decks, FAQs, scientific narratives, disease state education materials, and other Medical Affairs resources.
- Ensure scientific consistency and accuracy across all medical communication materials.
- Coordinate cross-functional review and approval processes for scientific communication deliverables, to include Medical/Legal/Regulatory review.
Congress Planning & Scientific Meetings (Primary Focus)
- Lead operational planning and execution for key national and international medical congresses, including ATS, ERS, CHEST, and other relevant pulmonary and ILD meetings.
- Develop annual congress plans, timelines, and budgets in partnership with Medical Affairs leadership.
- Lead regularly scheduled cross-functional congress planning meetings.
- Coordinate congress-related activities, including scientific booths and medical information materials, advisory boards, investigator meetings, medical affairs events, sponsored symposia, congress logistics and vendor management.
- Manage development of congress content including congress slide decks, booth assets, scientific summaries, and meeting reports.
- Serve as the primary liaison with congress vendors, medical communications agencies, and internal cross-functional stakeholders.
- Ensure timely delivery of all congress-related materials and activities within budget.
Medical Affairs Content Development
- Develop and manage scientific content supporting Medical Affairs initiatives, including core scientific decks, training materials, KOL engagement materials, disease education resources, field medical tools, and medical information content.
- Support internal scientific training initiatives.
- Assist in the creation and maintenance of educational resources for healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
Publications & Data Dissemination
- Support development and execution of publication plans for Avalyn's development programs.
- Support the preparation and submission of scientific abstracts, posters, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Assist in the management of publication timelines, author communications, and publication vendors.
- Partner with clinical and medical teams to ensure strategic dissemination of clinical and scientific data.
- Maintain publication metrics and tracking tools.
External Expert Engagement
- Build and maintain productive relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and scientific experts.
- Support planning and execution of advisory boards and expert engagement programs.
- Collaborate with external partners to ensure scientific communication activities address evolving educational needs within the pulmonary fibrosis and ILD communities.
Vendor and Project Management
- Manage external medical communications agencies and other vendors to ensure delivery of high-quality work products.
- Develop project plans, timelines, and budgets for scientific communication initiatives.
- Identify risks and proactively implement mitigation plans to ensure successful execution of projects.
- Track and report key performance indicators for communication activities and congress execution.
Qualifications
Required
- Advanced degree in life sciences or related healthcare discipline (e.g., MS, PharmD, PhD, MPH, NP, PA, or equivalent scientific or clinical discipline) is required.
- A minimum of 6-8 plus years of relevant pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical communications, or medical affairs experience, including significant experience in scientific communications and congress planning.
- Demonstrated experience supporting scientific communication strategies and medical affairs activities in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
- Experience leading planning and execution of scientific congress activities.
- Strong understanding of publication planning, scientific data dissemination, and related guidance (i.e., GPP3, ICMJE).
- Knowledge of drug development, clinical research, and regulatory requirements governing medical communications.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Experience working effectively with cross-functional teams and external vendors.
- Ability to work independently and thrive in a dynamic, fast-growing biotech environment.
- Respiratory, pulmonary fibrosis, rare disease, or specialty medicine experience preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20-30% to support meetings, congresses, and company activities.
Preferred
- Experience supporting launch preparation or late-stage development programs.
- Experience developing scientific content for healthcare professional audiences.
- Familiarity with publication management systems and congress planning processes.
- Experience working in a small or emerging biotechnology company.
- Knowledge of digital scientific communication channels and medical education best practices.
