Director, External Communications (U.S.) (Life Sciences exp required)

We are seeking a mission-driven, polished, strategic communicator to join our team in shaping how argenx tells its story to external audiences, supports public policy and regulatory engagement, and navigates reputational risks.

Location: Candidates must live in EST/CST Time zones with a preference for Boston, MA or Northeastern United States preferred (Boston, MA; New York, NY; Washington, DC; U.S. based with willingness to travel to Boston

Role Summary

The Director of External Communications will operate within a collaborative Corporate Affairs Team.

This role is responsible for connecting media, patient advocacy, and public policy into a single, coherent external communications strategy for argenx in the U.S.

You will not operate these areas in parallel. You will define and drive how they work together to shape perception, inform stakeholders, and support business priorities.

This requires both strategic judgment and hands-on execution, from forming a clear point of view on complex, cross-capability questions to driving that thinking into action across media, advocacy, and policy channels.

This is a high-visibility role reporting to the Head of Corporate Communications and External Affairs and partnering closely with patient experience, patient marketing, legal, regulatory, commercial, and medical affairs teams. The ideal candidate has experience in life sciences / biotech communications, patient advocacy communications, understands the regulatory and policy landscape, and thrives in high-stakes environments.

The person in this role will:

Corporate Narrative and External Positioning
• Drive and execute external communications strategies that reinforce argenx's corporate narrative across media, patient advocacy, and policy audiences in the U.S.
• Translate company priorities, scientific progress, and pipeline developments into clear, cohesive corporate storytelling that resonates beyond individual products.
• Bring a strong point of view on how argenx should show up in external conversations, including where to lead, where to engage, and where to stay disciplined.
• Apply sound judgment in complex, ambiguous situations, balancing scientific, patient, policy, and reputational considerations.

Integrated Media, Advocacy, and Policy Activation
• Develop and execute coordinated communications approaches that connect earned media, patient advocacy engagement, and policy context into a unified external presence.
• Identify opportunities where patient insights and advocacy relationships can inform and strengthen media narratives and policy positioning.
• Build and manage relationships with key media, advocacy organizations, and relevant stakeholders to enhance argenx's visibility and credibility.

Corporate Context Around Key Moments
• Partner with Product Communications and other teams to ensure corporate narrative is clearly and consistently reflected around key business moments (e.g., data readouts, regulatory milestones), without owning product-specific communications.
• Anticipate external reactions and shape proactive corporate messaging that provides context across media, advocacy, and policy audiences.

Issues, Risk, and Reputation Management
• Monitor the external environment across media, advocacy, and policy landscapes to identify emerging risks and opportunities.
• Assess reputational implications and contribute to the development of clear, coordinated response strategies.
• Support crisis communications planning and execution, ensuring alignment with corporate narrative and stakeholder expectations.

Cross-Functional Integration and Ways of Working
• Drive alignment across Corporate Affairs, Patient Advocacy, Government Affairs, and Product Communications, including navigating competing priorities to ensure consistency in how argenx shows up externally.
• Connect insights from media, advocacy, and policy engagement to inform broader communications strategy and decision-making.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:
• 10+ years of experience in corporate communications, public affairs, media relations, patient advocacy communications, or similar (ideally in biotech, pharma, health / life sciences).
• Demonstrated experience in issues / crisis communications, especially in a regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience working with advocacy groups, patient groups, and rare disease organizations.
• Familiarity with U.S. health, policy, regulatory, reimbursement and/or legislative environment.
• Excellent writing, editorial, and presentation skills.
• Ability to distill complex scientific / technical information into clear, compelling narratives.
• Strong relationships with U.S. media in biotech / health.
• Experience working with senior executives as spokespeople.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Location: Boston, MA or Northeastern United States preferred (Boston, MA; New York, NY; Washington, DC; U.S. based with willingness to travel to Boston / other locations as needed is possible).

#LI-Remote

For applicants in the United States: The annual base salary hiring range for this position is $184,000.00 - $253,000.00 USD. This range reflects our good faith estimate at the time of posting. Individual compensation is determined using objective, inclusive, and job-related criteria such as relevant experience, skills, demonstrated competencies and internal equity. This means actual pay may differ from the posted range when justified by these factors. Because market conditions evolve, pay ranges are reviewed regularly and may be adjusted to remain aligned with external benchmarks.

This job is eligible to participate in our short-term and long-term incentive programs, subject to the terms and conditions of those plans and applicable policies. It also includes a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to retirement savings plans, health benefits and other benefits subject to the terms of the applicable plans and program guidelines.

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