External Communications Associate Director

Job Description

Job Description

External Comms Associate Director

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Onsite Flexibility: Hybrid 3 days per week onsite

Contract Details

• Position Type: Contract
• Contract Duration: 6 months (covering maternity leave)
• Start: July 27, 2026 (preferred); August 10, 2026 (alternate)
• Pay Rate: $80.00 $90.00 / Hour (USD)
• Shift / Schedule: Normal business hours
• Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Job Summary

The R&D Communications Director will support Global Corporate Affairs to help tell the R&D story externally, uncovering, developing, and delivering opportunities to showcase the great science and outstanding people across teams. This will help position the client as the best science-led organisation in the industry and the partner and employer of choice.

The role will involve working closely with R&D scientists from discovery to development, as well as Global Corporate Affairs colleagues developing multi-layered campaigns across digital, social and traditional media to bring the science of drug discovery and development to life. The content and stories you develop will need to resonate with a wide range of primarily external audience groups, including collaborators, recruits, and media.

Key Responsibilities

• Development and delivery of an integrated external communications plan to strengthen the client's reputation as a scientific leader in science and technology platforms, across external stakeholders & channels
• Provide communications support and coaching to Expert Function Leaders, like Discovery Sciences and Clinical Operations, about communicating scientific messages and external communications generally, e.g., social
• Serves as a counsellor and support for executive communications/external engagements for R&D leaders. Includes supporting key activities such as media interviews and speaking engagements.
• Showcase and amplify scientific publications relating to R&D science and tech, and highlight and support scientists across our digital platforms
• Ability to identify proactive comms opportunities and devise tactics that showcase R&D and are aligned with the overall strategy
• Support PR execution for partnering activities related to R&D science and tech, including development of press releases, statements, and Q&As
• Prepare for potential issues
• Closely partner with the client's Global Media and digital communications teams on relevant communications activities and identify opportunities for engagement and collaboration
• Support the markets to effectively communicate about the client's scientific programmes and What Science Can Do
• Establish measures of success and implement relevant evaluation tools for all communications activities

Required Skills

• Established track record of delivering impactful, content-rich communications programmes across multiple channels and stakeholders with demonstrable measures of success
• Understanding and experience of creating scientific/technical content, ideally in a biopharmaceutical context
• Experience of working with the media
• Experience of working with regional and market communicators to support excellent local delivery
• Exemplary native English-level written and verbal communication skills
• Team worker with a high level of personal accountability

Preferred Skills

• Entrepreneurial approach and desire to challenge the status quo
• Confidence around senior leaders and comfortable delivering alternative viewpoints
• Strong channel management, digital skills, and knowledge of technology options
• Able to develop and maintain networks across business and cultural boundaries
• Ability to undertake global travel will be required, primarily between other Strategic Science Centres

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
• 401k Retirement Fund

Important Notes

• Interview process: 2 virtual interviews (1) 30-minute interview with the hiring manager; (2) 45-minute to 1-hour panel interview

About GTT

GTT is a minority-owned staffing firm and a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation, a Native American-owned company in Alaska. We highly value diverse and inclusive workplaces and support Fortune 500 organizations across banking, financial services, technology, life sciences, biotech, utilities, and retail sectors throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Job Number: 26-06975

#LI-GTT #LI-Onsite #gttjobs

Company Description

Global Technical Talent is a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation ( with over 1.3 billion US$ in revenue and 5800 US employees. We provide Total Talent Solutions, Global staffing, SOW, RPO, Direct Sourcing, and Global Payroll with physical offices in US, Canada, and India. GTT Digital headquartered in Toronto specializes in providing high-tech digital and banking talent to some of the nation’s largest financial institutions. As a leader in the staffing industry for over 22 years, we have become one of the largest staffing firms in the New England region, working with Fortune 500 clients and cutting-edge, technology-driven recruiting infrastructure.

We are a Native American-owned, economically disadvantaged corporation that highly values diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our clients and partners are among the most successful and innovative organizations in the world. Our top clients are Fortune 500 banking, insurance, and financial services firms, some of the nation’s largest life sciences, biotech, utility, and retail companies, and prestigious educational institutions in the Ivy League tier.

There is always a new opportunity for success when you look through all of the open job opportunities on our website’s career page. Just click on this link:

Awards

SIA’s Fastest Growing Staffing Firm: 2023 and 2015
SIA’s Best Staffing Firm to Work for: 2019 -2023
Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Company: 2023, 2022, 2016, 2015
Randstad Preferred Supplier: 2020 - 2023
TechServe Alliance Excellence Award. 2019
NH Business Magazines Fast 5 fastest growing companies
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist: 2015

Company Description

Global Technical Talent is a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation ( with over 1.3 billion US$ in revenue and 5800 US employees. We provide Total Talent Solutions, Global staffing, SOW, RPO, Direct Sourcing, and Global Payroll with physical offices in US, Canada, and India. GTT Digital headquartered in Toronto specializes in providing high-tech digital and banking talent to some of the nation’s largest financial institutions. As a leader in the staffing industry for over 22 years, we have become one of the largest staffing firms in the New England region, working with Fortune 500 clients and cutting-edge, technology-driven recruiting infrastructure.\r\n\r\nWe are a Native American-owned, economically disadvantaged corporation that highly values diverse and inclusive workplaces. Our clients and partners are among the most successful and innovative organizations in the world. Our top clients are Fortune 500 banking, insurance, and financial services firms, some of the nation’s largest life sciences, biotech, utility, and retail companies, and prestigious educational institutions in the Ivy League tier.\r\n \r\nThere is always a new opportunity for success when you look through all of the open job opportunities on our website’s career page. Just click on this link: \r\n \r\nAwards\r\n\r\nSIA’s Fastest Growing Staffing Firm: 2023 and 2015\r\nSIA’s Best Staffing Firm to Work for: 2019 -2023\r\nInc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Company: 2023, 2022, 2016, 2015\r\nRandstad Preferred Supplier: 2020 - 2023\r\nTechServe Alliance Excellence Award. 2019\r\nNH Business Magazines Fast 5 fastest growing companies\r\nErnst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist: 2015