Director, External Scientific Engagement and Congress Leadership

Department: US Medical Affairs – Oncology

Location: Berkeley Heights, NJ (Hybrid)

Reports to: Executive Director, US Medical Affairs Operations

Position Summary

BioNTech, a global leader in immunotherapy and medical innovation, is seeking a dynamic and visionary Director, US-External Scientific Engagement and Congress Leadership to join our US Medical Affairs team. This role is pivotal in advancing BioNTech’s mission to transform lives through cutting-edge science and patient-focused solutions. Reporting to the Head of US-Medical Affairs Operations, this leadership role is instrumental in shaping and executing the strategic vision for external stakeholder engagement and scientific congress planning across the U.S. Medical Affairs Oncology organization.

As part of BioNTech’s mission to revolutionize healthcare, this position will lead efforts to shape and lead US Congress and Meetings model, partnering across the organization for a fast-growing business. This role ensures alignment with corporate objectives, scientific communication priorities, and cross-functional collaboration to maximize the impact of congress presence and external engagements and partnerships. This is an opportunity to drive innovation, enhance operational excellence, and contribute to delivering transformative therapies to patients worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

External Engagement Strategy

• Shape and execute a forward-thinking external engagement strategy that fosters meaningful partnerships with healthcare professionals (HCPs) and external organizations, ensuring alignment with BioNTech’s scientific priorities and commitment to patient outcomes.
• Identify, create and maintain medical and scientific relationships with prioritized external organizations and HCPs.
• Design, implement, and continuously refine robust External Engagement frameworks.
• Serve as the primary liaison for strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with scientific and medical priorities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Public Affairs, Commercial, Clinical Development) to ensure consistent and compliant messaging.
• Collaborate with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and other key stakeholders to ensure all activities are conducted in a compliant manner with BioNTech’s policies, procedures, and standards, and with local regulatory/legal requirements.
• Collaborate with global medical excellence and Digital, Data & Informatics team to drive a culture of innovation, adaptability and continuous improvement, guiding teams through process evolution and fostering innovation in External Engagement.

Congress Leadership

• Lead the strategic planning and seamless execution of US congresses and events, ensuring alignment with BioNTech’s vision to advance science and deliver transformative therapies to patients worldwide.".
• Drive the development of the US congress planning roadmap, and a shared calendar for key events and meetings for each congress.
• Partner with key cross-functional teams to identify key opportunities for US team engagement through events, conferences, and partnerships.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including medical affairs, marketing, and communications to ensure cohesive messaging and branding for events.
• Support the execution of pre-, during, and post-congress medical activities and communications.

Sponsorship Management

• Develop and oversee a purpose-driven sponsorship strategy for US-oncology congresses and events, ensuring alignment with BioNTech’s mission to innovate and improve patient care.
• Manage sponsorship budgets, contracts, and timelines in collaboration with Legal, Compliance, and Finance teams.
• Ensure all sponsorship activities comply with internal policies and external regulatory guidelines.
• Evaluate the impact and return on investment (ROI) of sponsorships to inform future planning and decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Chair an internal Congress Planning Committee and External Engagement Working Group to define the External Engagement strategy and plans.
• Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory to ensure all activities meet internal and external standards.
• Support the development of metrics and KPIs to measure the impact of congress and engagement activities.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure the impact of congress and engagement activities and provide actionable insights and data-driven recommendations to executive leadership.

Team Leadership and Development

• Inspire, mentor, and empower a high-performing, matrixed team responsible for tactical execution and define clear roles and responsibilities while cultivating a culture of excellence and innovation.
• Foster collaboration, remove barriers to efficiency, and drive accountability across stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Advanced scientific or healthcare degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or equivalent strongly preferred).
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with at least 5 years in a medical affairs role.
• Demonstrated success in leading innovative external engagement strategies and congress planning at a national or global level, with a focus on advancing scientific excellence and patient-centric solutions.
• Strong understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks governing scientific exchange.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Vision: Ability to set a compelling vision and translate it into actionable plans that drive impact.
• Leadership: Inspires, empowers, and develops teams to achieve shared goals.
• Process Excellence: Passion for designing and optimizing processes in highly regulated environments.
• Collaboration: Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory teams to ensure all activities uphold BioNTech’s commitment to ethical standards, transparency, and regulatory excellence.
• Analytical Rigor: Data-driven decision-maker with a focus on quality, accuracy, and compliance.

Your Benefits:

BioNTech US is committed to employee wellbeing and offers best-in-class benefits & HR programs to support an inclusive & diverse workforce. Salaried/Position-Targeted Hourly Employees working 30+ hours per week are eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life, AD&D, Critical Illness Insurance
• Pre-tax HSA & FSA, DCRA Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance & Concierge Program (EAP) available 24/7
• Parental and Childbirth Leave & Family Planning Assistance
• Parental and Childbirth Leave & Family Planning Assistance
• Sitterstream: Virtual Tutoring & Childcare Membership
• Paid Time Off: Vacation, Sick, Bereavement, Holidays (including Floating) & Year-End U.S. Shutdown.
• 401(K) Plan with Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement & Student Loan Assistance Programs
• Wellbeing Incentive Platforms & Incentives
• Professional Development Programs
• Commuting Allowance and subsidized parking
• Discounted Home, Auto & Pet Insurance

…and more! More details to be shared.

Berkeley Heights is New Jersey's growing hub within the life sciences industry and has already demonstrated the state’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence within the field. New Jersey's integrated approach to biotechnology and pharmaceuticals harmonizes academic rigor, industrial capability, and government support to create thriving conditions for a growing ecosystem. Cultivating an environment that seamlessly integrates cutting-edge research, robust manufacturing capabilities, and a dynamic business landscape, New Jersey has become a powerhouse in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical technology. As this region of New Jersey continues to develop, it stands ready to shape the future of medical science and technology, driving progress and improving health outcomes worldwide.

Apply now - We look forward to your application!

Apply for our New Jersey, US location and simply send us your documents using our online form.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that a background check will be conducted as part of the recruitment process in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. If you are considered for the position, BioNTech will conduct the background check through our service provider ‘HireRight’. You will be informed accordingly by your BioNTech-Recruiter.