Associate Director, Patient Recruitment and Retention

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Reporting to our Executive Director, Clinical Development Operations; Disc Medicine is hiring a new Associate Director, Patient Recruitment and Retention due to the fast growth of the programs in the clinic.  We are looking for someone to be an integral member of the Clinical Development Operations team and lead patient outreach, recruitment, and retention strategies for clinical studies. You will play a pivotal role in enhancing the lives of patients through innovative clinical research

Excellent patient engagement strategic knowledge and effective oral/written communication skills are required, as is the ability to work in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment and with both office and remote team members. The Associate Director is responsible for developing and executing patient engagement strategies within assigned disease areas and clinical studies in a fully outsourced model and enhancing study efficiency, data quality, and overall patient experience. Reporting to the Executive Director of Clinical Development Operations, this position offers the chance to join a team of passionate colleagues with the opportunity for career growth.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Patient Recruitment & Retention Strategy Leadership – 50%

• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive patient recruitment and retention plans for US and global Phase 2/3 studies aligned with enrollment goals and timelines.
• Partner with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations Leads to design and implement study-specific recruitment and retention strategies.
• Drive study-level strategies to engage and recruit participants with appropriate demographics.
• Oversee development of compelling recruitment materials that educate and engage potential participants and sites.
• Lead initiatives to establish and manage patient referral management plans.
• Track and analyze KPIs to optimize recruitment and retention performance.
• Identify and implement innovative approaches, technologies, and industry best practices to enhance enrollment outcomes.

Cross-Functional & External Stakeholder Collaboration – 30%

• Collaborate with study sites to develop tailored recruitment approaches based on local demographics.
• Maintain and lead relationships with patient engagement and advocacy organizations.
• Manage and oversee external recruitment and retention vendors.
• Partner closely with Clinical Operations, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Affairs to ensure aligned and compliant strategies.
• Present recruitment and retention strategies to investigators, patient advocacy groups, and at industry conferences.

Communications & Continuous Improvement – 20%

• Oversee development of compelling recruitment materials that educate and engage potential participants and sites.
• Ensure messaging is compliant, culturally appropriate, and aligned with study objectives.
• Share learnings, insights, and best practices across teams to drive process improvements.
• Stay informed on emerging trends and innovative recruitment solutions; proactively educate internal stakeholders.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned to support evolving business needs.

 REQUIREMENTS:

• BA/BS in relevant field required
• 10 – 12 years in biotech, pharma, or CRO industry plus a minimum of 8 years of experience in patient recruitment and retention.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office programs as well as good working knowledge of electronic data systems
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Thorough knowledge of FDA and ICH GCP guidelines
• Must be willing to travel both domestic and international
• Experience in orphan indications will be favorably considered
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with investigators, vendors, and individuals at all levels of the organization
• Experience working on project teams is required
• Candidate should be a self-driven individual with skills in organization, building working relationships and communication.
• Highly organized with a positive attitude; Works well through change and shifting priorities
• Strong business acumen: including in-depth knowledge of the multidisciplinary functions involved in a company’s drug development process, e.g., data management, biostatistics, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, etc. and can proactively integrate multiple perspectives into the clinical development process for best end-results.