Kura Oncology, Inc.

Director, Patient Advocacy

Kura Oncology, Inc. United States

Are you ready to join a team committed to making a meaningful impact on cancer treatment through the discovery and development of precision medicines? At Kura Oncology, you have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, with a lasting impact that you can be proud of.



At Kura Oncology, we are working to change the paradigm and improve the science of cancer treatment. As an organization, we strive to cultivate a diverse and talented professional culture driven to develop precision medicine therapeutics.


As we continue to build a leading biotech organization with a strong culture, a patient-focused mindset and a team focused on relentless execution, we are looking for innovative, passionate professionals to join us and make our vision a reality.


To succeed at Kura, you will need to have a demonstrated ability for excellence in drug discovery and development and a roll-up your sleeves attitude. The ideal candidate will possess a values-driven work style where integrity and grit drive all behaviors, decisions, and actions.


We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Patient Advocacy to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will be the key liaison between our organization and patient advocacy groups, external alliances, and professional medical associations within the oncology and hematology therapeutic areas. This critical role will help to define Kura’s patient advocacy priorities and oversee advocacy group collaborations that educate and activate patients to seek optimal care, break down barriers to patient access, and bring patient insights into the company.


Essential Job Functions:


  • Develop and execute a comprehensive patient advocacy and patient engagement strategy tailored to the unique needs of our oncology and hematology portfolio
  • Lead the development of advocacy plans aligned with brand strategic imperatives and corporate strategy, focusing on disease awareness, access and reimbursement, post-market surveillance, adherence, and psychosocial support.
  • Establish and implement best practices in patient advocacy, utilizing insights from the patient experience to inform strategies and initiatives.
  • Champion a patient-centric approach across our portfolio, ensuring that the patient and caregiver perspective are integrated into all aspects of our work.
  • Stay abreast of regulatory, legal, government affairs policy, and social media developments impacting patient advocacy and our therapeutic areas’. Educate internal teams on the importance and value of patient advocacy, particularly within specific diseaseareas
  • Gather feedback from patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and other stakeholders to inform business decisions and enhance our support offerings.
  • Provide strategic guidance on patient-directed campaigns, ensuring that they prioritize patient needs and align with our values of patient centricity


Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in relevant field, advanced degree preferred.
  • Minimum of 7 years of experience in patient advocacy, preferably within the oncology or hematology space.
  • Proven track record of developing and implementing successful patient engagement strategies. Must have the ability to effectively collaborate with, motivate and influence various levels within the organization, and forge strong relationships with stakeholders outside of the organization.
  • Strong understanding of regulatory and policy landscape related to patient advocacy. Knowledge of marketing, strategic and long-range planning, training, and/or market access
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams.
  • Passion for improving the lives of patients and caregivers affected by oncology and hematology conditions. Ability to travel up to 30% of the time; domestic and limited international


Kura’s Values that are used for candidate selection and performance assessments:

  • We work as one for patients
  • We are goal-focused and deliver with excellence
  • We are science-driven courageous innovators
  • We strive to bring out the best in each other and ourselves


The Kura Package


  • Career advancement/ development opportunities
  • Competitive comp package
  • Bonus
  • 401K + Employer contributions
  • Generous stock options
  • ESPP Plan
  • 20 days of PTO to start
  • 18 Holidays (Including Summer & Winter Break)
  • Generous Benefits Package with a variety of plans available with a substantial employer match
  • Paid Paternity/Maternity Leave
  • In-Office Catered lunches
  • Home Office Setup
  • Lifestyle Spending Stipend
  • Commuter Stipend (Boston Office)
  • Regular employee social activities, including happy hours, monthly birthday celebrations, Kura Koffee Talks, and much more!


Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing personalized therapeutics for the treatment of blood cancers and solid tumors. The company’s diverse pipeline consists of small molecules that target cancer signaling pathways where there is a strong scientific and clinical rationale to improve outcomes by identifying those patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Kura Oncology’s approach to drug development is focused on rapidly translating novel science into life-saving medicines. Our goal is to help patients with cancer lead better, longer lives. Kura Oncology has offices in San Diego, California, and Boston, Massachusetts.


Kura’s pipeline consists of three investigational drug candidates: ziftomenib, tipifarnib and KO-2806. Ziftomenib, a once-daily, oral drug candidate targeting the menin-KMT2A protein-protein interaction, has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of R/R NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Kura has completed enrollment in a Phase 2 registration-directed trial of ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-mutant AML (KOMET-001). The Company is also conducting a series of clinical trials to evaluate ziftomenib in combination with current standards of care in newly diagnosed and R/R NPM1-mutant and KMT2A-rearranged AML. Tipifarnib, a potent and selective farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI), is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial in combination with alpelisib for patients with PIK3CA-dependent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (KURRENT-HN). Kura is also evaluating KO-2806, a next-generation FTI, in a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial as a monotherapy and in combination with targeted therapies (FIT-001). For additional information, please visit Kura’s website at www.kuraoncology.com and follow us on X and LinkedIn.


Kura Oncology is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

  • Seniority level

    Director
  • Employment type

    Full-time
  • Job function

    Other and Marketing
  • Industries

    Biotechnology Research and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

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