Stoke Therapeutics
Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement
Stoke Therapeutics, Bedford, Massachusetts, us, 01730
About Stoke
Stoke Therapeutics (Nasdaq: STOK) is a biotechnology company dedicated to restoring protein expression by harnessing the body’s potential with RNA medicine. Using Stoke’s proprietary approach, the company is developing antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to selectively restore naturally occurring protein levels. Stoke’s first medicine in development, zorevunersen, has demonstrated the potential for disease modification in patients with Dravet syndrome and is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 study. Stoke entered into a strategic collaboration with Biogen in 2025 to develop and commercialize zorevunersen for Dravet syndrome. Under the collaboration, Stoke retains exclusive rights for zorevunersen in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; Biogen receives exclusive rest of world commercialization rights.
STK-002 is Stoke’s proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in clinical development for the treatment of autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), the most common inherited optic nerve disorder. STK-002 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA. A Phase 1 study (OSPREY) of STK-002 in people with ADOA is now underway. The company is also conducting early research in Syngap1, a severe and rare neurodevelopmental disorder, in collaboration with Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
Stoke’s initial focus is on diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of approximately 50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for the Company’s proprietary approach.
Position Purpose The Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement will build upon and execute strategic advocacy engagement initiatives for Stoke’s Dravet syndrome, ADOA, and Syngap1 programs, ensuring alignment across key Stoke functions throughout the product lifecycle. The role focuses on launch readiness in the U.S. for zorevunersen (Dravet syndrome) and capacity building in ADOA and Syngap1. Reporting to the Vice President of Patient Advocacy and Policy, the candidate must have strong experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical advocacy with a broad understanding of the business. The Director will work collaboratively with cross-functional team members to increase awareness of our programs in the patient community, and bring the patient voice into everyday decision-making, programming, and employee experience.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a liaison between the company and patient community by maintaining strong, trusted relationships, proactively requesting and sharing insights, and responding to community questions and needs in a timely fashion.
Ensure a strong connection between employees and the patient community, including identifying innovative and compliant ways for employees to connect with patients, families and disease communities.
Collaborate internally and play a contributing role on cross-functional teams to create and deliver patient-facing programs and materials (i.e., clinical trial awareness, launch preparedness).
Ensure timely and accurate communication of company information and updates to the appropriate patient communities.
Partner effectively with Product & Corporate Communications, Medical Affairs and Clinical Operations to ensure timely, consistent and compliant communication and responses to external patient inquiries about our programs, including clinical trials and access.
Coordinate with Medical Affairs and other internal functions to review and approve patient organization funding and collaboration requests; actively contribute to policy and process design/improvements for these and other related activities.
Lead initiatives to ensure patient insights are brought into Stoke decision-making such as advisory boards and ongoing input into programming and messaging.
In collaboration with Medical Affairs, organize Stoke’s strategic engagement with patient advocacy organizations at congresses and events.
Support broader Corporate Affairs efforts, including employee engagement and corporate communications.
Develop and deliver on an annual plan aligned to corporate and department goals, including developing and tracking KPIs and metrics to measure the success of advocacy initiatives; continually innovate and elevate Stoke’s approach to patient advocacy and engagement by continuously learning and staying current with best practices.
Manage the patient advocacy budget and lead and oversee external partners, consultants and agency resources.
Required Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social science, science, public policy, or a health-related field.
10 years of professional experience in patient advocacy in a publicly traded biotech/pharmaceutical company or health-related non-profit. The ideal candidate has experience in rare disease, regulatory milestones (e.g., FDA Advisory Committee meetings and approvals), KOL and Society engagement, and commercial-stage experience.
A thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle, including the pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory processes and commercial stages.
Established track record of building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with colleagues as well as with non-profit and/or patient communities.
Demonstrated ability to create and lead successful patient advocate programs and partnerships in collaboration with internal teams and stakeholders.
Excellent communication skills: written, verbal and presentation delivery; a good listener.
Strategic thinker and problem solver; intellectually curious and perceptive; able to identify interdependencies and connections across the business; a critical thinker.
Comfortable in a fast-moving, rapidly changing environment; able to establish structure and process when needed; consistently prioritizes high-impact projects; calm under pressure; works with a sense of purpose and urgency.
Understanding of laws and regulations governing the biopharmaceutical industry with an understanding of regulatory bodies that impact communications and reimbursement, understanding of publicly-traded company communications requirements and rules.
Proven understanding of the needs of individuals living with severe and rare diseases and a demonstrated passion for supporting the patient community.
Holds self and others to a high standard of ethics and integrity. Maintains confidentiality, exercises good judgment and discretion.
Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across the organization and at all levels, both internally and externally.
Able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Experience working with all levels of management and consulting with key business stakeholders with an ability to influence for greater outcomes.
Ability to travel to key U.S. and global congresses and patient events, as needed (up to 30%).
Location Stoke is located in Bedford, MA. This hybrid position is based in the Bedford, MA office and requires 2–3 days per week onsite.
Travel This position will require approximately 30% travel.
Compensation & Benefits The anticipated salary range for this role is $231,000–$242,000. The final offer will be based on role scope, experience and qualifications, education, market benchmarks, internal equity, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, Stoke offers an annual bonus and equity participation.
Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance; life, long- and short-term disability insurance; paid parental leave; a 401(k) plan with company match; unlimited vacation time; tuition assistance; and participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
Culture & Values At Stoke, we believe that innovation, the ability to successfully advance our groundbreaking science and having fun as a team are enhanced by being together in person, at least periodically. We allow for flexibility in work arrangements that balance individual’s needs and preferences with the needs of our business and our desire to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our values guide our work to deliver meaningful medicines for people who need them. We embrace diversity within a unique culture that is defined by our values. Our employee-led Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Committee underscores the importance of DIB to who we are and what we do.
Application Interested candidates should visit Stoke’s website to learn more and apply directly to the position listed on our Career Center. https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/careers/. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Stoke participates in E-Verify.
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STK-002 is Stoke’s proprietary antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in clinical development for the treatment of autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), the most common inherited optic nerve disorder. STK-002 has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA. A Phase 1 study (OSPREY) of STK-002 in people with ADOA is now underway. The company is also conducting early research in Syngap1, a severe and rare neurodevelopmental disorder, in collaboration with Acadia Pharmaceuticals.
Stoke’s initial focus is on diseases of the central nervous system and the eye that are caused by a loss of approximately 50% of normal protein levels (haploinsufficiency). Proof of concept has been demonstrated in other organs, tissues, and systems, supporting broad potential for the Company’s proprietary approach.
Position Purpose The Director, Patient Advocacy & Engagement will build upon and execute strategic advocacy engagement initiatives for Stoke’s Dravet syndrome, ADOA, and Syngap1 programs, ensuring alignment across key Stoke functions throughout the product lifecycle. The role focuses on launch readiness in the U.S. for zorevunersen (Dravet syndrome) and capacity building in ADOA and Syngap1. Reporting to the Vice President of Patient Advocacy and Policy, the candidate must have strong experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical advocacy with a broad understanding of the business. The Director will work collaboratively with cross-functional team members to increase awareness of our programs in the patient community, and bring the patient voice into everyday decision-making, programming, and employee experience.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as a liaison between the company and patient community by maintaining strong, trusted relationships, proactively requesting and sharing insights, and responding to community questions and needs in a timely fashion.
Ensure a strong connection between employees and the patient community, including identifying innovative and compliant ways for employees to connect with patients, families and disease communities.
Collaborate internally and play a contributing role on cross-functional teams to create and deliver patient-facing programs and materials (i.e., clinical trial awareness, launch preparedness).
Ensure timely and accurate communication of company information and updates to the appropriate patient communities.
Partner effectively with Product & Corporate Communications, Medical Affairs and Clinical Operations to ensure timely, consistent and compliant communication and responses to external patient inquiries about our programs, including clinical trials and access.
Coordinate with Medical Affairs and other internal functions to review and approve patient organization funding and collaboration requests; actively contribute to policy and process design/improvements for these and other related activities.
Lead initiatives to ensure patient insights are brought into Stoke decision-making such as advisory boards and ongoing input into programming and messaging.
In collaboration with Medical Affairs, organize Stoke’s strategic engagement with patient advocacy organizations at congresses and events.
Support broader Corporate Affairs efforts, including employee engagement and corporate communications.
Develop and deliver on an annual plan aligned to corporate and department goals, including developing and tracking KPIs and metrics to measure the success of advocacy initiatives; continually innovate and elevate Stoke’s approach to patient advocacy and engagement by continuously learning and staying current with best practices.
Manage the patient advocacy budget and lead and oversee external partners, consultants and agency resources.
Required Skills & Experience
Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social science, science, public policy, or a health-related field.
10 years of professional experience in patient advocacy in a publicly traded biotech/pharmaceutical company or health-related non-profit. The ideal candidate has experience in rare disease, regulatory milestones (e.g., FDA Advisory Committee meetings and approvals), KOL and Society engagement, and commercial-stage experience.
A thorough understanding of the pharmaceutical product lifecycle, including the pre-clinical, clinical, regulatory processes and commercial stages.
Established track record of building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with colleagues as well as with non-profit and/or patient communities.
Demonstrated ability to create and lead successful patient advocate programs and partnerships in collaboration with internal teams and stakeholders.
Excellent communication skills: written, verbal and presentation delivery; a good listener.
Strategic thinker and problem solver; intellectually curious and perceptive; able to identify interdependencies and connections across the business; a critical thinker.
Comfortable in a fast-moving, rapidly changing environment; able to establish structure and process when needed; consistently prioritizes high-impact projects; calm under pressure; works with a sense of purpose and urgency.
Understanding of laws and regulations governing the biopharmaceutical industry with an understanding of regulatory bodies that impact communications and reimbursement, understanding of publicly-traded company communications requirements and rules.
Proven understanding of the needs of individuals living with severe and rare diseases and a demonstrated passion for supporting the patient community.
Holds self and others to a high standard of ethics and integrity. Maintains confidentiality, exercises good judgment and discretion.
Strong leadership skills with demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across the organization and at all levels, both internally and externally.
Able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Experience working with all levels of management and consulting with key business stakeholders with an ability to influence for greater outcomes.
Ability to travel to key U.S. and global congresses and patient events, as needed (up to 30%).
Location Stoke is located in Bedford, MA. This hybrid position is based in the Bedford, MA office and requires 2–3 days per week onsite.
Travel This position will require approximately 30% travel.
Compensation & Benefits The anticipated salary range for this role is $231,000–$242,000. The final offer will be based on role scope, experience and qualifications, education, market benchmarks, internal equity, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, Stoke offers an annual bonus and equity participation.
Benefits include medical, dental and vision insurance; life, long- and short-term disability insurance; paid parental leave; a 401(k) plan with company match; unlimited vacation time; tuition assistance; and participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
Culture & Values At Stoke, we believe that innovation, the ability to successfully advance our groundbreaking science and having fun as a team are enhanced by being together in person, at least periodically. We allow for flexibility in work arrangements that balance individual’s needs and preferences with the needs of our business and our desire to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our values guide our work to deliver meaningful medicines for people who need them. We embrace diversity within a unique culture that is defined by our values. Our employee-led Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) Committee underscores the importance of DIB to who we are and what we do.
Application Interested candidates should visit Stoke’s website to learn more and apply directly to the position listed on our Career Center. https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/careers/. For more information, visit https://www.stoketherapeutics.com/.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status. Stoke participates in E-Verify.
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