Associate Director, Patient Education Manager - Tryngolza & Zilganerson, Great Lakes

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs.  With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees. 

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive. 

We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, PATIENT EDUCATION MANAGER – TRYNGOLZA & ZILGANERSON

GREAT LAKES REGION

SUMMARY:

The Associate Director, Patient Education Manager – Tryngolza & Zilganerson, Great Lakes Region is a field-based, patient-facing role within Ionis’ Patient Services Department. This individual is responsible for delivering compliant, on-label disease state and product education, patient and caregiver support, and product administration training for patients within the assigned territory. The role serves as a primary point of contact for patients and caregivers as they move through the treatment journey and this person works closely with internal and external partners to help patients stay informed, supported, and prepared to start and continue therapy.

The person in this role must bring broad expertise, independent judgment, strong cross-functional influence, and visible leadership across the organization. They are expected to work through ambiguity, lead important initiatives beyond their own territory, and contribute meaningfully to broader Patient Services strategy, launch readiness, and continuous improvement.

 RESPONSIBILITIES:

 Patient and Caregiver Education and Support

• Deliver compliant, on-label disease state and product education using approved Ionis materials to support patients and caregivers throughout the treatment journey.
• Provide proactive and reactive education to patients and caregivers, helping them understand treatment expectations, administration requirements, support services, and next steps.
• Deliver product administration and injection training in accordance with approved materials, applicable business rules, and Ionis policy.
• Tailor education to patient needs while staying within approved content and clear role boundaries.
• Respond to patient and caregiver questions appropriately and triage to the right internal resources when issues fall outside the PEM scope.
• Support a high-quality patient experience by helping patients feel informed, prepared, and connected to appropriate services.

HCP and Office Staff Engagement

• Educate healthcare provider nurses and office staff, when requested and permitted, on the role and service model of the Ionis Patient Education Manager.
• Provide approved disease state and product education to HCP office staff as allowed by policy and business rules.
• Communicate relevant patient treatment journey updates to HCPs when appropriate and permissible, while protecting patient privacy and maintaining compliance boundaries.
• Maintain a clear understanding of what is and is not appropriate in HCP interactions, including the prohibition on off-label discussions, reimbursement support activities, coding guidance, practice economics discussions, or anything that interferes with the HCP-patient relationship.

Cross-functional Collaboration and Launch Execution

• Serve as a key field partner across Patient Services, case management, specialty pharmacy, market access, field medical, patient advocacy, marketing, compliance, and other cross-functional teams.
• Identify patient, caregiver, and territory needs and translate those insights into practical recommendations that improve education, service delivery, and patient support.
• Contribute to launch readiness, field execution, and ongoing refinement of patient education strategy, materials, and ways of working.
• Help identify gaps, risks, and opportunities across the patient journey and work across functions to solve them.
• Participate in broader organization initiatives that extend beyond an individual territory and support Ionis business and patient service objectives.

Territory Leadership and Insight Generation

• Lead territory planning for the Great Lakes region, prioritizing activities based on patient need, business priorities, and available resources.
• Build strong working relationships and formal networks across internal teams and external stakeholders to improve coordination and execution.
• Bring thought leadership to complex, high-visibility issues affecting patient education and support.
• Use sound judgment to navigate ambiguous situations, evaluate intangible factors, and make decisions that support both patients and the broader function.
• Share field insights, trends, and recommendations that shape Patient Services strategy and improve broader organizational effectiveness.

Compliance, Documentation, and Operational Execution

• Complete timely, accurate, and thorough documentation of patient engagement activities in the required systems.
• Meet all training, documentation, privacy, and compliance requirements.
• Use only approved materials and follow all applicable Ionis policies, procedures, and business rules.
• Maintain appropriate handling of patient information and escalate safety events, product complaints, and other reportable issues in accordance with Ionis requirements.
• Operate with a zero-exception mindset on compliance and patient privacy.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• Clinical training or credentials strongly preferred; registered nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, pharmacist, genetic counselor, or other clinically relevant background is highly desirable.

Experience

• 12+ years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 8+ years with a master’s degree, or 5+ years with a PhD or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in patient education, patient support, field-based clinical education, rare disease, specialty medicine, or a related biopharmaceutical setting.
• Demonstrated success supporting patients and caregivers through complex treatment journeys.
• Strong understanding of compliant patient engagement, privacy requirements, and field-based role boundaries.
• Experience working across internal and external stakeholders in a highly matrixed environment.
• Launch experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with specialty pharmacy, access, reimbursement support teams, patient advocacy groups, or similar partners preferred.

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong clinical and patient education acumen.
• Strong judgment and ability to operate independently in complex, ambiguous situations.
• Ability to influence without direct authority across multiple functions and levels.
• Strong territory leadership, prioritization, and execution skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build trust quickly with patients, caregivers, HCP office staff, and internal stakeholders.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and accountability.
• Ability to identify problems early, think conceptually, and develop practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliant execution.

Additional Role Expectations

• Field-based role covering the Great Lakes region.
•  Regular travel within the territory is required; broader travel for training, meetings, and conferences may also be required.

Please visit our website, www.ionis.com for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position; reference requisition #IONIS004033

Ionis offers an excellent benefits package! Follow this link for more details: Ionis Benefits

Full Benefits Link: https://ionis.com/careers#:~:text=Highly%20competitive%20benefits

The pay scale for this position is $167,163 – $201,650

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.