Senior Director, Patient Advocacy

The Position

The Opportunity

Everything we do at Maze is about patients. This role makes sure that is true in practice.

As our Senior Director, Patient Advocacy, you will lead the function that connects Maze to the people our medicines are meant to serve: patients, caregivers, and the communities around them. You will make sure their experience and insight shape how we design trials, plan enrollment, approach regulators, and talk about our work.

This is a newly created role, and it arrives at an important moment. Our lead program, MZE829, is moving toward a pivotal trial that we plan to start in the first half of 2027, subject to regulatory feedback. The patient voice will matter more than ever in how that trial is designed and run.

You will set the direction for patient advocacy across our kidney and metabolic disease portfolio, from our APOL1-mediated kidney disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) programs to the indications that come next. A Director is already in the function and will report to you, and you will shape the team from there, including future hires.

 

The Impact You’ll Have

 

Set the direction

• Own the patient advocacy and community involvement strategy, aligned with our pipeline priorities, Medical Affairs objectives, and company goals.
• Own the function's budget and resource plan, and report progress and impact to the Head of Medical Affairs and executive leadership.

Be Maze's bridge to patients and communities

• Serve as the primary link between Maze and patients, caregivers, and advocacy organizations across kidney disease, metabolic disease, and future indications.
• Build and steward partnerships with national and international advocacy organizations, professional societies, and community-based organizations, with particular attention to communities disproportionately affected by kidney disease.
• Create the communications, events, and education programs that help people understand the diseases we work on and our pipeline.

Put patient insight into decisions

• Represent patients and caregivers in Medical Affairs and cross-functional leadership discussions, so their insight informs clinical development plans, enrollment initiatives, regulatory strategy, and company decisions.
• Establish and chair patient and caregiver advisory groups that inform trial design, patient support programs, and health equity initiatives.

Lead with integrity

• Ensure patient advocacy activities, partnerships, grants, and sponsorships are conducted ethically and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes, and company policies.

Build the team and show results

• Lead, mentor, and grow the patient advocacy team, including hiring and setting clear performance and growth expectations.
• Develop and report metrics that show the function's impact on trial enrollment, patient experience, and community trust.

As a Senior Director, we also expect our leaders to demonstrate the following Leadership Competencies: 

• Communication and Influence
  • Role models clear communication and open two-way conversations.
  • Reinforces an environment where people feel heard and their opinions are valued.
  • Inspires followership despite differing initial opinions.
• Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Champions collaborations and connections across Maze.
  • Establishes team norms and expectations.
  • Seeks opportunities to spotlight team and individual contributions in public forums.
• Execution and Results
  • Develops recommendations to seize on opportunities and mitigate obstacles that could impact long-term success.
  • Coaches others on resource management and work distribution/delegation.
  • Aligns work to Maze’s strategy, mission, and vision.
• Develop Others and Self
  • Develops staff capabilities to handle delegation of responsibilities.
  • Encourages staff to develop and execute personal stretch goals.
  • Identifies and recommends ways to increase inclusive leadership.

What We’re Looking For

What you'll need

• An understanding of the biopharmaceutical industry and drug development lifecycle, including patient engagement in drug development and the compliance principles governing interactions with patients and advocacy organizations.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in patient advocacy and community engagement, including directing a function and leading a team, ideally in biopharma or life sciences.
• A track record of building strategic partnerships with patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, and community groups, nationally and internationally.
• Experience presenting to and advising executive leadership, with the ability to deliver a clear, compelling presentation.
• Proven people leadership, including hiring, developing, and managing a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A collaborative, ethical, patient-first mindset, with strong business sense and the ability to negotiate and find common ground with partners.
• A bachelor's degree.

What would be great to have

• A graduate degree in public health, nursing, social work, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience in kidney disease, metabolic disease, or a related therapeutic area.
• Experience engaging communities disproportionately affected by disease.
• Demonstrated understanding of patient and caregiver perspectives and strong connections with the communities we serve.

How you lead

• You communicate clearly and openly, make sure people feel heard, and can bring others along even when they start with different views.
• You build connection across teams and set clear norms and expectations for your own.
• You spot opportunities and obstacles early, align the work to Maze's strategy, mission, and vision, and delegate well.
• You grow your people, encourage them to set and pursue stretch goals, and lead inclusively.

If your background does not line up with every point above, we would still like to hear from you.

 

About Maze Therapeutics

Maze Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company harnessing human genetics to develop precision medicines for patients with kidney and metabolic diseases. Our clinical pipeline is anchored by two small molecule programs: MZE829, an APOL1 inhibitor for patients with APOL1‑mediated kidney disease, and MZE782, which targets genetic drivers of disease in phenylketonuria (PKU) and chronic kidney disease. We are also advancing a preclinical pipeline through our Compass platform, which links human genetic variants to the biological pathways that drive disease.

Our People

Maze is comprised of a team of passionate and creative professionals committed to discovering and delivering transformative medicines to patients suffering from both rare and common genetic diseases. We are fostering a culture that encourages vision, initiative and the development of talent. Our supportive work environment inspires creative thinking and freedom of expression, resulting in a stimulating atmosphere where people enjoy coming to work. While we have a passion for advanced science and pride ourselves on excellence in execution, ultimately, everything we do is about patients. 

Our Core Values

Further Together – Our path is paved with challenges, but with resilience and a team-first mentality, we’ll achieve our mission. 

Impact Obsessed – We embrace the bold, take calculated risks, and learn from our mistakes to improve the lives of others.

Stand True – Our integrity is foundational; it guides us no matter the obstacle.

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The expected annual salary range for employees located in the San Francisco Bay Area is $270,000-$300,000. Additionally, this position is eligible for an annual performance bonus.

Maze performs position-based compensation benchmarking to industry market data to ensure we pay competitive wages. Determination of starting salary will depend upon a variety of job-related factors, which may include professional experience, skills, and job location. The expected salary range for this role may be modified in the future.

Maze offers a robust benefits package to our eligible employees including competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance, mental health offerings, equity incentive plan, 401(k) program with employer match and a generous holiday and PTO policy.

 

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