Senior Vice President - Corporate Affairs

Place in the Organization

At uniQure, we are delivering on the promise of gene therapy and delivering hope for patients facing urgent unmet medical needs. Every role in our organization carries profound purpose; whether you're in research, operations, access, or support, your contributions impact patients. We're seeking passionate professionals who thrive in high-stakes environments, uphold rigorous quality standards, and share our relentless commitment to transforming the lives of patients.  Join us in making the impossible possible, where your expertise becomes a catalyst for life-changing treatments.

The Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs will create a unified Government Affairs, Corporate Communications, and Investor Relations under a single function for uniQure. Reporting to the Chief Customer and Strategy Officer (CCSO), the SVP will build one consistent narrative across policymakers, media, employees, and investors, ensuring uniQure speaks with one voice as the company moves from a clinical-stage organization to a commercial one.

This leader will be instrumental in building a high-performing corporate affairs organization, establishing a strong culture of message discipline and crisis readiness, and protecting uniQure's reputation and credibility across every audience that matters. Success in this role requires a blend of strategic communications expertise, seasoned government affairs fluency, investor relations experience, and the executive presence to counsel the CEO and Leadership Team. In addition to the CCSO, partner closely with the CEO, CFO, Chief Legal Officer, and the broader Leadership Team to drive aligned messaging, stakeholder intelligence and effective crisis response.

Key result areas (major duties, accountabilities and responsibilities)

Corporate Affairs Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead the comprehensive corporate affairs strategy spanning government affairs, corporate communications, and investor relations.
• Build the shared message architecture: one narrative, agreed priorities, an aligned calendar, and approved language across all audiences.
• Set a compelling vision for the function aligned with corporate priorities and the transition to commercial launch.
• Translate complex scientific, regulatory, and financial information into clear, consistent messaging for policymakers, media, employees, and investors.
• Provide regular updates to the Leadership Team and Board on stakeholder intelligence, crisis readiness, and reputational risks and opportunities.

Build & Lead the Corporate Affairs Organization

• Promote a collaborative, high-accountability, and disciplined culture across government affairs, communications, and investor relations.
• Provide hands-on leadership and mentorship to the teams overseeing Government Affairs, Corporate Communications, and Investor Relations.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent across the function through performance management and professional development initiatives.
• Ensure organizational agility to adapt to regulatory developments, media dynamics, and evolving market conditions.
• Oversee the corporate affairs operating budget, ensuring strategic deployment of resources across government affairs, communications, and investor relations.

Government Affairs Oversight

• Own policy positions, legislative and regulatory monitoring, and political and policy risk assessment.
• Build and maintain relationships with government stakeholders, including reimbursement, access, and gene therapy policy makers relevant to our pipeline.
• Represent uniQure in policy conversations shaping the gene and innovative therapy regulatory and reimbursement environment.

Corporate Communications & Product Communications Leadership

• Oversee product communications, internal communications, and external communications, including media relations, press strategy, brand and reputation management, and executive visibility.
• Ensure messaging is consistent for external audiences and the internal employee population, recognizing that employees and prospective candidates read the same coverage as investors and the press.
• Serves as a key partner in crisis communications, providing counsel to senior leadership and ensuring the organization responds to sensitive or reputational issues with speed, accuracy, and a unified voice.
• Ensure all communications activities comply with industry regulations and internal policies, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.

Investor Relations & Disclosure

• Oversee earnings and financial messaging, analyst and shareholder engagement, and market and sentiment intelligence.
• Own disclosure and guidance strategy in coordination with the CEO. In addition, align financial narrative with the CFO, R&D narrative with the CMO and commercial narrative with the CCSO.
• Partner with the Chief Legal Officer, who owns materiality determinations, approval of external disclosure communications, quiet period governance, insider trading policy, and Regulation Fair Disclosure compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience across corporate affairs, communications, investor relations, and government affairs.
• Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life sciences background, with genuine understanding of the FDA regulatory environment and its impact on corporate narrative.
• Public company experience, including hands-on involvement in earnings communications, disclosure practice, and Regulation Fair Disclosure discipline.
• Demonstrated success building or integrating corporate affairs functions, not only running established ones.
• Proven crisis leadership experience, including direct involvement in high-stakes issues management a plus.
• Exceptional executive presence, with the ability to counsel the CEO and Leadership Team, brief the Board, and hold position under pressure from senior stakeholders.
• Strong track record of influencing without direct authority across functions and geographies.
• Rare disease, gene therapy, or advanced therapeutics experience is a strong plus.
• Experience supporting a first commercial launch is a strong plus.
• Advanced degree (MBA or related field) preferred.
• Experience working across US and international markets
• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills at all organizational levels and with external audiences.
• Resilient and adaptable leader with experience navigating high-growth, dynamic environments.

#LI-Hybrid

US Salary Range 420000 - 470000 USD