Sr. Director, Marketing Communications

Prolaio•Chicago, IL

5h•Onsite

About The Position

The Prolaio Senior Director, Marketing Communications will build and lead communications for a fast-growing business at the intersection of healthcare and technology. This role is responsible for shaping and executing an integrated communications strategy that increases awareness of Kardigan’s Prolaio platform, supports business growth, and brings clarity to how we tell our story - externally and internally - as we scale. This leader will own external communications, including proactive media relations that drive accurate, credible coverage, and internal communications that engage, connect, and “re-recruit” employees during a period of rapid growth and change. With a deep understanding of Prolaio’s platform technology, business strategy, and the MedTech ecosystem, the Senior Director will partner closely with cross-functional leaders, influence decisions beyond communications, and help define how Prolaio shows up in the market. Based in our Chicago office, this role reports to Kardigan’s Chief Communications Officer with a dotted line to the Prolaio General Manager. The Senior Director will work hands-on with Prolaio’s marketing, engineering, and product teams, and across Kardigan’s communications organization, to deliver clear, consistent, and compelling messaging across all channels and stakeholders.

Requirements

10-15 years of experience in corporate communications, PR, or strategic communications, ideally in healthcare, MedTech, digital health, or high-growth tech.
Proven track record building and scaling communications programs in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
Demonstrated experience supporting B2B growth and business development enablement (partner decks, proof-point narratives, co-marketing/partner announcements).
Strong media relations expertise, with experience managing complex, technical, or data-driven narratives.
Ability to translate sophisticated technology and strategy into clear, compelling stories.
Experience leading internal communications through growth and change, with a focus on engagement and culture.
Highly collaborative operator with experience partnering across product, engineering, marketing, and business teams.
Strategic thinker with hands-on execution skills - you can set the direction and do the work - and sound executive judgment.
Experience managing agencies; people leadership experience is a plus.
Bachelor’s degree required; specific to public relations, journalism, communications a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead future product/platform launch communications strategy, developing and executing an integrated plan that leverages PR/earned media, scientific publications, conferences/congress programming, and thought leadership to extend the reach and impact of the product story
Translate product roadmap + clinical evidence into clear, credible storylines and external “moments” that support adoption and partnership growth.
Create and maintain an always-current portfolio messaging architecture (claims, proof, use cases, differentiation, FAQs) in coordination with product/clinical.
Lead communications planning to amplify clinical presentations, data publications and conference presence (pre-briefs, press angles, onsite events, speaker preparation, booth/partner support, post-congress follow-through, embargo coordination where applicable)
Create a Prolaio communications roadmap grounded in landscape analysis to define where the company should be visible, what it should be saying, which audiences to target, and how best to reach them.
Enhance BD enablement efforts with the creation of durable communications tools (partner decks, one-pagers, proof-point summaries, case studies, “why Prolaio” narratives).
Partner with Marketing and Prolaio General Manager/Business Development to support priority partner motions (joint announcements, co-marketing plans, partner comms toolkits).
Manage external agency (H+C), ensuring strategy, timelines, and deliverables align to portfolio priorities (vs. broad comms outputs).
Drive proactive earned media aligned to evo2/portfolio milestones (data releases, partnerships, platform advances).
Maintain media targets across clinical research, digital health/MedTech, and business press—with clear POVs and proof points.
Define and execute internal communications cadence for Prolaio: leadership updates, company meetings change comms, culture engagement, and “re-recruitment”.
Build internal narratives that reinforce priorities and reduce confusion during rapid shifts.
Establish KPI framework tied to communications roadmap outcomes (share of voice in target outlets, congress outputs, publication amplification, BD asset adoption, partner enablement velocity).
Partner closely with product, engineering, marketing, and business teams to gather inputs, align messaging, and ensure technical accuracy.
Serve as a trusted communications advisor to senior leadership to support change communications, company milestones, and business updates.
Influence cross-functional peers and provide communications counsel on decisions beyond the function.
Support Kardigan Investor Relations with Prolaio-specific business updates and content, as needed.
Contribute to broader Kardigan corporate communications initiatives and enterprise-level storytelling.
Manage external agencies and vendors to extend team capacity and execution.
Build processes, playbooks, and measurement frameworks to scale communications effectively.
Hire and develop team members as the business and communications need grow.
Consistently model Kardigan leadership, culture and core values.