Formation Bio is a tech and AI driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development.
Advancements in AI and drug discovery are creating more candidate drugs than the industry can progress because of the high cost and time of clinical trials. Recognizing that this development bottleneck may ultimately limit the number of new medicines that can reach patients, Formation Bio, founded in 2016 as TrialSpark Inc., has built technology platforms, processes, and capabilities to accelerate all aspects of drug development and clinical trials. Formation Bio partners, acquires, or in-licenses drugs from pharma companies, research organizations, and biotechs to develop programs past clinical proof of concept and beyond, ultimately helping to bring new medicines to patients. The company is backed by investors across pharma and tech, including a16z, Sequoia, Sanofi, Thrive Capital, John Doerr, Spark Capital, SV Angel Growth, and others.
You can read more at the following links:
- Our Vision for AI in Pharma
- Our Current Drug Portfolio
- Our Technology & Platform
At Formation Bio, our values are the driving force behind our mission to revolutionize the pharma industry. Every team and individual at the company shares these same values, and every team and individual plays a key part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.
About the Position
Formation Bio is building the pharma company of the future, where drugs are developed more efficiently than at any other pharma company that came before it — and we're looking for someone who can help tell that story to the world.
This is a role for someone with strong horsepower: a chronically online, deeply opinionated communications mind who knows the media landscape the way a trader knows the market — who's up, who’s down, who's moving, what's resonating, and where the next conversation is going to happen before it does. You read everything. You know which journalists are worth a pitch and which Substackers and tweeters are quietly shaping how the industry thinks. You understand that a founder's tweet, a long-form profile, and a regulatory milestone press release are completely different instruments, and you know how to play all of them.
You operate with great taste and discipline. Pharma is a highly regulated industry where the wrong word in the wrong place can have real consequences — and you understand how to take creative risks within that reality.
You'll work directly with the Head of Brand & Communications and with Formation Bio's co-founders — helping translate a genuinely novel vision for what drug development can be into narrative, presence, and momentum across every channel that matters.
Responsibilities
External Brand & Media
- Own media relations across the full spectrum — legacy press, trade media, new media, and influential independent voices (substackers, newsletter writers, podcast hosts) — with a sharp view of who moves the needle and why
- Build and maintain real relationships with journalists, editors, and media figures covering AI, biotech, pharma, and the broader tech and founder ecosystem — not a contact list, actual relationships
- Drive PR and communications strategy around our pipeline drug assets, from scientific and regulatory milestones to patient and policy initiatives, op-eds, and external events — understanding that each moment requires a different kind of storytelling
- Maintain a living, actionable read on the media landscape — tracking coverage, emerging narratives, and the voices that are gaining influence — so our communications strategy is always ahead, not reactive
- Work directly with the Head of Brand & Communications and co-founders on executive positioning and thought leadership, with the judgment to identify the right platform, the right moment, and the right angle
Brand Initiatives
- Support planning and execution of external brand initiatives such as investor events, conferences, branded experiences, and our presence in the pharma and AI conversation, with the taste and operational rigor to make them land flawlessly
- Collaborate with the People team on talent brand workstreams, including content and events that attract the best talent across pharma and AI
- Partner with our Content team - both strategically and in the weeds - on written, video, web, and social to advance brand goals
Brand Operations
- Maintain and evolve internal brand resources — guidelines, design libraries, tools, and norms — so every team can represent Formation Bio accurately and confidently
- Build AI-powered systems and workflows that raise the speed, consistency, and quality of output across the function — this is table stakes, not a stretch goal
- Be the internal authority on brand standards, with the credibility and communication skills to bring the rest of the organization along
About You
- 7+ years in brand, communications, or a related field — ideally in-house at a tech company or VC — with real exposure to media relations and external brand work
- You follow the AI and founder conversations in real time, have strong opinions, and can place Formation Bio precisely within it across every channel that matters: legacy press, Substack, X, podcasts, and whatever comes next
- Exceptional writer across formats — press materials, op-eds, executive briefings, brand narratives — with the range to shift register completely depending on audience
- Deep knowledge of the media landscape: the reporters, substackers, newsletters, and podcasts shaping how tech and biotech thinks
- Comfortable working directly with founders, translating vision into external narrative with minimal hand-holding and maximum judgment
- High-ownership operator who manages multiple workstreams with minimal supervision and treats ambiguity as a creative problem, not a grievance
- Demonstrated track record with AI tools and systems in day-to-day work — this is a baseline expectation
- Background in product marketing, life sciences, or high-touch branded experiences is a strong plus; startup experience strongly preferred
Total Compensation Range: $177,500 - $232,000
Compensation Individual compensation is determined by several factors, including role scope, geographic location, and skills & experience. Your offer will reflect where you fall within the range based on these considerations. In addition to base salary, we offer equity, comprehensive benefits, and generous perks. If the posted range doesn't match your expectations, we still encourage you to apply!
Where We Hire Formation Bio is prioritizing hiring in key hubs, primarily the New York City and Boston metro areas, with a hybrid model requiring 3 days per week in office. Applicants from the Research Triangle (NC) and San Francisco Bay Area may also be considered. Please apply only if you reside in these locations or are willing to relocate.
Equal Opportunity Formation Bio is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
Skills Required
- 6+ years of experience in brand, communications, product marketing, or a related field
- Exceptional communicator and compelling writer
- Fluency in the tech and AI landscape
- Experience running high-touch branded experiences
- Experience at a startup or small tech company
- Curiosity or experience in life sciences, biotech, health-tech, longevity, techbio, or AI for health
What the Team is Saying
Formation Bio Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Parental & Family Support — Company materials state 16 weeks paid leave for birthing parents and 12 weeks for non‑birthing parents, positioned as generous for a mid‑size biotech/tech employer. An onsite Mother’s Room and related family‑support amenities are also highlighted.
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Healthcare Strength — Medical, dental, and vision coverage are provided alongside short‑ and long‑term disability and life insurance. These core protections are presented as standard for full‑time employees.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Publicly posted, market‑aware salary ranges and an emphasis on pay transparency are highlighted. This clarity helps candidates understand compensation expectations by role and location.
Formation Bio Insights
What We Do
Formation Bio is a tech-driven pharma company differentiated by radically more efficient drug development. Formation Bio has built a technology platform that optimizes all aspects of drug development, enabling more efficient trial design, faster trial completion, and higher quality trial data capture. Formation Bio acquires clinical-stage drugs from pharma and biotech and develops them faster and more efficiently, unlocking greater value per program and accelerating access to new treatments for patients. Join our culture of innovation where your work directly contributes to transforming patient care in areas such as rheumatology, dermatology, CNS, and cardiometabolic diseases. Our dynamic environment blends advanced technology with strategic drug development, speeding up the delivery of new treatments. Here, every role plays a part in our mission to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently.
Why Work With Us
Our mission is our roadmap and north star. We are an impact-driven culture that hires for intelligence and low egos. We believe that the best employees are both smart and ambitious, but also demonstrate humility and curiosity.
Gallery
Formation Bio Offices
Hybrid Workspace
Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.
