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AstraZeneca · 9 hours ago

Director, Communications, Vaccines & Immune Therapies

Gaithersburg, MD

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

$144K/yr - $216K/yr

10+ years exp

AstraZeneca is a global leader in developing vaccines and antibody therapies, committed to reducing the health burden of infectious diseases. The Director, Communications V&I will serve as the main communications partner for the Vaccines & Immune Therapies unit, managing communications for R&D, commercial, and medical functions while engaging with various stakeholders to enhance the unit's narrative and public perception.

BiopharmaBiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceuticalPrecision Medicine

Comp. & Benefits

Responsibilities

Deliver effective communications for major milestones/news flow. Includes priority data readouts/publications, regulatory milestones, investment decisions, presence at medical congresses and partnering activity. Includes development of global corporate press releases, Q&As and other relevant materials at global and in-country levels. Also includes any needed preparations/trainings for designated spokespeople

Manages potential and/or active issues with the potential to impact AZ reputation and/or business by providing monitoring and counsel to leaders, managing internal/external stakeholders and delivers relevant communications

Develops and refreshes as needed the compelling narrative for the V&I unit and key scientific and disease are platforms for external and internal use, working in close collaboration with cross functional colleagues. Includes delivering clear messages, compelling content for key platforms and exciting visuals to build awareness and confidence among key stakeholder groups (relevant scientific communities, financial/investor communities, public health and government stakeholders, healthcare professionals, partner partners, employees, etc.) Ensure alignment of narrative to wider AZ and BioPharma narratives and Corporate Brand

Serves as a communications advisor to the SVP V&I and V&I Senior Leadership Team for communications and engagement topics

Lead the development and delivery of communications activities with patient advocacy groups to support agreed goals. Areas for communications/campaign focus may include but are not limited to: disease area burden and unmet needs, emerging science of diseases/AstraZeneca’s assets/scientific platforms, treatment paradigms, opportunities to improve clinical care, opportunities to improve healthcare system/government policies, access to care and patient activation. Engage and establish strong relationships with external stakeholders, such as medical experts and investigators

Collaborate with global and regional media relations and country communications contacts to develop and deliver media relations that achieve desired media objectives. Collaborate with Investor Relations and Global Media Relations to deliver effective communications in support of AstraZeneca’s existing and potential investor community and their influencers

Lead the development, deployment of communications for designated portfolio through AstraZeneca’s corporate external digital/social channels, working with channels owners/functional experts. Maximise opportunities throughout the broader, relevant digital ecosystems using both paid-for/organic opportunities

Develop and deliver internal communications strategy and implementation for designated portfolio to drive understanding of and engagement with relevant strategies, programmes and organisational development/change when required. Includes ensuring best practice use of relevant internal communications channels and serving as a business partner for relevant leaders as well as collaborating with functional colleagues such as Global Internal Communications

Ensure effective use of internal and external resources, including smart deployment of agency support, and management of contractors, through clear objectives, KPIs, continued strive for excellence and innovation

Effective management of programme delivery and outcomes, ensuring strong project management and best practice measurement approaches

Qualification

Pharmaceutical market knowledgeHealthcare communicationsStakeholder managementDigital communication strategiesInternal communications strategyProject managementCoachingGuidanceCultural awarenessScientific content translationLeadership skillsStrategic thinking

Required

Graduate, Bachelor's or Master's degree, with 10+ years of experience to include a working knowledge of global Pharmaceutical market and innovative life sciences environment

Established track-record of delivering impactful, strategic and content-rich communications programmes, and proactive stakeholder management with demonstrable measures of success

Substantial experience of healthcare communications gained in-house at a multinational biopharma company, public health agency or at a global communications agency/consultancy, backed up by deep understanding of regulatory environment, compliance framework and perspectives of key external stakeholders such as physicians, payers and patients

Proven ability to serve as an engaged, credible advisor to senior executives and leaders with a successful record of providing effective advice and thought partnership on communications, engagement and reputation topics. Strong ability to translate new or evolving strategies into effective communications including via PowerPoint and digital strategies

Significant experience of leading issues preparedness and issues management in a similar environment/for global brands/disease areas

Strong digital capability including track record for leveraging organic and paid-for opportunities in pharmaceutical company/medical settings

Strong internal communications capability including understanding of effective channel management, engagement strategies and organisational change communications

Strong proven leadership skills and collaborative behaviour required to establish ways of working and to drive successful delivery against strategy through a broad mix of internal and external stakeholders

Proven capability to influence and counsel senior leaders and teams across functions and geographical boundaries

Ability to provide effective coaching and guidance to peers and other team members

Ability to work in a global environment including understanding of cultural differences

Ability to combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery

Experience of creating and translating scientific/technical content for a broad range of audiences

Benefits

Eligibility for various incentives— an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles

Qualified retirement programs

Paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves)

Health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans

Company

AstraZeneca

Glassdoor4.1

AstraZeneca is a pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets prescription medicines. It is a sub-organization of Investor.

Founded in 1999

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GBR

10001+ employees