Communications Business Partner (Associate Director)

Astellas Pharma • Northbrook, IL

1d • $144,060 - $205,800 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Communications Business Partner serves as a strategic communications advisor and consultant to assigned senior leaders, including members of the C-suite. Reporting through Internal Corporate Communications, the role is responsible for shaping, planning, and delivering integrated communications strategies that advance enterprise priorities, enable organizational clarity, and support effective leadership communication. The Communications Business Partner works proactively with leaders to anticipate communication needs; develop compelling narratives, messages, and presentations; and advise on the most effective channels and approaches to reach internal and external audiences.

This individual operates in a highly matrixed, global environment and is expected to demonstrate strong strategic judgment, change communications expertise, and the ability to counsel leaders through complex, sensitive, and high-impact situations—including issues and crisis communications. The role requires close collaboration with internal and external communications teams, agencies, and vendors to protect and enhance leader credibility, organizational alignment, and Astellas’ corporate reputation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in corporate, internal, or executive communications within a complex, global organization.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic communications counsel to senior leaders or executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong experience developing executive messaging, presentations, and organization-wide communications.
• Proven expertise in change communications and supporting leaders through transformation and ambiguity.
• Experience coordinating with or supporting external communications, media engagement, or reputation management efforts.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling messages.
• Ability to manage vendors and external partners effectively.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed, global environment.

Nice To Haves

• Pharma experience
• Experience supporting C-suite or enterprise leadership communications.
• Familiarity with regulated, research-driven, or life sciences environments.
• Experience contributing to enterprise reporting, thought leadership, or integrated corporate storytelling.
• Exposure to issues and crisis communications in high-visibility environments.
• Strong understanding of internal communications channels and digital engagement approaches.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to assigned senior leaders, providing strategic counsel aligned with enterprise priorities, internal communications strategy, and CIR objectives.
• Define and drive leadership communication strategies, anticipating needs and shaping forward-looking messaging and engagement plans.
• Translate business priorities, change initiatives, and decisions into clear, credible, and audience-appropriate narratives that support leadership effectiveness and enterprise alignment.
• Lead development of executive-level communications, including speeches, presentations, organizational messages, town hall content, videos, and written messages for leaders.
• Provide end-to-end content support for C-suite contributions to Media Relations activities, Investor Relations activities, and enterprise publications such as the Integrated Report.
• Translate enterprise narrative, strategy, and performance into relevant and authentic leader messages and compelling storytelling for both internal and external use.
• Design and execute internal communications strategies that drive organizational alignment, employee engagement, and effective change adoption for assigned leaders and functions.
• Provide expert guidance to leaders on channel selection, sequencing, and timing—advising when and how to communicate through enterprise channels such as intranet, enterprise email, town halls, leader cascades, and live engagements.
• Oversee execution of key leadership communications moments, including announcements and organizational updates.
• Lead and advise on communications for enterprise and functional change initiatives, including transformations, reorganizations, strategy shifts, and major initiatives.
• Apply change communications expertise to ensure clarity, consistency, and employee understanding throughout change journeys.
• Partner with Internal Corporate Communications leadership and stakeholders to align leader messaging with broader enterprise change narratives and corporate initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between internal and external narratives in close partnership with External Corporate Communications.
• Shape assigned leaders’ external social media activities, including both content creation and content curation.
• Partnering with External Corporate Communications, support leader preparation for external engagements, including media interviews, conference presentations, analyst or stakeholder engagements, and public appearances.
• Participate in issues and crisis communications planning and execution, including leader preparedness, internal alignment, and coordination with external communications colleagues.
• Advise leaders during issues or crisis situations, supporting message development, internal alignment, and timely execution.
• Collaborate with Internal Corporate Communications and External Corporate Communications leads to manage sensitive and high-impact situations while maintaining confidentiality and governance.
• Ensure internal audiences receive clear, accurate, and timely information that supports trust and stability during challenging situations.
• Manage external vendors and agencies that support executive communications, leadership messaging, events, or content development.
• Oversee vendor deliverables, timelines, and quality, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and communications objectives.
• Identify opportunities to leverage agency expertise effectively while maintaining governance and consistency.
• Work closely with Communications and Investor Relations colleagues, functional communicators, and regional teams to deliver integrated communications.
• Liaise with global communications partners to maximize leader reach, reputation, and message consistency across regions and audiences.
• Actively identify opportunities to amplify leadership messaging across multiple channels and platforms.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of highly sensitive situations, projects or announcements.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Company fleet vehicle for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level