Director, Communications, Vaccines & Immune Therapies

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

About The Position

AstraZeneca has a longstanding heritage in developing vaccines and antibody therapies that have contributed to global disease prevention and the advancement of immunisation strategies. AstraZeneca’s Vaccines & Immune Therapies (V&I) Unit is committed to reducing the global health burden of viral and bacterial infectious diseases. We are building an innovative portfolio of transformative products including antibodies and vaccines to tackle some of the leading global public health threats. Our portfolio delivers current solutions for patients while our pipeline seeks to advance the science of new modalities to prevent and treat an evolving and increasingly complex disease landscape. The Director, Communications V&I is the main communications partner for the V&I unit accountable for R&D, commercial, medical and other related functions. The role will work closely with the Sr. Director Corporate Affairs, V&I who leads policy and advocacy as well as a broad mix of internal stakeholders across the V&I Unit, Global Corporate Affairs, Global Media Relations, Global Medical Affairs, Investor Relations and R&D. Candidate Focus 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.

Requirements

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.

Responsibilities

Deliver effective communications for major milestones/news flow.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.