Director of Communications, Global Respiratory & Immunology

AstraZeneca•Gaithersburg, MD

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Communications, Global Respiratory & Immunology, drives global integrated communications and patient advocacy for key assets in AstraZeneca’s respiratory and immune-mediated disease portfolio from Phase IIb onward. The role leads internal and external storytelling and issues management to build reputation, support milestones, and engage audiences across global, regional, and country teams. The director develops and delivers communications plans from Phase IIb through launch, considering franchise-wide milestones, data readouts, regulatory events, congress presence, partnerships, and driven responses. The role builds disease and asset narratives, creates communications materials for global and local use, and prepares and trains spokespeople. It also coordinates media and stakeholder engagement, digital and social activity, internal communications, and patient advocacy programs. The position leads issues preparedness and crisis management across markets, while optimizing agency and resource use and establishing objectives, metrics, project management, and measurement. The successful candidate serves as a credible advisor to senior leaders and works across functions and geographies to communicate complex scientific and technical information to varied audiences.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
10–15 years of experience in global pharmaceutical or life sciences communications.
Proven delivery of strategic, content-rich communications programs.
Deep understanding of healthcare regulations, compliance, and stakeholder perspectives, including physicians, payers, and patients.
Credible advisor to senior leaders, with the ability to translate strategy into communications, including PowerPoint and digital communications.
Significant experience in issues preparedness and management for global brands.
Strong track record in organic and paid digital communications.
Experience in effective internal engagement and change communications.
Demonstrated leadership, coaching ability, and collaborative ways of working.
Cultural fluency and a global mindset; combines critical thinking with hands-on delivery and can simplify scientific and technical content for varied audiences.

Responsibilities

Develop and deliver global communications plans for assets from Phase IIb through launch, considering franchise milestones, data readouts, regulatory events, congress presence, partnerships, and driven responses.
Build compelling disease and asset narratives with clear messages and proof points.
Produce press releases, Q&As, and other materials for global and local use; prepare and train spokespeople.
Collaborate with global and regional media and country teams, support investor communications with Investor Relations, and engage external experts and investigators.
Lead deployment across corporate digital and social channels, using paid and organic opportunities.
Drive internal understanding and engagement for key assets in partnership with leaders and Global Internal Communications.
Build relationships with patient groups and co-create programs to advise strategy and drive shared agendas in coordination with the Policy & Advocacy team for R&I.
Lead issues preparedness and crisis management, including scenario planning, training, tracking, and alignment across markets.
Optimize agencies and resources; set objectives and critical metrics; ensure strong project management and measurement.
Advise senior leaders, influence cross-functional and cross-geography partners, and translate strategy into communications.
Provide leadership and coaching and support collaborative ways of working.