Director of Communications, Global Respiratory & Immunology
About The Position
AstraZeneca is seeking a Director of Communications to drive global, integrated communications and patient advocacy for key assets in its 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 global communications plans through launch, builds disease and asset narratives, creates communication materials, and prepares spokespeople. The role works with media, country teams, Investor Relations, external experts, investigators, patient groups, and internal leaders. It also leads digital and social deployment, internal engagement, patient advocacy programs, and issues preparedness and crisis management. The position optimizes agency and resource use, defines objectives and metrics, and ensures effective program management and measurement.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 10–15 years of experience in global pharmaceutical or life sciences communications.
- Proven delivery of strategic, content-rich programs.
- Deep understanding of healthcare regulations, compliance, and stakeholder perspectives, including physicians, payers, and patients.
- Ability to advise senior leaders credibly and translate strategy into communications, including PowerPoint and digital communications.
- Strong cross-functional and cross-geography influence.
- Significant experience in issues preparedness and management for global brands.
- Strong track record in organic and paid digital communications, and effective internal engagement and change communications.
- Demonstrated leadership and coaching ability, with collaborative ways of working.
- Cultural fluency, critical thinking, hands-on delivery, and skill in simplifying scientific and technical content for varied audiences.
Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver global communications plans from Phase IIb through launch, considering franchise milestones, data readouts, regulatory events, congress presence, partnerships, and responses.
- Build compelling disease and asset narratives with clear messages and proof points.
- Produce press releases, Q&As, and materials for global and local use, and 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 and co-create programs with patient groups to advise strategy and advance 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, and ensure strong project management and measurement.
Benefits
- Eligibility for short-term incentive bonuses.
- Equity-based awards for salaried roles.
- Qualified retirement programs.
- Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and leaves.
- Health coverage.
- Dental coverage.
- Vision coverage.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
