External Comms Associate Director

R&D Communications Director

Duration: 6 months - covering mat leave - start date would be July 27th or August 10th but July 27th is preferred

Location:

Gaithersburg or Boston - Seaport or Kendal Square office if open in time. Hybrid must go onsite 3 days a week!

Working Hours:

normal business hours 3 days a week onsite

Interview Process:

What you'll do

The R&D Communications Director will support Global Corporate Affairs to help tell the R&D story externally, uncovering, developing and delivering opportunities to showcase the great science and outstanding people we have in our teams. This will help position AstraZeneca as the best science-led organisation in the industry and the partner and employer of choice.

The role will involve working closely with R&D scientists – from discovery to development, as well as Global Corporate Affairs colleagues, developing multi-layered campaigns across digital, social and traditional media to bring the science of drug discovery and development to life. The content and stories you develop will need to resonate with a wide range of primarily external audience groups including collaborators, recruits and media.

Responsibilities:

• Development and delivery of an integrated external communications plans to strengthen AstraZeneca's reputation as a scientific leader in science and technology platforms, across external stakeholders & channels
• Provide communications support and coaching to Expert Function Leaders, like Discovery Sciences and Clinical operations with regard to communicating scientific messages and external communications generally e.g. social
• Serves as counsellor and support for executive communications/external engagements for R&D leaders. Includes supporting key activities such as media interviews and speaking engagements.
• Showcase and amplify scientific publications relating to R&D science and tech, and highlight and support scientists across our digital platforms
• Ability to identify proactive comms opportunities and devise tactics that showcase R&D and are aligned with the overall strategy
• Support PR execution for partnering activities related to R&D science and tech, including development of press releases, statements, Q&As. Prepare for potential issues.
• Closely partner with AZ Global Media and digital communications teams on relevant communications activities and identify opportunities for engagement and collaboration
• Support the markets to effectively communicate about AstraZeneca's scientific programmes and What Science Can Do
• Establish measures of success and implement relevant evaluation tools for all communications activities

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Education:

Essential

· Established track record of delivering impactful, content rich communications programmes across multiple channels and stakeholders with demonstrable measures of success

· Understanding and experience of creating scientific / technical content, ideally in biopharmaceutical context

· Experience of working with the media

· Experience of working with regional and market communicators to support excellent local delivery

· Exemplary native English-level written and verbal communications skills

· Team worker with high level of personal accountability

Desirable

· Entrepreneurial approach and desire to challenge the status quo

· Confidence around senior leaders and comfortable delivering alternative viewpoints

· Strong channel management, digital skills and knowledge of technology options

· Able to develop and maintain networks across business and cultural boundaries

· Ability to undertake global travel will be required, primarily between other AstraZeneca Strategic Science Centres

SPOTLIGHT CALL NOTES:

Summary External Comms Associate Director Role

• Candidates must have pharmaceutical or therapy area communications experience, specifically with R&D or early therapy area pipeline communications (not just generalist pharma experience).
• Candidates who only have platform-type activities or diagnostics/publications/congresses without direct pipeline/therapy area comms are not a good fit.
• Strong preference for candidates with direct pipeline…