Director, North America R&D Site Communications

Director, North America R&D Site Communications

Gaithersburg, MD

Global Corporate Affairs

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days a week from office

Do you have a passion for people, for science and the communications and management skills to design, develop and implement employee engagement strategies for a science‑led biopharmaceutical company? Can you conceive, prioritize and run effective internal communications programs to help inspire employees around a bold ambition?

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Communications Director to drive the development and delivery of communications in support of our North American R&D sites, focused primarily on our R&D hub in Gaithersburg, MD, but including R&D sites in South San Francisco and New York. With more than 4,000 scientists, executives, and supporting staff, our Gaithersburg site is one of six strategic R & D hubs globally.

Gaithersburg is an outstanding and vibrant campus with the capacity to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize innovative medicines all within a single campus.

You will lead internal multi‑channel long‑ and short‑term communications to build culture, share information, and create community. You'll need to be a strategic problem solver, with a talent to develop project plans and implement communications optimally. Expert‑level organization and time management skills are key to supporting numerous projects, delivering in a fast‑paced environment, coordinating with multiple functions and/or regions and successfully partnering with internal clients and leaders.

• Develop and deliver effective and creative communications programs that inform and inspire our employees around our bold ambition

• Design and deliver change management communications in support of site‑level organizational changes

• Deliver weekly Campus Update email communication, including coordination across functions to source and highlight content

• Serve as primary point‑of‑contact for high‑profile delegation visits to the Gaithersburg campus

• Support senior leaders to ensure seamless execution of high‑profile internal engagements

• Support the Gaithersburg Site Leadership and Extended Site Leadership team(s) to elevate them as leaders and support site leadership strategy

• Lead the communication planning, development and delivery for flagship site events.

• Facilitate execution of multiple site‑wide initiatives and events

• Ensure communications are continuous, consistent and distributed across multiple site channels, including plasma screens, and digital channels, including our intranet and social media channels

• Lead and champion use of relevant communication channels - such as Workvivo; ensure adoption across organization and implements measurement strategies in order to drive effectiveness and behavior change

• Collaborate with other teams across AstraZeneca, including Site Operations, Health & Safety, Security, and others to ensure the development of compelling, functional change communications

• Bachelor’s degree

• 8+ years communications experience

• Established track record of delivering impactful, content‑rich communications programmes across multiple channels and partners with demonstrable measures of success

• Substantial experience and skills in internal communications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Strong social and digital skills and knowledge of technology options

• Team worker with high level of personal accountability

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

• Experience of driving groundbreaking change communications and working cross‑functionally

• Experience managing vendors including communications/PR agencies, video production agencies, and freelancers

• Ability to mentor and influence senior leaders on their communication effectiveness

• Ability to set and handle priorities, resources, goals, and project initiatives

• First‑rate coordination, teamwork, organization and multi‑tasking skills

• Project management skills

• Degree in journalism, communication, marketing or related field

• Experience working in the pharmaceutical industry

• Experience working in large scale multi‑national…