Senior Director, Cambridge Communications, 12 month FTC / Secondment

Senior Director, Cambridge Communications - 12 month FTC / Secondment

The Discovery Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, UK

Competitive salary and benefits

At AstraZeneca (AZ), science compels us to push the boundaries of what is possible to turn science into life-changing medicines for patients who need them most. We deliver breakthrough science by creating thriving, vibrant and open science centres where our scientists are free to pursue their ideas and collaborate both with colleagues and our academic and industry partners.  

We are headquartered in Cambridge, UK - one of the most exciting bioscience hotspots in the world, which is hometo the largest UK research and development facility – The DISC. Here more than2,000 employees work together, and with external partners, in drug discovery and development, across our therapy areas, each playing a central role in our mission to deliver life-changing medicines to patients. The DISC is uniquely designed to strengthen collaboration, promote openness, and improve thesustainability of every aspect of our science and our business operations.

Are you ready to enhance our reputation in Cambridge and strengthen relationships within this growing ecosystem and beyond?  As the Senior Director, Cambridge Communications, you will define anddrive activities that enhance our reputation in Cambridge and strengthenrelationships with those within this thriving ecosystem and beyond. You will become a key representative of AZ in the Cambridge community and utilize this role and relationships to guide the development and execution of a robust programmeof activities that support the company’s strategy and maximisesthe impact of AstraZeneca in Cambridge; bringing together diverse stakeholder needsand optimisingourexternal communications, STEM, campus vibrancy and relationships in the community.

You will be a key member of the R&D Communications teams, working closely with internal stakeholdersacross Global Corporate Affairs (GCA) and the broader organisationto ensure the role of AZ in Cambridge – and our most exciting science - is showcased and understood, andto position AstraZeneca as the best science-led organisation in the industry, a business leader and the partner and employer of choice.  

Accountabilities:

• Act as a key representative of AstraZeneca within the Cambridge community, contributing and also learning from others in the wider ecosystem, and translating these insights into activities 

• Leads the development and delivery of an integrated corporate affairs strategy and plan that showcases AstraZeneca’s leadership and positiveimpact to enhancereputation and collaborations in Cambridge, including internal, external and STEM activities. Aligning activities with internal stakeholders to maximise the broader impact within the UK and globally.

• Reinforces and leads the company's approach to external / strategic stakeholder engagement in Cambridge and serves as an effective ambassador in the community.

• Ensures Cambridge milestones, events and external news flow are maximised/effectively managed to achieve Cambridge objectives.  

• Identifies and mobilises input and output from key groups inc media relations, government affairs, community relations, R&D, digital/social media, internal communications and recruitment marketing, to deliver reputation enhancing communications programmes and events

• Anticipates and manages reputational issues in addition to playing a corporate affairs leadership role in business continuity/incident management if required. 

• Builds and expands measurable impact of AZ STEM activities in the UK, and ensures alignment with wider STEM and early careers activities

• Aligns activities with other Cambridge community support programmes (managed in Ops BAU) which focuses predominantly on science education in the community

• Provides coaching and counsel on corporate affairs topics to internal stakeholders including the senior leaders on the Cambridge Site Leadership Team

• Establishes measures of success and implements relevant evaluation tools. Ensures external environment is monitored to identify local and national communication opportunities and risks.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Established track record of delivering impactful, integrated corporate affairs strategies and plans in support of business priorities across multiple channels and stakeholders with demonstrable measures of success

• Have a track record of creating and developing networks, with an entrepreneurial approach and desire to challenge the status quo

• Understands the UK Life-sciences and / or Cambridge ecosystem, and can adeptly navigate and understand the challenges and opportunities they present

• Broad, multi-channel communication experience including media, events, digital, change and crisis communications 

• Working knowledge of the UK political and media environment.

• Experience of managing different internal and external stakeholder relationships. Confident around senior leaders. Comfortable delivering contrary viewpoint when necessary

• Strong issues management capability across corporate affairs disciplines. Sound judgment; strong reputational 'radar'

• High level of integrity, able to handle highly confidential/sensitive information

• Track-record of team and programme leadership, with exceptional influencing  and relationship building skills 

• Team worker with high levels of motivation and personal accountability, bringing enthusiasm & energy to the team

• Excellent eye for detail and upholding visual and verbal identity

• Able to develop and maintainrelationships across business and cultural boundaries

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite ambitious thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and high-reaching world.

Why AstraZeneca?

Join a hardworking distributed team that's powering AstraZeneca to better serve patients, every day. The fuel behind our evolving, rapidly growing enterprise, we're here to help unlock the power of what science can do and ultimately have a big impact on patients' lives. We offer countless opportunities for growth, rewarding our successes collectively across the business. Our generous benefits package showcases the business's appreciation of our long-term dedication.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today to become a part of our diverse team!

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en