Director, Science Communications & Engagement - Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Director, Science Communications & Engagement - Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences

Location: Cambridge, UK (3 days on site per week)

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines and strive to continuously meet the unmet needs of patients worldwide. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big, and working together to make the impossible a reality!

We are currently recruiting for a dedicated, motivated individual to lead our internal and external communication and engagement. You will be responsible for building, leading and implementing the communication and engagement strategy. You will shape the ongoing flow of information, to ensure that our scientific communication rises above the “noise”, by identifying innovative ways of bringing our voice to the relevant audiences in and outside AstraZeneca.

Who we are

Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences is a global excellence function supporting all of AZ R&D, with colleagues across India, UK, US, Sweden and Spain. We are a diverse department of 700+ people working together to support and contribute to our drug pipeline. We are committed to bringing novel medicine to patients, supporting every project from drug discovery to launch with our expertise across Safety Sciences, Clinical Pharmacology, Bioanalysis, Pathology, Animal Science and Technology, Predictive AI & Data and Buisness Planning & Operations.

This is the place to make an impact! Here we ensure everyone can reach their full potential, perform at their best and make a valued contribution to the enterprise.

What You’ll do

• Work directly with the Senior Vice President Head of CPSS and Head of Business Planning and Operations with content and development of material for internal and external engagements and key presentations such as strategy and budget meetings

• Define and implement the internal communications and engagement strategy for CPSS, working closely with key stakeholders across AstraZeneca

• Liaise with the CPSS leadership team to develop sets of strategic communication for areas of relevance

• Responsible for inputs to the Head of R&D Communications for Biopharmaceuticals, e.g. Monthly reports, BioPharma town halls, presentations to the AZ Board

• Responsible for input to major conferences and expert meetings as well as internal events

• Drive the development and communication of science stories to showcase our distinctive science, outstanding scientists, and scientific publications internally as well as externally

• Drive and facilitate development of relevant content for CPSS internal web site

• Drive development of materials for communication of scorecard content during the year and secure engagement amongst staff

• Partner with the Scientific leads to facilitate expert meetings as appropriate

• Proactive leading the planning, asset creation and implementation to support key strategic needs for functional scientific and great place to work strategies

• Participates actively in CPSS leadership team and provides counsel, coaching as well as deep knowledge of internal/external communications offerings and opportunities for integration across the business

• Partnering with R&D Corporate Affairs and Talent Acquisition to shape external communications to increase the external scientific and our wonderful place to work reputation

Essential criteria:

• PhD in a related subject area, Science and/or communication

• Pharmaceutical experience

• Experience with collaborating and presenting to SET -1 and leadership and creating high quality materials to support.

• Momentous experience in science communication or journalism and proven ability to clearly articulate science and complex data fit for the audience.

• Late science and complex data fit for the audience for a minimum of 10 years in a global matrix environment.

• Comfortable and skilled in operating in a complex operational matrixed organization across diverse, global teams

• Strong internal stakeholder engagement capabilities in a matrix organisation – Skilled at being able bring together all relevant internal collaborators, achieving project deliverables and targets

• Experience in a strategic corporate communications role with proficiency in developing and leading communications & engagement programs

• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical drug discovery and development process

• Strong influencing, networking, and collaboration skills

• A proven track record of delivering business goals in a timely manner

• Practised in creating impactful scientific communications for a range of difference audiences

• Experience of delivering BAU initiatives whilst developing the longer-term strategic communication plan

Skills and capabilities

• Excellent ability to engage, influence and collaborate across boundaries with delivery focus and a problem-solving attitude

• Knowledge of large, matrixed organisations

• Strong influencing, networking and team working skills

In Office Requirement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold 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 ambitious world.

So, what’s next?

We would encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. If you know someone who would be a great fit, please share this posting with them.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.

The successful candidate will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.