Head of Corporate Affairs, AZ UK

Are you ready to lead and innovate in a dynamic environment? As the Head of Corporate Affairs, AZ UK, you will be a senior leader shaping our enterprise corporate affairs strategy. As a member of the AZUK Senior Leadership Team, and a key collaborator in the UK Government Affairs team, you will play a pivotal role at the intersection of business performance and public trust—ensuring an effective Corporate Affairs capability across AZUK while owning the most senior engagements with NHS, government, regulatory officials, and UK health media.

In this role, you will lead AstraZeneca’s response to—and shaping of—major corporate issues, translating therapy area challenges and opportunities into clear corporate affairs goals that accelerate business outcomes. You will ensure the AZUK narrative is relevant, understood, and consistently utilised across the business; uphold our commitment to producing high-quality health information for patients and the public; and keep the organisation informed of critical national NHS changes to enable timely, strategic decision-making.

You will manage senior Corporate Affairs professionals, oversee training and development to build a strong talent pipeline, and serve as an enterprise senior leadership team member supporting cross-functional business agendas. You will also lead trade body interactions—partnering closely with the Country President—and ensure all Corporate Affairs activity adheres to the ABPI Code of Practice.

Accountabilities

• Ensures there is an effective Corporate Affairs capability in AZUK
• Owns the most senior engagements with senior NHS, government and regulatory officials
• Leads AstraZeneca in responding to and shaping major corporate issues
• Translate therapy area challenges & opportunities into corporate affairs goals that drive business performance
• Ensures the AZUK narrative is relevant, understood, and is utilised across the business 
• Responsible for upholding the organisation's commitment to the production of high-quality health information for patients and the general public.
• Keeps the business informed of critical changes taking place in the NHS at a national level
• Oversee relationships with UK media, with a focus on health specific media
• Performance manages senior Corporate Affairs professionals to ensure the function continues to operate smoothly
• Offers appropriate training and development opportunities to build a pipeline of talented professionals capable of filling future vacancies
• Is an enterprise senior leadership team member, supporting cross-functional efforts on a range of business agendas
• Leads trade body interactions, including through joint working with the Country President
• Ensures all Corporate Affairs activity adheres to the ABPI Code of Practice

Essential Skills/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
• Extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry or other highly regulated field
• 10+ years’ experience in one or more areas of communications and/or corporate affairs
• Proven ability to influence policy making, and strong understanding of NHS landscape
• Understanding of media, especially new media including social networks
• Expertise in one or more area of internal or external corporate communications
• Team management and leadership experience
• Ability to work cross functionally within a matrix organisation
• Ability to work with senior executive team members
• Strong understanding of ABPI Code and proven ability to maintain ethical high standards

Desired Skills/Experience

• Experience of working within the healthcare system, government, or media role
• Strong understanding of access to medicines policies and trends
• Strong network of national policy, media, and NHS contacts
• Proven ability to manage crisis communications

AstraZeneca offers an environment where you can thrive on energy and pace, contributing to life-saving medicines that shape the future. With an expanding Biopharmaceuticals pipeline, we share learnings as we bring products to market together. Here, you can build a diverse career with opportunities to switch lanes easily, all while making a meaningful impact on patients' lives.

At AstraZeneca, we believe in the potential of our people, and we’ll develop you beyond what you thought possible. There are countless opportunities to develop and grow with AstraZeneca – working with top people to build a diverse career and learn what Commercial looks like at its best.

We are committed to delivering against three missions:

• Accelerating the position of the UK as a global centre of excellence in life sciences
• Redefining healthcare through fast and equitable access to the most effective medicines, high quality care
• Delivering balanced leadership that prioritises healthy people, society and planet

Our head office in Pancras Square offers us the strongest possible platform to transform the lives of patients, as the country’s leading biopharmaceutical company. It brings AstraZeneca UK closer to our customers, partners and collaborators in the UK’s healthcare environment, as well as develop greater collaboration with the wider AstraZeneca footprint.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join AstraZeneca's journey in shaping the future of healthcare!

Date Posted

18-Nov-2025

Closing Date

22-Nov-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.

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.