Senior Director, Communications, EUCAN

Director, Communications, EUCAN 

Location: Zug, Switzerland 

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company dedicated to unlocking the power of what science can do for people, society and the planet. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and working together to make the seemingly impossible a reality. 

AstraZeneca is seeking a Director to lead communications for the critically important Europe & Canada region.  

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Affairs for Europe & Canada, this enterprise position plays a leadership role to: 

• Partner with the Senior Vice President of the EUCAN Region, the Senior Vice President for Oncology in EUCAN, and their respective leadership teams, to develop and implement the regional communications strategy 

• Engage our employees on our purpose and strategy as we deliver on Ambition 2030 

• Proactively strengthen our corporate reputation in our markets, including as a leader in science and innovation, sustainability (Climate, Equity and Resilience) and as a top employer  

• Shape healthcare systems through thought leadership and advocacy to improve access to healthcare and innovative medicines  

• Strengthen the communications capabilities, ways of working and tools in and above market, as we develop an industry-leading corporate affairs function 

Your responsibilities include: 

COMMUNCATIONS STRATEGY 

• Develop and implement the EUCAN communications strategy, aligned with regional business priorities and the Global Corporate Affairs strategy 

• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership 

• Represent the EUCAN Region on the Global Corporate Communications Taskforce, shaping global strategies and approaches 

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT 

• Lead internal communications for the region, partnering closely with senior business leaders on purpose, strategy, change management and issues management 

• Deliver major global and international milestones, including quarterly results updates, senior leader meetings, leadership country visits, campaigns and town halls 

CORPORATE REPUTATION & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP 

• Assess and manage AZ’s reputation across priority markets, partnering with research agencies, leveraging tracking tools to providing actionable insights and recommendations to the BBU and OBU EUCAN leadership teams  

• Elevate AstraZeneca’s voice as an industry leader to shape the environment for our innovation, healthcare transformation and sustainability priorities 

BUILDING COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES 

• Lead in continually ‘levelling up’ communications capabilities across EUCAN markets, including on digital communications and the use of AI and data, by setting clear standards and expectations, developing frameworks/tools to support excellence, and creating an environment to support learning, development and best practice sharing  

• As part of the EUCAN corporate affairs leadership team, collaborate to improve the integrated capabilities, culture, productivity, efficiency and impact/value of the wider Corporate Affairs team 

Capabilities and behaviours 

• 10+ years public relations and communications experience working in a fast-paced global in-house or agency communications team 

• Excellent written and verbal English communications skills  

• Expertise in developing and delivering innovative and impactful communications strategies 

• Sound judgment combined with strong interpersonal and influencing skills 

• Ability to manage conflicting priorities, stakeholder & colleague expectations 

• Self-starter with proven ability to work independently and flexibly, think ahead, engage proactively and take initiative 

• Strategic thinker looking outside to bring new approaches to continually reinvigorate ways of working, drive productivity and efficiency and improve the effectiveness and impact of approaches 

• Track record of developing high-performing teams 

• Capable of achieving results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, often on short deadlines 

• Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment, act as a trusted advisor and handle sensitive information