Communications Director, GCA

at  AstraZeneca

As Communications Director, Global Corporate Affairs (GCA), you will help to deliver the GCA strategy and drive and shape the high-performance culture of the GCA team, through employee engagement and managing communications around GCA Must-Win priorities.
You will lead a varied range of strategic communications, working across the GCA network comprising global, regional and market Corporate Affairs teams. This will include communicating on the progress and implementation of the GCA strategy and scorecard, leading the planning and delivery of strategic engagements with the leadership team such as townhalls, events, key updates & announcements, and building employee engagement across the GCA network to help support understanding of our strategy as well as reinforce a strong culture. You will also oversee internal and external communications for the SVP, GCA, as well as the GCA Leadership Team, helping to position GCA as a strategic function and leading employer brand for Corporate Affairs talent globally.
Experience of working in Corporate Affairs/communications is critical, with an international perspective, solid judgement and proven problem-solving skills. You should have strong experience in project management and internal/corporate communications. Cultural awareness and ability to work with teams internationally will be key.
You will report to the Senior Director, GCA Strategy & Operations, and be a key member of the GCA Strategy & Operations team expected to play an active role in shaping the team’s goals. You will work closely with the SVP, GCA.
You must be proactive and innovative, with a solid understanding of what it takes to build a world-leading CA function. Excellent writing, project management and planning experience is essential.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the communications strategy and planning to drive the effective delivery of the GCA strategy and engagement programme
• Own and coordinate the external and internal communications for the SVP, GCA
• Work closely with the Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team to support their internal and external communications, including driving understanding of GCA’s strategy across the network
• Partner with global, regional and market teams to drive collaboration, best practice sharing and learnings
• Manage regular deliverables including ongoing quarterly performance updates, key announcements and updates, townhalls, monthly GCA updates to the CEO and flagship programmes such as annual functional awards
• Manage external agencies to support effective execution of communication activities as required. Manage quality and compliance of work.

Knowledge and experience

• Extensive experience working in a fast-paced global in-house or agency communications team
• Experience in working with cross-functional teams or on projects
• Significant experience of managing different stakeholder relationships and confident at managing up
• Demonstrable experience of working with others to foster positive, results-oriented cultures
• Experience of working in pharma/other highly regulated sector is desirable

Capabilities and behaviours

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, backed by strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize large amounts of complex data and extract actionable insights
• Ability to communicate information effectively and accurately, verbally or in writing across multiple disciplines. Can synthesize large amounts of data and distil key points clearly, succinctly in reports or verbally
• Sound judgment and lateral thinker/problem solver with experience working in a complex environment and combined with strong interpersonal and influencing skills
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities, stakeholder & colleague expectations and deliver consistently high-quality and accurate outputs
• 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 outputs and improve the effectiveness of approaches
• High level of integrity, able to handle highly confidential information
• Comfortable operating in a matrixed environment

• Lead the communications strategy and planning to drive the effective delivery of the GCA strategy and engagement programme
• Own and coordinate the external and internal communications for the SVP, GCA
• Work closely with the Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team to support their internal and external communications, including driving understanding of GCA’s strategy across the network
• Partner with global, regional and market teams to drive collaboration, best practice sharing and learnings
• Manage regular deliverables including ongoing quarterly performance updates, key announcements and updates, townhalls, monthly GCA updates to the CEO and flagship programmes such as annual functional awards
• Manage external agencies to support effective execution of communication activities as required. Manage quality and compliance of work