Director, North America R&D Site Communications

Director, North America R&D Site Communications

Gaithersburg, MD 

Global Corporate Affairs

Hybrid Work- on average 3 days a week from office

Do you have a passion for people, forscience andthe communicationsand management skills to design, develop and implement employee engagement strategies for a science-led biopharmaceutical company? Can you conceive,prioritizeand run effective internal communications programs to help inspire employees around a bold ambition?

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Communications Directorto drive thedevelopment and delivery of communications in support of our North American R&D sites, focused primarily on our R&D hub in Gaithersburg, MD, but including R&D sitesinSouth San Franciscoand New York. With more than 4,000 scientists, executives, and supporting staff, our Gaithersburg site is one ofsixstrategic R&D hubs globally.Gaithersburg is an outstanding and vibrant campus with the capacity to discover, develop, manufacture, and commercialize innovative medicines all within a single campus.

You will leadinternal multi-channellong- and short-termcommunicationsto build culture, share information, and create community.You'llneed to be a strategic problem solver, with a talent to develop project plans and implement communications optimally. Expert-level organization and time management skills are key to supportingnumerousprojects,deliverin a fast-paced environment,coordinatewith multiple functions and/orregionsand successfullypartnerwith internal clients and leaders.

What you'll do                                                                                                       

• Develop and deliver effectiveand creativecommunications programs thatinform and inspire our employeesaround our bold ambition

• Design and deliver change management communications in support of site-level organizational changes

• Deliver weekly Campus Updateemailcommunication, including coordination across functions to source and highlight content 

• Serve as primary point-of-contact forhigh-profiledelegation visits to the Gaithersburg campus

• Support senior leaders to ensure seamless execution of high-profile internal engagements

• SupporttheGaithersburg Site Leadershipand Extended Site Leadershipteamstoelevate them as aleadersand support site leadershipstrategy

• Lead the communication planning,developmentand deliveryforflagshipsiteevents. 

• Facilitate execution of multiple site-wide initiatives and events

• Ensure communications are continuous,consistentand distributedacross multiple site channels, including plasma screens,and digital channels, including our intranet and social media channels

• Lead and champion use of relevant communication channels - such asWorkvivo; ensure adoption across organization andimplementsmeasurement strategiesin order todrive effectiveness and behavior change 

• Collaborate with other teams across AstraZeneca, includingSite Operations, Health & Safety, Security, and others to ensure the development of compelling, functional change communications

Essential for you

• Bachelor’s degree

• 8+ years communications experience

• Establishedtrack recordof delivering impactful, content rich communicationsprogrammesacross multiple channels and partners with demonstrable measures of success

• Substantial experience and skills in internal communications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

• Strong social and digital skills and knowledge of technology options

• Team worker withhigh levelof personal accountability

• Able to develop andmaintainnetworks across business and cultural boundaries

• Experience of driving groundbreaking change communications and working cross-functionally

• Experience managing vendors including communications/PR agencies, video production agencies, and freelancers

• Ability to mentor and influence senior leaders on their communication effectiveness

• Ability to set and handle priorities, resources, goals, and project initiatives

• First-rate coordination, teamwork,organizationand multi-tasking skills

• Project management skills

Desirable for the role

• Degree in journalism, communication,marketingor related field

• Experience working in the pharmaceutical industry

• Experience working inlarge scalemulti-national companies

• Understanding of and ability to translate science

Office Working Requirements

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.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $146,716.80 - 220,075.20 USD. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. ​

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