External Communications Manager

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About the role

Job Title: External Communications Manager   Location: London, UK Introduction to role:    Are you ready to turn complex healthcare topics into compelling stories that help more patients access breakthrough medicines? In this role, you will shape how our science, policy and access priorities are understood by the outside world, working across our UK portfolio in Respiratory & Immunology (R&I), Vaccines & Immune Therapies (V&I), and Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism (CVRM).  You will partner with Therapy Area Leads, brand teams and Corporate Affairs colleagues to deliver high-impact, compliant communications that support campaigns, policy milestones, partnerships and non-promotional events. Your work will connect evidence with empathy, engaging media, policymakers, the NHS, healthcare professionals and patient groups to advance tangible outcomes for patients. Can you see yourself leading narratives that influence national conversations and open doors to sustainable access?  Accountabilities:    • Integrated Communications Planning: Build and deliver external communications plans across the UK portfolio, aligning with Therapy Area Leads, brand teams and Corporate Affairs to drive agreed priorities.  • Campaign and Milestone Delivery: Lead communications for campaigns, reports, policy and access milestones, partnerships, roundtables and non-promotional events, ensuring clear objectives and measurable outcomes.  • Content Creation and Editorial: Draft press releases, media statements, Q&As, key messages, briefing materials, case studies, stakeholder communications and social media posts tailored to diverse audiences.  • Complex Topic Translation: Convert complex policy, access, scientific, evidence, sustainability and healthcare-system issues into accurate, accessible and audience-relevant communications.  • Digital and Social Activation: Develop channel-appropriate digital content for approved activities, optimising format and tone for reach and engagement.  • Proactive Story Development and Media Preparation: Shape proactive narratives and prepare materials for media engagement, coordinating with the Corporate Communications Lead and GMR in line with agreed processes.  • Leadership and Stakeholder Briefing: Prepare external briefing materials and talking points to support leadership engagements, stakeholder meetings and speaking opportunities.  • Policy and External Stakeholder Engagement: Create materials for engagement with policymakers, NHS stakeholders, HCPs, PAGs, trade bodies, partnerships and other external audiences.  • Program Management and Ways of Working: Maintain communications calendars, timelines, approval routes, trackers and dependencies to enable smooth, on-time delivery.  • Agency and Supplier Management: Coordinate day-to-day delivery through agencies and internal contributors, managing scope, quality, timelines and budgets.  • Measurement and Insight: Track and evaluate outputs, engagement and impact; apply insights to improve effectiveness and demonstrate contribution to business priorities.  • Governance and Compliance: Ensure all communications comply with AstraZeneca policies and applicable legal, regulatory and ethical requirements, including the ABPI Code and relevant review and approval processes.  Essential Skills/Experience:   • Experience developing and delivering external communications programmes, campaigns or projects, preferably in a complex or regulated organisation.  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and engaging content for different audiences and channels.  • Ability to translate business and Corporate Affairs priorities into practical communications plans and deliverables.  • Proactive, entrepreneurial instinct

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