"Alerted.org

Lead, US Commercial and Medical Affairs Communications

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com .

Purpose:

Responsible for leading, planning and executing strategic communications for Astellas US in collaboration with colleagues within the wider Communications and Investor Relations (CIR) function, that drives positive engagement with internal and external stakeholders on Astellas’ corporate values, vision, direction, and brand. Build capabilities in Communications across the communicators network within US.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

_Overall_

+ Drive positive engagement with internal and external stakeholders through communicating compelling Astellas growth stories. Build trust in Astellas’ corporate values, vision, direction, and brands

+ Develop and implement communications strategies and tactics/programs that help drive business priorities and objectives for the US business.

+ Provide strategic communications counsel to the US Market Leadership Team and develop compelling communications contents such leader’s message (email/ social), presentation material, executive talking points, announcement, Q&As, external key messages, press statements etc.

+ Promote change communications in support of transformation and change management efforts

+ Raise corporate profile, and profile of the Company’s portfolio to its stakeholders which include media, HCPs, payers and patient groups

+ Lead response for litigation or issues management requiring communication support in partnership with the wider global Commercial Communications team

+ Drive engagement among relevant external stakeholders and employees to support brand growth of our strategic products and existing portfolio, ensure a coordinated approach to publicize the release of R&D/clinical data milestones to build Astellas reputation in therapy areas

_Brand Communications_

+ Oversee & support the US Brand Comms teams to ensuring the US Brand and disease programmes align with the strategic imperatives set.

+ Drive engagement among relevant external stakeholders and employees to support brand growth of our priority products

+ Ensure brand communications programs developed are approved, compliant and implemented within timelines set.

+ Ensure a coordinated approach to publicize the release of R&D/clinical data milestones to build Astellas reputation in therapy areas

+ Contextualize & implement global content, augment global activities with US activities (agreed within co-creation)

+ Drive internal disease awareness/ education and communicate Brand Comms news/ updates/ launches

_Internal Communications_

+ Support the US Leadership Team to drive strategic alignment, engagement and foster culture/behaviors to maximize regional performance against a backdrop of ongoing change

+ Strategically plan and execute the executive communications for the Head of Commercial and Head of Medical Affairs, and other US regional LT members (as appropriate) to drive strong leadership within the company to build trust amongst employees

+ Devise a robust internal communications strategy that engages employees and support their understanding of the organization’s strategies, objectives, values and direction, utilizing a range of communications platforms/ channels.

+ Establish, maintain and optimize internal communication channels such as intranet, Viva Engage, emails, and face to face meetings/ event to support effective and targeted internal communications

+ Effectively pull through global content and contextualize it for the US audience.

+ Create high quality internal communication content that align with communication strategy

+ Direct the Communications Team to act as guardians to the Corporate Brand Guidelines in your assigned market’s region; ensuring guidelines are followed in all external and internal communications.

_External Communications_

+ Effectively tell a compelling Astellas’ growth story through the right channel, right voice, right timing to the targeted audience.

+ Position Astellas as a progressive health partner and demonstrate the value we are delivering to patients, healthcare systems and society through effective external communications tactics.

+ Represent the Company externally and support the company in contacts with industry, government bodies, customers and the general public in order to maintain a positive view of the company and its products.

+ Responsible for developing and directing an external facing strategic communications program annually which engages wider stakeholder audiences such as patient groups, business and trade media.

+ Lead on identifying and maximizing corporate media and award opportunities which positively raise the profile of the company and positions Astellas as a leader in its field. Work alongside senior management to maximize on media and awards opportunities.

+ Direct the team of professional communications officers & managers to manage the development of corporate materials which will support the company profile and company organized media events such as press conferences / media interviews (materials such as press releases, Q&As, key message documents, press packs, brochures, corporate advertising).

+ Organize media training for senior management as and when they require this and providing message coaching to Senior Leaders/ top management as required.

+ Direct the Communications Team to manage daily media monitoring and check all corporate inboxes.

+ Direct the Communications team (regional and local) to ensure the assigned market and affiliates’ websites are kept up-to-date, compliant and aligns with the company messages.

Qualifications Required:

+ BS or BA Degree or Equivalent in journalism, communications or related field

+ Minimum of 15+ years of increasing corporate communications or public relations experience, preferably in healthcare industry

+ Experience in brand/ products communications in Pharmaceutical industry

+ Experience managing a small team

+ Experience developing robust PR strategies that support engagement from both internal and external stakeholders

+ Ability to work under pressure with external media and stakeholders (e.g. journalists on deadline)

+ A thorough understanding of how the media works

+ Must be comfortable dealing with journalists and similar stakeholders

+ Able to engage internal stakeholders at all levels to support the buy-in and approval of Communications programs and strategies

+ Ideally experience working both in consultancy / agency and in-house to ensure they have direct experience of and understanding of the factors that impact the management and implementation of PR programmes.

+ Experience managing agencies

+ Substantial commercial communications experience including reasonable time within an international healthcare communications role

+ Experience working at above-the country-levels in Asia Pacific or Emerging Markets Areas

+ Professional copy writing experience in public relations

**Preferred** :

+ Small team leadership and coaching skills

+ Self-starter, able to initiate, drive and share strategic communications initiatives

+ Flexible and solutions driven approach to work

+ Working closely with internal stakeholders to ensure joint projects / programmes align with the objectives set out

+ Able to work in a changing environment

+ Able to work in global or multi-national environment, seeing ‘bigger picture’

+ Should be comfortable and confident in dealing with colleagues from elsewhere in the organization including at senior level (up to CEO)

+ Ability to retain and manage confidential information effectively

Working Environment:

+ At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.

_Flexible grade level based on candidate background and skillset_

Compensation Range:$197,000 $ 282,000 (NOTE: Final Salary could be more or less, based on experience.)

Benefits:

+ Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

+ Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down

+ 401(k) match and annual company contribution

+ Company paid life insurance

+ Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions

+ Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions

+ Referral bonus program

\#LI-LN2

Category Commercial Communications

Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans