Corporate Communications Lead, African Cluster at AstraZeneca

Typical Accountabilities Include:

Strategy & Planning

• Promote and ensure stronger awareness, positive image and reputation of AstraZeneca through effective and appropriate internal/external communication activities
• Develops and implements an external engagement plan to build a presence and position the organization as a leader in the healthcare industry.
• Leads the planning and delivery of the Internal Communications strategy to inform, educate, align, and engage employees to deliver business strategy and priorities to drive business success. Aligning with the Country President of the African Cluster to support priority internal initiatives.
• Contribute to the transformation of the culture to adapt to a changing environment. Develop and implement specific communication tools and messages to support the organization’s change management programs
• Crisis Communication Management, Collaborative with CFT on the Risk Management Plan and communication strategy (proactive or reactive) to support BCP.
• Support GAMA team in the management of issues locally.
• Social Media & Comms Strategy aligned to Cluster Strategy and priorities. Enhancing the equity with media ideas, development of new campaigns, approval processes for content, monthly reports and liaising with above market to make sure media releases are distributed and coverage targets are achieved across prioritized media (online/print).
• Responsible for the social media management & AZ Website Platform with line monitoring to manage responses on various social media platforms.

Strategic Counsel

• Provide strategic communications counsel to African cluster Country President. Setting a communications plan to raise their profile internally and externally, owning their social media plan and identifying strategic opportunities for media engagement.
• Support the African Cluster Country President to deliver regular employee engagement events (Town Halls/ smaller group engagements), providing talking points and slide deck development support as required.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to African Senior Leadership Team (SLT), priority brand teams and other colleagues as required, working with these stakeholders to develop comprehensive, integrated communications plans for relevant business priorities.

Project Management

• Lead priority communication projects within the African Cluster.
• Managing the Reputation Research project with African Cluster – assessing the results, setting action plans and delivering against plans that will improve our reputation.
• Support global AstraZeneca programmes with African cluster level communications planning – specifically the ongoing development of AZ Forest and Young Health Programme in African Cluster.
• Lead on all communications for AstraZeneca’s Flagship programme, Healthy Heart Africa.

Collaborative working

• Work in partnership with Government affairs colleagues in African Cluster, supporting engagements with Government officials and stakeholders, and maximizing these milestones with high-quality internal and external communications.
• Work collaboratively with the Middle East & Africa Corporate Affairs team to ensure they are connected to African cluster plans, seeking advice and counsel from them as and when needed.
• Encourages cross-functional collaboration and information exchange across African Cluster by connecting stories and encouraging colleagues to be collaboratively on Workplace.
• Establish agencies to support the communications activities for African Cluster including onboarding, briefing, assessing the delivery of work, and budget management.

Content, Channels & Media Relations

• Oversees all media relations for African Cluster markets – including planning, content development, placement and reporting.
• Drafts talking points, press releases, feature articles and other external communication products.
• Cultivates a robust network of media contacts.
• Manages media events such as press conferences.
• Develops a content calendar for the African Cluster and identifies appropriate channels – including media, social media and internal.
• Owner of the African external social and internal communication channels, specifically LinkedIn life page, LinkedIn geotargeted for African markets, Facebook pages, African Workplace group and Nucleus landing page, in line with AstraZeneca Global requirements and standards.
• Ensures all communications share a unified, on-brand look and feel that reflect the company’s business priorities and strategy, and are continuous, consistent, and distributed through appropriate channels and aligned with AstraZeneca’s brand and corporate guidelines.
• Ensures robust monitoring and evaluation of impact.
• Manages external vendors providing supports for content production, media outreach and events management.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Completed Bachelor’s Degree in journalism, communication, Commerce or a related discipline
• Minimum 7 years experience working in a mid-senior level internal /external communications role in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience providing strategic communications support to a senior leader.
• Ability to understand and interpret scientific and medical data.
• First-rate coordination, collaboration, organization, and multi-tasking skills.
• Experience providing communications business partnership
• Proven discretion and experience dealing with confidential information
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (in English)
• Evidence of strong writing and editing skills.
• Experience managing external vendors.
• Experience with sales, marketing, and commercial communications.
• Internal communications experience
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Knowledge of AP style.