Communications Business Partner

Astellas; Australia; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Astellas seeks a Communications Business Partner to advise senior leaders, shape executive messaging, and lead internal and external communications in a global, matrixed environment. The role requires strategic judgment, change communications expertise, and collaboration with agencies and vendors across regions.

Fluency in English is essential, and experience with C-suite communications is preferred. Hybrid work model with potential travel; based in Australia or other eligible locations, you

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5–8 years of corporate/internal or executive communications experience.
• Proven ability to counsel senior leaders and craft executive messaging.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; fluent English.
• Experience coordinating with external communications, media, or reputation initiatives.
• Ability to manage vendors and navigate a matrixed global environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, aligning messaging with enterprise priorities.
• Define and drive leadership communication strategies and engagement plans.
• Translate business priorities into credible narratives for internal and external audiences.
• Lead executive-level communications including speeches, town halls, and publications.
• Coordinate with media, investor relations, and enterprise publications.
• Design internal channel strategies to drive alignment and change adoption.
• Lead change communications for transformations and major initiatives.
• Manage external vendors and agency partners to deliver quality outputs.
• Collaborate with global teams to ensure consistent leadership messaging.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Executive communications

Written communication

Verbal communication

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor in Communications

5–8 years experience

Job description

Job Description

We're seeking passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace new ideas and aren't afraid to take intelligent risks. People who act with unwavering integrity and are deeply committed to making a tangible impact.

Working Environment and Location

• This position can be based in Japan, Singapore, Australia or UK.
• 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. This is a global role that may require collaboration across time zones and flexibility to support executive needs outside traditional business hours.

Purpose and Scope

The Communications Business Partner serves as a strategic communications advisor and consultant to assigned senior leaders, including members of the C-suite. Reporting through Internal Corporate Communications, the role is responsible for shaping, planning, and delivering integrated communications strategies that advance enterprise priorities, enable organizational clarity, and support effective leadership communication. The Communications Business Partner works proactively with leaders to anticipate communication needs; develop compelling narratives, messages, and presentations; and advise on the most effective channels and approaches to reach internal and external audiences.

This individual operates in a highly matrixed, global environment and is expected to demonstrate strong strategic judgment, change communications expertise, and the ability to counsel leaders through complex, sensitive, and high-impact situations— including issues and crisis communications. The role requires close collaboration with internal and external communications teams, agencies, and vendors to protect and enhance leader credibility, organizational alignment, and Astellas’ corporate reputation.

Role and Responsibilities

Executive Communications & Strategic Counsel

• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to assigned senior leaders, providing strategic counsel aligned with enterprise priorities, internal communications strategy, and CIR objectives.
• Define and drive leadership communication strategies, anticipating needs and shaping forward-looking messaging and engagement plans.
• Translate business priorities, change initiatives, and decisions into clear, credible, and audience-appropriate narratives that support leadership effectiveness and enterprise alignment.

Leadership Messaging, Content & Presentations

• Lead development of executive-level communications, including speeches, presentations, organisational messages, town hall content, videos, and written messages for leaders.
• Provide end-to-end content support for C-suite contributions to Media Relations activities, Investor Relations activities, and enterprise publications such as the Integrated Report.
• Translate enterprise narrative, strategy, and performance into relevant and authentic leader messages and compelling storytelling for both internal and external use.

Internal Communications & Channel Strategy

• Design and execute internal communications strategies that drive organisational alignment, employee engagement, and effective change adoption for assigned leaders and functions.
• Provide expert guidance to leaders on channel selection, sequencing, and timing, advising when and how to communicate through enterprise channels such as intranet, enterprise email, town halls, leader cascades, and live engagements.
• Oversee execution of key leadership communications moments, including announcements and organisational updates.

Change Communications Expertise

• Lead and advise on communications for enterprise and functional change initiatives, including transformations, reorganisations, strategy shifts, and major initiatives.
• Apply change communications expertise to ensure clarity, consistency, and employee understanding throughout change journeys.
• Partner with Internal Corporate Communications leadership and stakeholders to align leader messaging with broader enterprise change narratives and corporate initiatives.

External Interface, Media & Reputation Support

• Ensure alignment between internal and external narratives in close partnership with External Corporate Communications.
• Shape assigned leaders’ external social media activities, including both content creation and content curation.
• Partner with External Corporate Communications to support leader preparation for external engagements, including media interviews, conference presentations, analyst or stakeholder engagements, and public appearances.

Issues & Crisis Communications

• Participate in issues and crisis communications planning and execution, including leader preparedness, internal alignment, and coordination with external communications colleagues.
• Advise leaders during issues or crisis situations, supporting message development, internal alignment, and timely execution.
• Collaborate with Internal Corporate Communications and External Corporate Communications leads to manage sensitive and high-impact situations while maintaining confidentiality and governance.
• Ensure internal audiences receive clear, accurate, and timely information that supports trust and stability during challenging situations.

Vendor and Agency Management

• Manage external vendors and agencies that support executive communications, leadership messaging, events, or content development.
• Oversee vendor deliverables, timelines, and quality, ensuring alignment with enterprise standards and communications objectives.
• Identify opportunities to leverage agency expertise effectively while maintaining governance and consistency.

Cross-Functional & Global Collaboration

• Work closely with Communications and Investor Relations colleagues, functional communicators, and regional teams to deliver integrated communications.
• Liaise with global communications partners to maximise leader reach, reputation, and message consistency across regions and audiences.
• Actively identify opportunities to amplify leadership messaging across multiple channels and platforms.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of highly sensitive situations, projects, or announcements.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in corporate, internal, or executive communications within a complex, global organization.
• Demonstrated experience providing strategic communications counsel to senior leaders or executive-level stakeholders.
• Strong experience developing executive messaging, presentations, and organization-wide communications.
• Proven expertise in change communications and supporting leaders through transformation and ambiguity.
• Experience coordinating with or supporting external communications, media engagement, or reputation management efforts.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex topics into clear, compelling messages.
• Ability to manage vendors and external partners effectively.
• Experience working in a highly matrixed, global environment.
• Fluent in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting C-suite or enterprise leadership communications.
• Familiarity with regulated, research-driven, or life sciences environments.
• Experience contributing to enterprise reporting, thought leadership, or integrated corporate storytelling.
• Exposure to issues and crisis communications in high-visibility environments.
• Strong understanding of internal communications channels and digital engagement approaches.
• Business level Japanese language is plus

Why Astellas

• We're seeking passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic environments, embrace new ideas and aren't afraid to take intelligent risks.
• People who act with unwavering integrity and are deeply committed to making a tangible impact.

Learn more at Astellas.com