External Communications Manager

AstraZeneca plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc in London is seeking an External Communications Manager to shape how science, policy and access priorities are understood by external audiences across the UK portfolio in R&I, V&I and CVRM.

You will lead external communications plans, partner with Therapy Area Leads and Corporate Affairs to deliver campaigns, milestones and high-impact content, while ensuring compliance with ABPI and other requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering external comms programmes in complex/reg pubs or regulated sectors.
• Excellent written and verbal communications for diverse audiences.
• Translate priorities into practical comms plans.
• Proactive and entrepreneurial approaches to strategy and tactics.

Responsibilities

• Integrated external communications planning across UK portfolio.
• Lead campaigns, milestones, partnerships and events with measurable outcomes.
• Draft press releases, Q&As, key messages and briefing materials.
• Translate complex policy and healthcare issues into accessible content.
• Develop digital content and optimise reach for approved activities.
• Prepare materials for media engagement and leadership briefings.
• Manage agencies and internal contributors; monitor budgets and timelines.
• Track engagement and apply insights to improve delivery.

Skills

External comms

Campaign management

Stakeholder engagement

Content creation

Digital & social media

Policy translation

Media relations

Project management

Education

Degree in communications

Public affairs qualification

Job description

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&A, 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 instincts to support the development of innovative strategies and tactics in order to relay messages to wide-ranging audiences.

• Ability to understand and communicate complex healthcare, policy, access, scientific, evidence and sustainability issues

• Experience working with cross-functional colleagues, senior stakeholders, agencies and external partners in a matrix environment.

• Strong organisational and project-management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, approvals and dependencies.

• Experience developing content for digital and social media channels and understanding how to tailor communications to different platforms.

• Ability to brief, coordinate and manage agencies or external suppliers to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines and budgets.

• Ability to monitor communications activity, interpret engagement data and use insight to improve future delivery.

• Demonstrated commitment to operating within legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks, including the ABPI Code and relevant company policies.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience working in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, life sciences or another highly regulated industry.

• Experience supporting proactive media relations, media engagement or issues-management communications.

• Knowledge of respiratory, immunology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, renal or metabolic healthcare priorities.

• Experience communicating policy, market-access, NHS, reimbursement or healthcare-system issues.

• Experience developing communications for partnerships, stakeholder coalitions, reports or external events.

• Experience preparing briefing materials, speeches, talking points or communications for senior leaders.

• Experience using communications measurement, digital analytics or evaluation frameworks to demonstrate impact.

• Degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in communications, public affairs, marketing, journalism, healthcare, business or a related discipline.

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.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here, your storytelling meets cutting-edge science and real patient impact. You will work with experts across functions to bring forward new indications and shape how our innovations are understood by payers, government and the wider healthcare ecosystem. We blend autonomy with collaboration, valuing clarity, curiosity and kindness alongside ambition. You will influence strategies early, learn fast, and see your work translate into access that changes lives—while developing your craft in a culture that prizes rigorous thinking, creative problem solving and measured risk-taking.

If you are ready to lead the conversations that move medicines from pipeline to patients, take the next step and shape this impact with us now!

Date Posted

07-Oct-2026

Closing Date

22-Oct-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.