Public Affairs Intern

450 Eli Lilly Kinsale Limited; Kinsale; Hybrid; EUR 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Vacation benefits

Healthcare benefits

Flexible benefits

Life insurance

Job summary

Lilly’s Public Affairs Intern role is a 12-month placement at the Kinsale site, working within the Public Affairs team to support external communications, government affairs, and ESG initiatives across Lilly Ireland.

You will collaborate with site leadership and corporate teams, supporting activities in communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact, with structured guidance and exposure to a global, regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Graduate qualification in Public Affairs, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or a related discipline.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to research, analyse, and clearly summarise complex information
• Strong organisational and documentation skills, with careful attention to detail
• A proactive mindset with a willingness to learn and take initiative
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills
• Energy & enthusiasm to learn and maximise the value of placement

Responsibilities

• Public and Government Affairs Support the development and delivery of public affairs and external engagement activities at site and national level for Lilly in Ireland. Assist with stakeholder mapping and engagement, including local community, public representatives, agencies, and industry bodies
• Monitor and summarise policy, regulatory, and political developments relevant to the life sciences and manufacturing sectors
• Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences
• University Outreach and Relationship Management Support the improved coordination of Lilly Kinsale’s engagement with universities and higher‑education institutions and the development of an All‑Ireland approach to 3rd level campus outreach
• Help track and evaluate the impact of university engagement initiatives, providing insights and recommendations for improvement
• External Engagement Assist in the creation and maintenance of a database of external engagement with both professional organisations, trade associations and any other ad hoc activities
• Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences
• Environmental, Social and Governance Assist in the ongoing development and delivery of Lilly’s All‑Ireland social impact programme
• Work with other team members to deliver creative and effective ways to communicate the new social impact programme in line with Lilly broader ESG priorities to external stakeholders
• Support community engagement initiatives, events, and site visits
• Assist with ad hoc projects related to corporate reputation, sustainability, and social impact
• Compliance and Continuous Improvement Maintain strict documentation audit trail as needed/required for external engagement activities, including review and approvals, and archiving when complete

Skills

Communication skills

Research & analysis

Organisation

Teamwork

Interpersonal skills

Proactivity

Attention to detail

Education

Public Affairs or related degree

Public Policy

Political Science

International Relations

Job description

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Public Affairs Intern

Location: Lilly Manufacturing Site, Dunderrow, Kinsale

Duration: 12‑Month Placement Start Date: May 2027 – May 2028

Salary: €30,500

Working Pattern: 4 days onsite / 1 day remote

Hours: Full‑time, 39 hours per week

Placement Information – Public Affairs Intern At Lilly, student placements are designed to be hands‑on and impactful. You’ll contribute to real work, gain exposure to a global organisation, and build practical skills that support your academic and professional development.

About the Role

This 12‑month Public Affairs placement is based at Lilly’s Kinsale manufacturing site and sits within the Public Affairs team, which leads external communications, government affairs, and ESG initiatives across Lilly Ireland. You’ll work closely with site leadership and corporate teams, supporting high‑impact activities across communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact.

What You’ll Do & Learn

• Work across multiple teams in a collaborative, cross‑functional environment
• Take ownership of defined workstreams in internal and external communications
• Support community engagement and social impact programmes
• Contribute to creative, innovative, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Build practical skills in public affairs, communications, and stakeholder engagement

You’ll receive structured support from your manager and the wider team, enabling you to apply your existing knowledge while developing new capabilities in a global, highly regulated environment.

Position Overview

The Public Affairs Intern will support the Kinsale Public Affairs function, partnering with site leadership and corporate teams on: External engagement and stakeholder relationships Internal and external communications Community and social impact initiatives

Key Responsibilities

• Public and Government Affairs Support the development and delivery of public affairs and external engagement activities at site and national level for Lilly in Ireland. Assist with stakeholder mapping and engagement, including local community, public representatives, agencies, and industry bodies Monitor and summarise policy, regulatory, and political developments relevant to the life sciences and manufacturing sectors Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences
• University Outreach and Relationship Management Support the improved coordination of Lilly Kinsale’s engagement with universities and higher‑education institutions and the development of an All‑Ireland approach to 3rd level campus outreach Help track and evaluate the impact of university engagement initiatives, providing insights and recommendations for improvement
• External Engagement Assist in the creation and maintenance of a database of external engagement with both professional organisations, trade associations and any other ad hoc activities. Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences
• Environmental, Social and Governance Assist in the ongoing development and delivery of Lilly’s All‑Ireland social impact programme. Work with other team members to deliver creative and effective ways to communicate the new social impact programme in line with Lilly broader ESG priorities to external stakeholders. Support community engagement initiatives, events, and site visits Assist with ad hoc projects related to corporate reputation, sustainability, and social impact
• Compliance and Continuous Improvement Maintain strict documentation audit trail as needed/required for external engagement activities, including review and approvals, and archiving when complete. Contribute creative ideas and suggestions across all aspects of the student’s responsibility to bring new thinking and continuous improvement to the team and the site

Candidate Profile

• Recently completed (or due to complete) a graduate qualification in Public Affairs, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or a related discipline
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to research, analyse, and clearly summarise complex information
• Strong organisational and documentation skills, with careful attention to detail
• A proactive mindset with a willingness to learn and take initiative
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills
• Energy & enthusiasm to learn and maximise the value of placement

Accommodation and Disability Support

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Equity & Diversity

Lilly does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation & Benefits

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is € - € Full-time equivalent employees may also be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance).

• Eligibility to participate in a pension plan
• Vacation benefits
• Eligibility for healthcare benefits
• Flexible benefits (if applicable)
• Life insurance and death benefits
• Certain time off and leave of absence benefits
• Well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)

Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

Additional Information

At Lilly we strive to ensure our employees are part of a team that cares about them and our shared purpose of making life better for those around the world.

How do we do this? We continue to look for ways to include, innovate, accelerate and deliver while maintaining integrity, excellence and respect for people. We hope that you seek to join us on our journey as we create medicine and deliver improved outcomes for patients across the globe!

#WeAreLillyUKandIreland #WeAreLilly