Director, Enterprise Cell Therapy Corporate Affairs

AstraZeneca GmbH; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13th month salary

Training programs

27 vacation days

Wellness budget

Holiday calendar options

Pension plan

Job summary

AstraZeneca is building an Enterprise Cell Therapy function in Amsterdam and seeks a Director of Corporate Affairs to shape and execute communications for internal and external audiences. The role is hybrid, based at One Helix with three days in the office and occasional UK travel.

You will balance strategic shaping (40%) with delivery (60%), guiding strategies, advising senior leaders, coordinating events, and aligning policy priorities across a global matrix.

Qualifications

• Strong biotech/pharma experience; understands how pharma works and what cell therapy is.
• Proven track record in strategic and internal communications at senior level.
• Experience advising executives on communication matters.
• Excellent writing, project management and multi-channel communications skills.
• Sound scientific background to interpret complex science for diverse audiences.
• Strong stakeholder management with ability to push back strategically.
• Experience in a global, virtual team environment.
• Fluency in English (spoken and written).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies for Global Corporate Affairs and Cell Therapy.
• Advise senior leaders on internal and external communication approaches.
• Lead internal communications such as town halls and leader communications.
• Support policy and advocacy priorities and stakeholder roundtables.
• Prepare content for external presentations and engagements.
• Measure effectiveness and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Build relationships across a global, matrixed organisation.

Skills

Strategic communications

Internal communications

Executive coaching

Excellent writing

Project management

Multi-channel/digital comms

Stakeholder management

English fluency

Job description

We are building something special in cell therapy. Be the voice that helps shape it.

Director, Enterprise Cell Therapy Corporate Affairs

Amsterdam | office 3 days per week

12 month Fixed Term Contract (fulltime)

Occasional travel to the UK

About the Role

AstraZeneca is advancing cell therapy at scale, investing in state-of-the-art platforms, building global capabilities and pushing the boundaries of science. The field is moving at pace — and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for patients is growing just as quickly.

As we build our new Enterprise Cell Therapy organisation, we are looking for a Director of Corporate Affairs to shape and execute communication strategies that align with our organisational priorities. This is a rare opportunity to join a newly formed enterprise team and help define how we communicate internally and externally as we grow.

Your key priorities

This role balances strategic communications with hands-on delivery — approximately 40% strategic shaping and 60% execution. You will:

• Develop and execute comprehensive communication strategies that support the Global Corporate Affairs and Cell Therapy objectives
• Advise and counsel senior leaders on communication approaches for internal and external audiences
• Lead execution of internal communications activities including town halls, functional events, change communications and leader communications
• Support key policy and advocacy priorities, including event organisation, stakeholder management and roundtables (approx. 20% of role)
• Prepare content for senior leaders' external presentations and engagements, ensuring alignment and approvals
• Measure effectiveness of communication approaches, provide analysis and make recommendations for continuous improvement
• Build relationships quickly across a global, matrixed organisation and partner effectively with senior scientific and business leaders

About You

You are a self-sufficient, strategic communicator who is equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves to create content and execute plans. You thrive in fast-paced, sometimes ambiguous environments and enjoy the energy of a start-up culture within a global pharma organisation.

Essential Experience

• Strong biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical industry experience — you understand how pharma works and what cell therapy is (no PhD required)
• Proven track record in strategic communications and internal communications at a senior level
• Experience advising and coaching executives and senior leaders on communication matters
• Excellent writing, project management and multi-channel communications skills — particularly digital
• Sound scientific background with the ability to understand, interpret and translate complex science for different audiences
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to push back and prioritise strategically
• Experience working across multiple competing priorities and juggling effectively in a global, virtual team environment
• Fluency in English (spoken and written)

Desirable Experience

• Agency experience
• Policy and advocacy experience
• Experience in start-up or rapidly scaling organisations
• Local or global pharma market experience

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to shape a brand-new function within a high-growth area of AstraZeneca. You will work closely with Enterprise Cell Therapy leaders, and the broader Global Corporate Affairs team. The team is global — spanning Amsterdam, Cambridge, Shanghai, Boston and Gaithersburg — and everyone owns their priorities. You will be based at our One Helix site in Amsterdam, a key Cell Therapy hub, with occasional travel to Cambridge (UK).

While this is initially a 12-month fixed-term contract there might be potential for longer-term opportunities in the UK as the organisation evolves (no guarantees).

Your effort is rewarded

You can expect much in return for your dedication. In addition to a competitive salary, you will enjoy:

• A 13th-month salary on top of your monthly pay.
• Access to internal training and development programs.
• 27 vacation days, plus additional leave (such as your birthday, Good Friday, and the period between Christmas and New Year's Eve).
• Flexible and progressive employment benefits allowing you to tailor them to your needs (e.g., a wellness budget and the choice of a holiday calendar based on different religious beliefs).
• A pension plan.

Making a difference together with AstraZeneca

Are you driven by innovation and eager to make a real impact? At AstraZeneca’s Cell Therapy facility in Amsterdam, we are developing next-generation TCR therapies targeting neoantigens in solid tumors. With a team of approximately 75 scientists, we are advancing shared neoantigen-targeting treatments to transform patient outcomes.

We recently moved into One Helix, our brand-new, high-tech research facility in Amsterdam Zuid, located near the Amsterdam UMC. This state-of-the-art space is designed to accelerate breakthroughs in cell therapy. Join our team and help shape the future of cancer treatment.

Ready to grow your career in a driven, innovative environment?

If you have any questions about this vacancy, our Recruitment Team, Karin Raadschelders / Caroline van Oppen, is happy to answer your questions.

Contact: [e-mail] or by phone on +31(0)85 - 047 0244.

Date Posted

20-Sept-2026

Closing Date

01-Oct-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.