Director, US Brand Communications & Launch Strategy

AstraZeneca plc; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 152,000 - 228,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca plc is seeking a Director of US Brand Communications to partner with Alexion’s U.S. portfolio and launch agenda, leading integrated communications for brands and pipeline assets.

Embedded with therapy-area teams, you will advise senior leaders and orchestrate compliant communications across external, employee, executive, advocacy and digital channels. You will drive milestone and launch readiness, translate complex science into clear narratives, and coordinate internal/external

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, public relations, marketing, life sciences or a related field.
• 8+ years of progressive communications experience, including significant responsibility for brand, product, therapy-area or launch communications in a regulated environment.
• AI and digital fluency: Demonstrated ability to apply generative AI and emerging digital tools to enhance communications strategy, content development, audience insights and optimization, combined with sound judgment around accuracy, human oversight and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading integrated communications strategies across media, digital/social, employee and executive channels.
• Proven ability to counsel senior leaders, influence cross-functional teams and operate effectively in complex matrix organizations.
• Strong scientific and business writing skills, with the ability to translate complex clinical and technical information into clear, audience-relevant communications.
• Experience with issues management, media strategy, spokesperson preparation, agency leadership, budgeting and communications measurement.
• Strong project leadership, judgment and organizational skills, with the ability to manage overlapping milestones and shifting priorities.
• Working knowledge of pharmaceutical or biotechnology legal, regulatory and compliance review requirements.
• Ability to travel for business meetings, medical congresses and launch activities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Lead integrated U.S. communications strategies for assigned brands, indications and pipeline assets, including pre-launch shaping, launch readiness, lifecycle milestones and disease-awareness priorities.
• Own the communications milestone map and news-flow plan across regulatory, clinical-data, congress and launch moments; identify opportunities, dependencies and issues early and coordinate readiness plans.
• Serve as a trusted communications advisor to therapeutic-area, franchise, brand and launch leaders. Translate business priorities and complex scientific information into clear narratives, messages, proof points, Q&A and leader materials.
• Plan the coordinated cascade for priority moments across media, executive communications, employee communications, advocacy, policy and digital/social channels, in partnership with the appropriate channel owners.
• Develop proactive external and thought-leadership approaches for assigned portfolios, support spokesperson preparation, and lead brand-level issues preparedness and response in alignment with U.S. and enterprise Corporate Affairs teams.
• Partner with Patient Advocacy and cross-functional colleagues to incorporate patient and community perspectives into disease education, launch and lifecycle communications, consistent with compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Compliance, Market Access, Patient Services, Global Product Communications and U.S. Corporate Affairs to ensure market plans align with approved enterprise narratives and review processes.
• Leverage approved AI and emerging digital tools to strengthen brand communications strategy and execution, accelerate content development and adaptation, optimize audience engagement and improve workflow efficiency, with appropriate human oversight and adherence to legal, regulatory, privacy and compliance requirements.
• Set clear agency objectives, scopes, budgets, deliverables and success measures; direct agency work and ensure high-quality, efficient execution.
• Define meaningful communications objectives and measures, evaluate performance and stakeholder response, and apply insights to improve portfolio and launch communications.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Brand communications

AI in communications

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific writing

Media strategy

Spokesperson prep

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications

Job description

AstraZeneca plc is seeking a Director of US Brand Communications to partner with Alexion’s U.S. portfolio and launch agenda, leading integrated communications for brands and pipeline assets.

Embedded with therapy-area teams, you will advise senior leaders and orchestrate compliant communications across external, employee, executive, advocacy and digital channels. You will drive milestone and launch readiness, translate complex science into clear narratives, and coordinate internal/external