Manager, Leadership & Business Communications

Johnson & Johnson; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare innovator seeks a Manager for Leadership & Business Communications based in Johannesburg. This full-time hybrid role entails developing communication strategies and managing stakeholder engagement for Innovative Medicine priorities. Candidates should possess a degree in communications and have 4-6 years of experience in communications, preferably in the healthcare or pharma sectors. A strong background in content creation and project management is crucial for success in this role.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years’ experience in communications, ideally with product/innovation communications in healthcare/pharma.
• Experience in analytics and reporting related to communications.
• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and translating strategy into execution.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute cluster and country-level communications for Innovative Medicine priorities.
• Manage local media relations and stakeholder engagement.
• Support crisis and issues response at market level.

Skills

Communications

Project management

Digital channels

Content creation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related discipline

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function:

Communications & Corporate/External Affairs

Job Sub Function:

External Communications

Job Category:

Professional

All Job Posting Locations:

Cairo, Egypt, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Job Description:

Manager, Leadership & Business Communications

Location: Cairo Egypt or Johannesburg, South Africa

Contract: Full Time, Hybrid

Overall Purpose of the role:

• Plan and execute cluster and country-level communications that bring Innovative Medicine priorities to life through impactful Leadership and Business Communications externally and internally. Translate strategic plans into operational campaigns and support regional business leaders in stakeholder engagement, activation of external engagement opportunities and implementation of social media strategies across EMEA Emerging Markets.

• This role has a dual remit: 50% focused on local/market leadership (driving Communications & Public Affairs in one or more priority Operating Companies) and 50% focused on regional/cluster enablement (developing toolkits, content, editorial calendars and leading cross‑market campaigns across EMEA Emerging Markets).

• You will report to theEM Communications & Public Affairs Leader.

Key responsibilities — Cluster / Regional (approx. 50% of scope)

• Develop regional/cluster strategies and market‑ready toolkits, playbooks and activation plans for assigned markets.

• Build and maintain the cluster editorial and social media calendar and ensure themes and narratives are ready for local adaptation.

• Create ready‑to‑use assets (social posts, media materials, slide decks, spokespeople briefs) that can be shared for local execution.

• Coordinate and support cross‑market campaigns across owned, earned and paid channels; manage cluster vendors for shared deliverables.

• Enable and coach business partners to use toolkits, social media best practices and other assets.

• Manage media relations, stakeholder engagement activities and events in assigned Emerging Markets; act as media liaison where required.

• Support crisis and issues response at country and cluster levels; prepare materials and brief spokespeople.

Key responsibilities — Local / Market (approx. 50% of scope)

• Translate and execute cluster toolkits for assigned OpCo(s): localize messaging, schedule activations and secure market placements.

• Manage local media relations, stakeholder engagement and spokesperson briefing; act as media liaison as required.

• Plan and deliver tactical campaign activity across owned, earned and paid channels; create and publish local content.

• Manage local agency / vendor relationships for executional work; track budgets, deliverables and compliance with Legal, HCC, Privacy and Medical Affairs.

• Support crisis and issues response at market level; prepare materials, brief local spokespeople and coordinate with cluster CMTs.

• Monitor local media and social channels; capture market insights and performance metrics and feed them back to cluster.

• Coach and mentor junior communicators and support cross‑functional stakeholders on activation.

Skills & experience:

• Degree in communications, marketing, journalism or related discipline.

• 4–6 years’ experience in communications, ideally with product/innovation communications in healthcare/pharma.

• Solid content creation and project management skills; competent in digital/social channels.

• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders and translating strategy into execution across Emerging Markets.

• Experience with analytics and reporting related to communications and effective use of traditional and social media.

• Collaborative leadership and cross-functional influence; continuous improvement mindset; brand governance.

• Medium-to-high independent judgement on campaign design and local execution; escalates strategic or cross-market issues to Senior Manager.

''When appointing potential candidates in South Africa, the Employment Equity and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Legislation will be considered''.

Preferred Skills:

• Brand Reputation Management
• Communications Measurement
• Copy Editing
• Corporate Communications Management
• Corporate Communications Strategy
• Corporate Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Cultural Competence
• External Communication
• Market Research
• Media Relations
• Process Improvements
• Relationship Building
• Social Awareness
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Strategic Thinking
• Technical Credibility