Corporate Affairs Lead - R&I/V&I

Location: Kings Cross, London, UK

At AstraZeneca (AZ), science compels us to push the boundaries of what is possible to turn science into life-changing medicines for patients who need them most. We deliver breakthrough science by creating thriving, vibrant and open science centres where our scientists are free to pursue their ideas and collaborate both with colleagues and our academic and industry partners.

Corporate Affairs Lead - R&I/V&I is a strategic, innovative, and forward-thinking leader responsible for driving AstraZeneca UK’s reputation, stakeholder relationships, digital engagement, therapy area aligned communications campaigns and policy influence across the enterprise. This role ensures AstraZeneca navigates the increasingly complex UK healthcare environment, engages key external audiences, advocates corporate affairs interests, to deliver critical business and patient outcomes.

The postholder will combine public policy, patient advocacy and communications expertise, with digital fluency, ensuring AstraZeneca UK maximises its impact, influence, and connectivity with key stakeholders (NHS, media, government, patient groups, policymakers, leading HCPs).

Accountabilities:-

Strategic Leadership & Corporate Affairs

• The Corporate Affairs Lead will design and execute an integrated therapy area (TA) specific corporate affairs strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and patient-centricity. Accountabilities will include:

  • Developing and leading the UK Corporate Affairs therapy area plan across media, policy, advocacy, and digital engagement, optimising for AstraZeneca’s commercial and corporate priorities, including innovation and patient access

  • Proactively identifying reputational risks and opportunities, and developing tactical responses to shape the external environment

  • Acting as the company spokesperson and ambassador in key external forums and collaborations with government, NHS, patient groups, third parties, and digital influencers

  • Ensuring a unified, compelling, and on-brand corporate presence across all media, digital, and stakeholder channels

Public Policy, Advocacy & External Influencing

• Accountable for designing and advancing policy interests aligned to AstraZeneca’s business and science agenda. This includes:

  • Developing robust, evidence-based positions and recommendations on key NHS and UK policy issues, informed by cross-functional collaboration and external insights

  • Briefing policymakers, external partners, and policy influencers on AZ’s priorities, products, and contributions, with a focus on patient access, system efficiency, and innovation

  • Representing AZ in high-level policy meetings, parliamentary groups, and within external industry networks, ensuring the organisation is a trusted, proactive presence

  • Partnering with patient groups, HCPs, and advocacy organisations to shape health policy and access initiatives, while supporting field teams with insight and guidance on the evolving policy landscape

  • Delivering or supporting high-profile events, campaigns, and evidence projects that support AZ’s business and therapeutic priorities

Media and communications leadership

• Design proactive and reactive media strategies, aligned to corporate strategies, to deliver against TA specific objectives. This includes:

  • Delivery of strategic milestone communications

  • Thought leadership articles, in traditional and digital channels

  • Reactive issues communications, as required

  • Where appropriate, above brand campaigns, including disease awareness campaigns

Digital Customer Engagement Excellence

• Lead the strategy and delivery of digital customer engagement:

  • Designing and leading the implementation of digital customer and stakeholder engagement plans, aligned with integrated brand and corporate objectives

  • Optimising use of digital and AI/GenAI platforms to drive insight-driven engagement and bring next-best content and customer actions to life

  • Overseeing digital asset and campaign delivery, SEO excellence, data integration, content factory workflow, and driving measurable, high-impact engagement

Partnership, Collaboration & Innovation

• Building networks and partnerships that extend AZ’s reach and enhance stakeholder outcomes:

  • Managing effective relationships with key UK pharma influencers—government, NHS, patient groups, media, digital and agency partners, and industry bodies (eg, ABPI, NHS Confederation)

  • Collaborating with commercial brand, medical, digital, and IT colleagues to integrate digital engagement and policy into business planning

  • Identifying and testing innovative digital and engagement approaches, sharing learnings across the business and global teams

Develops and manages Government, Parliamentary, patient group, and senior NHS relationships

• Understands the external environment, potential governmental and NHS future developments and especially the link between political factors and NHS decision-making

• Develops relationships with key stakeholders In Government, Westminster and NHS England, and key patient organisations who can support shared public policy objectives aligned to UKMC and Government/NHS priorities

• Ensures these relationships are used to support the development and implementation of the Government and NHS Relations strategy

• Manages AZ’s responses to Government and Parliamentary consultations on key issues relevant to UKMC priorities

Supports the Brand teams in key areas (CV, Diabetes, Oncology, Respiratory) by developing and implementing policy & advocacy plans aligned to their priorities

• Works with Brand teams, Market Access and other internal stakeholders to develop policy priorities to input to Brand plans and the Government and NHS Relations strategy

• Implements stakeholder engagement plans with relevant policymakers in Government, Parliament and NHS England to achieve policy priorities

• Working both at a company level and through the ABPI, shapes the policy environment to encourage greater uptake of innovation in the NHS in preparation for emerging AZ portfolio

Manages and coordinates comms materials & campaigns, including digital comms

• Develops and implements integrated communications plans across multiple channels, ensuring alignment on key objectives and programmes with cross functional teams

• Oversaw the creation, approval, and distribution of high-impact communications materials, including press releases, web content, and social media assets.

• Led end-to-end management of communications campaigns, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver timely and engaging content for both internal and external audiences.

• Utilized digital communications platforms and analytics to optimize outreach strategies, measure campaign effectiveness, and continuously improve audience engagement.

Development of AZ policy positions

• Works with AZUK stakeholders, such as the Brand teams, Market Access, and medical teams, to develop policy positions on key commercial issues (both brand related and wider corporate issues)

• Identifies a simple and effective means to communicate those policy positions to the rest of the business

Supports internal communications relevant to therapy area

• Collaborated closely with brand teams to create and deliver tailored internal communications that educate, engage, and inspire employees around key brand initiatives and campaigns.

• Developed clear and compelling internal messaging, slide decks, newsletters, and FAQs to support brand launches, updates, and priority projects within the organization.

• Contributes to briefing senior leaders and content development for internal conferences relevant to therapy area

EXPERIENCE

Essential:

• Proven senior experience in corporate affairs, public policy, digital engagement, or a closely related field within UK pharmaceuticals, biotech, or healthcare

• Deep understanding of NHS policy, UK healthcare and political systems, and patient advocacy

• Strategic and analytical problem solver, able to operate at pace and deal with ambiguity and complexity across corporate, commercial, and reputational issues

• Successful track record of leading, mentoring, and developing cross-functional or matrix teams

• Superb stakeholder engagement, influencing, written, and verbal communication skills

• Operational, compliance, and budget management experience, with ability to develop compelling business cases

• Knowledge of medical, legal, and regulatory frameworks for external stakeholder and digital engagement in pharma
  

Desirable:

• Previous experience of working in Parliament or in a government affairs-related role

• Previous experience of working in or with the NHS, ABPI, or policy/advocacy agencies

• Experience working on disease, brand, or therapy area launches and life cycle management

• Formal qualifications in Public Affairs, Communications, Marketing, or Health Policy

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we ignite ambitious 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 high-reaching world.

Why AstraZeneca?

Join a hardworking distributed team that's powering AstraZeneca to better serve patients, every day. The fuel behind our evolving, rapidly growing enterprise, we're here to help unlock the power of what science can do and ultimately have a big impact on patients' lives. We offer countless opportunities for growth, rewarding our successes collectively across the business. Our generous benefits package showcases the business's appreciation of our long-term dedication.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today to become a part of our diverse team!

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media, Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/1603/

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/astrazenecacareers/

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/astrazeneca_careers/?hl=en

Date Posted

Closing Date