Senior Director, Global Sustainability Corporate Affairs

The Senior Director, Global Sustainability Corporate Affairs will play a pivotal role in advancing our company’s leading sustainability position and demonstrating AstraZeneca’s commitment to addressing major societal issues (including climate change, health equity, health systems resilience).

The Senior Director will be accountable for the development, delivery and measurement of our global corporate affairs strategy for Sustainability. This will include internal and external communications including media, leveraging spokespersons, delivering digital-first campaigns and maximizing sustainability-related platforms and partnerships. They will work seamlessly and effectively across the matrixed organization, with global, regional and local teams including science and therapy area functions.

The role will work closely with an array of teams including: global sustainability, global media, corporate communications, brand and reputation, internal communications, policy, advocacy & health equity, government affairs & policy, therapy area, regional and in-market teams. This position will oversee the sustainability communications team on a day-to-day basis and will partner closely with the Senior Director, Health Equity Communications.

Detailed description

At AstraZeneca, our approach to sustainability comprises how we do business and how we make a positive impact on the health of people, society and the planet. By leveraging how we are embedding sustainability across our business (in support of our Ambition 2030 goals, licence to operate and business resilience) and how we are making a positive impact (through our interconnected approach to action on climate & nature, health equity and health systems resilience), we have the opportunity to contribute to society and shared priorities, to support the health of people, society and the planet.

Importantly, this role will oversee the development and implementation of our Sustainability strategy the enterprise including with regions/markets, TAs and functions to ensure consistent communications and the effective localisation of our strategy to support business and policy priorities. The Senior Director will act as counsel to senior leadership including country presidents and area leaders, as well as members of the Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team.

The role will spotlight our flagship programmes and partnerships, including Ambition Zero Carbon, the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force, Partnership for Health System Sustainability and Resilience (PHSSR), Healthy Heart Africa (HHA), Young Health Programme, and Lung Health programme.

This role will also plan and lead corporate affairs strategies on our Sustainability priorities at global platforms such as the UN General Assembly, World Health Assembly, New York Climate Week, COP etc. The role will be accountable for building and strengthening relationships with key external partners, advocates and influencers, in collaboration with local teams, to further strategic sustainability priorities and partnerships.

The role will partner with Therapy Area leaders (Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals) to support communications and engagement on how we are advancing net zero, equitable and resilience healthcare, including by decarbonizing healthcare delivery while improving health outcomes, including through the latest innovations.

The role will also be accountable for all significant global sustainability announcements, campaigns, publications and milestones, while ensuring timely, impactful communications around quarterly reporting, disclosures and rankings through collaboration with Investor Relations Reporting teams.

There is the opportunity to make a huge difference in this role, shaping and showcasing the interconnection between climate and nature, health equity and health systems resilience, and the importance of innovation and collaboration to ensure a healthy future for people, society and the planet.

The role will report to the Global Head of Sustainability Corporate Affairs, Partnerships & Chair’s Office, whose team is accountable for best-in-class and consistent delivery of group-level external and internal communications, media, policy and public affairs on the sustainability agenda, the delivery of global platforms and partnerships and the Chair’s internal and external relations.

To be successful in this role, you will develop strong, trusted partnerships with a variety of stakeholders, both internal and external. You have solid knowledge in the field of healthcare and sustainability, a keen interest in current affairs, politics and policy, and an ability to upskill quickly on new areas. You are as passionate as we are about our work, have an entrepreneurial mindset and a proven ability to solve problems through collaboration.

Typical Accountabilities

• Develop and lead implementation of global corporate affairs strategy for Sustainability, including internal and external communications across corporate channels campaigns, platforms and partnerships.

• Drive thought leadership and recognition on AstraZeneca’s approach and commitment to Sustainability, through creative campaigns and positioning, with a focus on the interconnection of climate and nature action, health equity and health systems resilience.

• Manage internal and external communications for the EVP Global Operations, IT & CSO, group VP of Sustainability (in close alignment with the communications leads for Global Operations & IT) and other senior leaders, including identifying proactive media and speaking opportunities to drive sustainability thought leadership.

• Partner with IR, Media and Reporting teams to deliver high-quality and impactful communications to investors, media and other key stakeholders, including managing the development and publication of Sustainability Impact reports, narratives and messaging.

• Manage issues as required relating to our sustainability performance, through leadership of cross-functional teams.

• Partner with and support capability building with Global (incl. Therapy Area), Regional and Local Corporate Affairs teams to enable the cascade and implementation of the revised enterprise Sustainability strategy and associated communications for a range of stakeholders.

• Lead collaboration with priority markets to support the positioning of our Sustainability leadership (with a focus on climate-equity-resilience) and engage key stakeholders to advance delivery of sustainable healthcare

• Support science and TA teams on major milestones and proactive opportunities to showcase our sustainable science leadership.

• Oversee the strategic direction and delivery of the global Digital and Social Media strategy relating to our global sustainability agenda, informed by robust data, insights and metrics.

• Oversee the strategic direction and delivery of internal communications relating to our global sustainability agenda, incl. SET-level support and advisory.

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with key partners, advocates and influencers to protect, nurture and build the corporate reputation of the business as it relates to Sustainability

• Manage external agency relationships and Sustainability corporate affairs budget

Education, Qualifications, Skills and Experience.

• 10 years of sustainability / ESG corporate affairs experience incl. team leadership experience

• Blend of strategic communications and public affairs experience, with demonstrated results within a leading company, agency, government or NGO – ideally across a blend of public and private organisations.

• Ability to design and deliver multi-stakeholder strategies and plans on complex sustainability corporate affairs topics and bring others along to ensure successful implementation

• Strategic and creative thinker able to understand complex matters, see and leverage connections across markets, regions and globally, and chart a clear path forward

• Track record in visible leadership, with the ability to make clear decisions in complex, fast-paced environments, and mobilise cross functional teams, and influence colleagues across the organization 

• Consistent track record of leading corporate reputation matters, campaigns and issues and crisis management for a complex enterprise in pressured environments

• Excellent writing skills and experience communicating complex strategic issues, translating them into concise messaging and briefings for stakeholder ranging from peers to senior executives. Excellent speech writing and briefing skills

• “Self-starter” with evidence of capability for matrix and cross-functional working

• Ability to utilise channels for business benefit within resource limits, including through the effective management of agencies and budgets.

• Genuine interest in and passion for healthcare, current affairs, innovation and sustainability

In Office Requirement:

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold 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 ambitious world.

Date Posted

11-Sept-2025

Closing Date

25-Sept-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.