Oncology Lead, Global Brand Communications

Job Description

Astellas Canada – Oncology Lead, Global Brand Communications

Astellas, we strive to become a cutting-edge, value-driven life science innovator. This means working at the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.

What sets us apart is our focus on patients, our pioneering innovation, our collaborative culture, and the passion of our talented people.

Making a positive impact on patients’ lives is the purpose behind everything we do. At Astellas, we are relentless in our pursuit of scientific progress and in tackling unmet medical needs, demonstrated by our legacy in oncology, overactive bladder and transplant and our impressive pipeline in women's health, blindness and regeneration, genetic regulation, immuno-oncology, mitochondria and targeted protein degradation.

About Us

We are a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, with a team of more than 14,000 managing operations in approximately 70 countries around the world. We are in the Top 30 global biopharma company based on global revenues and are predicted to be one of the Top 10 Cancer Drug Makers of 2024 by Fierce Pharma.

In Canada, we are growing to meet the exciting opportunities realized by our legacy brands and rich pipeline of innovative treatments.

We are looking for candidates who will thrive in our entrepreneurial and empowering environment where talent and leadership flourish. Do your values align with our Astellas Way - patient focus, ownership, results, openness, and integrity? Then we would love to hear from you.

From the first day in role, everyone at Astellas has a responsibility for creating a brighter future for patients around the world. We nurture exceptional relationships with our employees to allow them to thrive, foster innovation, and deliver exceptional business results. We work to create a culture where our people feel empowered to pursue brave ideas and ambitious outcomes, to have the confidence to be accountable for a higher standard of performance and embody a competitive and solutions-oriented mindset.

Our expertise, science and technology make us a pharma company. Our open and diverse culture is what makes us uniquely Astellas.

Astellas Pharma Canada (APCA) is currently searching for an Oncology Lead, Global Brand Communications.

Description:

This role serves as the strategic communications lead for global brand and Therapeutic Area (TA) Communications, partnering with business teams to develop and execute impactful, data-driven strategies that enhance brand positioning, stakeholder trust and market engagement.

Essential Job Duties:

Brand/TA Communications

• Serves as the single point of contact for global brand business teams and the Global Commercial Communications network on the brand/TA
• Helps foster business growth and stakeholder trust/advocacy through a deep understanding and passion for the business, science and data, and by leading co-creation of external brand/TA communication strategies
• Identifies and applies robust insights to inform effective external brand/TA communication strategies in the co-creation markets
• Drives effective execution of these strategies through robust planning and relevant content development
• Enables measurement of meaningful business outcomes for external brand/TA communication strategies in the co-creation markets, strengthening strategies and tactics based on these findings
• Collaborates with business stakeholders and five markets per brand/TA to co-create effective external brand/TA communication strategies
• Engages Global Commercial Communications network to ensure broad pull through of external brand/TA communication strategies
• Supports global, regional and local media engagement through development of Brand/ TA narratives and message maps
• Leads media training of global brand spokespeople
• Identifies and executes strategic global media opportunities that will drive strategic Brand, TA, R&D, and Astellas priorities, including positioning of our Executives as thought leaders

Issues Management

• Proactively monitors and analyses global media monitoring of brand/TA- related issues that may impact stakeholder trust and Company reputation
• Provides strategic communications counsel on brand/TA-related issues to the global brand business teams and Global Commercial Communications network
• Leads communications aspects of Issues Management for global brand/TA-related issues

Internal Communications

• Leads development and execution of global brand/TA communication strategies that engage and inspire brand teams to deliver for patients, and Astellas
• Applies a measurement approach to internal communications

Overall

Informs and/or collaborates with Corporate, R&D Communications and IR as appropriate on brand/TA-related communications and issues.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in communications, life sciences, business, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare communications.
• Strong understanding of regulatory, compliance, and industry best practices.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex scientific information.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines with attention to detail.
• Experience in a global, matrixed environment is highly desirable.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Global & Multi-Market Communications
• Proven ability to lead and execute global or multi-market brand communication strategies in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Strong business acumen and experience aligning communications with commercial objectives in a regulated environment.
• Expertise in coordinating stakeholders across time zones, functions, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strategic & Data-Driven Communications
• Ability to translate complex scientific and medical data into clear, engaging, and compliant messaging.
• Experience developing and implementing high-impact communication strategies that drive brand awareness and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong analytical skills to measure effectiveness and optimize communication strategies.
• Cross-Cultural & Stakeholder Engagement
• Experience working with diverse, global teams and external partners, fostering collaboration across multiple markets.
• Ability to create inclusive, culturally relevant communications while ensuring compliance with industry and local regulations.
• Proven experience building trust-based relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Leadership & Execution Excellence
• Experience leading teams and managing complex, multi-market projects in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Strong project management skills, ensuring timely execution and impact-driven communications.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive alignment across global, regional, and local teams.

Working Environment

At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.

Additional Information

Astellas Pharma Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the hiring process.

Astellas Pharma Canada requires full Vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Reasonable accommodation to this policy may be granted for a valid accommodation request under human rights legislation.

No telephone inquiries, in-person applications, or agencies please. While we appreciate all applications, only candidates under consideration will be contacted.