External Communications Senior Manager

We are seeking a strategic and experienced External Communications Head/Senior Manager to develop and execute impactful communication strategies to external audiences and stakeholders.  This role is pivotal in shaping our external narrative, managing media relations and our external channels, and driving engagement with key stakeholders.

You will work closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams to ensure our messaging is aligned with our purpose to provide health and wellbeing for all generations, improve brand visibility, building confidence and trust.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a company-wide, external communications strategy aligned with business priorities corporate objectives.
• Provide strategic communications counsel to senior leaders on external messaging and engagement.
• Support the development of our corporate narrative and tone of voice, and ensure clear, consistent and impactful messaging across all external platforms and materials.
• Manage all media relations, reactive and proactive, across traditional and digital channels.  Develop a comprehensive media relations strategy, to include building and maintaining relationships with key journalists and media outlets.
• Partner with Head of Communications to define and implement country-level media relations strategy, to include external communications governance.
• Own company spokespeople management, to include defined voice lanes, media training, and actively explore opportunities for thought leadership and speaking opportunities.
• Define a comprehensive social media strategy, based on evaluation and analysis of current state.
• Lead or support crisis and issue communications to maintain protocols, planning and readiness and ensure reputation protection and strategic response.
• Own and drive the external editorial calendar, partnering closely with other Corporate Communications team members to ensure 360-degree communications seamlessly integrated across all channels.
• Manage and produce high-quality, engaging content, for all external channels including web and social media.
• Ensure Country cascading of critical messages, by working closely with the Internal Communications Head/Senior Manager.
• With a mindset of continuous improvement, establish KPIs and use data, feedback and industry best practice to assess and measure impact, and to evolve and improve.
• Monitor industry trends to inform communication strategies and focus areas.
• Champion contemporary tools and methodologies, including AI-enabled approaches to enhance effectiveness.
• Manage external agencies to ensure delivery of programs within budget.
• Mentor and guide other communications colleagues, fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on excellence, delivery and innovation.
• Be ready to support any investor / financial media relations activities if and when required.

Qualifications, required skills and experience:

• Proven experience in a senior, externally focused, pan-European or Global, communications role within a large, complex, fast-paced environment.
• Strong media relations skills, ideally with pan-Europe experience. 
• Established relationships or network of European journalists and media contacts in the business, healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards in pharmaceutical and healthcare communications.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills, with experience advising senior leaders.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with the ability to simplify complex topics into clear, compelling content for diverse audiences.
• Experience of reputation management and crisis response, an advantage.
• Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to be resilient and quickly pivot.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to build strong relationships across all levels.  A collaborative and inclusive approach.
• Very strong written and oral English - native-level English proficiency preferred; other European language skills highly desirable