R&D Communications Director - M//F

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As part of an internal development opportunity, we are looking for our R&D Communications Director, based in Saclay.

Servier is convinced that the value it brings to patients and healthcare professionals is deeply rooted not only in science and innovation, but also in its people. In a rapidly transforming environment, communication must go beyond simply sharing information and become a strategic lever for reputation, culture and employee engagement.

To deliver on this ambition, the Group is recruiting an R&D Communications Director, whose mission will be to design and deploy a comprehensive, modern and influential communications strategy, making R&D a driver of reputation, attractiveness and engagement for Servier. Working in close alignment with the R&D strategy, the Director will help showcase the Group’s science, innovation and expertise, and increase the visibility of its priorities among internal and external audiences.

This position reports to the Global Chief Communications Officer and will participate in meetings of the R&D Transformation Office.

Responsibilities

As part of the Corporate Communications Department and the Group R&D team, the R&D Communications Director will be responsible for:

• Contributing to the corporate communications strategy and building a consistent, ambitious and integrated R&D communications roadmap to strengthen the Group’s awareness, image and attractiveness, while increasing R&D employee engagement and pride in belonging.
• Defining the strategic priorities for R&D communications, in close alignment with the R&D strategy and in collaboration with R&D experts worldwide.
• Identifying the Group R&D communications challenges, both internally and externally: making science and innovation key drivers of reputation and engagement by simplifying messages and showcasing our expertise to internal and external audiences.
• Deploying and overseeing the R&D communications roadmap and action plans, with measurement indicators aligned with the Group’s reputation priorities.
• Analysing and assessing the impact of internal and external communications initiatives by implementing performance indicators.

The Director is a member of the Group Corporate Communications Leadership Team.

Job Description

Leadership & employee engagement

Advise Servier Group’s EVP R&D and support all internal and external communications to enhance their reach and impact.

Support the R&D Leadership Team with internal communications by structuring management messages and communications opportunities for employees.

Implement a global internal communications plan reaching the entire worldwide R&D community and coordinate the Communications correspondents across all R&D centres.

Identify topics with strong potential for Group internal communications and, working cross-functionally with the teams, turn them into high-impact communications initiatives to strengthen the visibility, understanding and ownership of R&D priorities.

Lead communications for Servier’s international R&D ecosystem, particularly across its main sites in Boston, Denmark (Symphogen), France and Hungary, and showcase its laboratories as flagships of scientific excellence and innovation for the Group.

Support transformation and change-management projects within the R&D Department and across the Group by designing clear communications formats tailored to the various audiences, in order to facilitate employee understanding, buy-in and engagement.

External communications

Identify topics with strong potential for the image and reputation of the Group and R&D, as well as the most relevant spokespeople; develop the associated key messages and talking points.

Benchmark Servier and position the Group as a thought leader on R&D issues within the innovation ecosystem.

Contribute to drafting press releases and press kits, as well as R&D-related position statements and Q&As, ensuring consistency of messaging.

Develop the external visibility of the EVP R&D and R&D spokespeople, in collaboration with Group Communications.

Contribute to press events and key external communications moments, particularly by providing tailored R&D content.

Messaging and editorial

Develop key R&D messages and disseminate them widely throughout the Group, in close cooperation with the Brand Content team.

Contribute to the design and deployment of Group or brand communications campaigns, ensuring that the most compelling R&D topics are highlighted.

Ensure that R&D topics and content are included in all the Group’s external communications and corporate publications in order to increase R&D visibility.

Management

The position includes line management responsibility for a team of two employees to deliver the mission successfully.

Regular participation in coordinating the global network will also be required to strengthen collaboration and internal knowledge of R&D.

Candidate Profile

• More than five years’ experience as a Communications Director in a large global company.
• More than 15 years’ overall experience in an international, technical or scientific environment.
• Rigorous and organised, with the ability to combine strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Creative, rigorous and collaborative, with the ability to work with R&D experts, all corporate functions across the organisation, and the Corporate, Business and Therapeutic Area Communications teams (portfolio).
• Perspective and a strong understanding of the challenges facing a pharmaceutical group, together with the ability to manage potential crisis situations.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work in an international environment, are essential for success in the role.
• Experience in the healthcare sector would be an advantage.