Head of Communications

Pleasanton, CA

The Roche Diagnostics Solutions (RDS) business area, with 6,000 employees, is responsible for all diagnostics solutions and has end-to-end accountability for the development and delivery of these solutions.

RDS includes four customer areas (Core Lab, Molecular Lab, Pathology Lab, Points of Care) and functions such as R&D, Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, Portfolio & Project Management, Marketing & Customer Insights, Global Access & Policy and Global Customer Support.

As the Head of Communications, R&D you will be responsible for driving communications to help deliver on business objectives, and for helping to engage and inspire key stakeholders. As an expert in both external and internal communications you will act as key coach and advisor for internal stakeholders across the enterprise.

To deliver on this, you rely on effective teamwork and collaboration with the broader Diagnostics Communications community, and work in partnership with the Head of Communications, RDS and Heads of Communications for Customer Areas to define objectives, approach and areas of focus. You work across the network to pull in expertise to achieve business objectives. You seize the unique opportunity to transform the way we work in Diagnostics Communications and contribute to the shared leadership responsibility of creating excellence in communications at Roche.

You are a trusted counselor and sparring partner. To the R&D leadership team you are a trusted strategic partner and an integral member of the business. You embrace an agile mindset and are energized by change. You act as a coach and advise on relevant communication approaches. You want to be a key player in transforming Diagnostics and develop new leadership skills in a fast-paced, rapidly changing industry/environment.

You role model the Roche Operating Principles and foster these in the rest of the organization. You are willing to let go of command and control and deliberately push decisions to the lowest level, empowering teams to come up with innovative solutions.

You are convinced that skills and capabilities are as important as mindsets, behaviors and culture, and you work to deliberately create an environment of curiosity and psychological safety for people to engage in that journey together with you.

Responsibilities:

In alignment with the Head of Communications, RDS, Heads of Communication for Customer Areas, and the Head of R&D, plan and deliver integrated communications strategies, narratives and campaigns that engage and align stakeholders at both a cross function and R&D level.
Translate the RDS and Group Communications vision and strategy into relevant function-related projects and initiatives supported by careful planning and concrete measurements.
Align Communications strategy, goals, and objectives to overall business priorities; provide counsel on high-value, impactful external and employee communications, and crisis and issues communications.
Support relevant cross function narrative: in partnership with the Heads of Communications for Customer Areas, build a strategic communications plan that helps deliver on priorities and maximizes impact.
Support the R&D portfolio narrative: in partnership with the R&D leadership team, build a strategic communications plan that helps deliver on priorities and maximizes impact.
Drive and develop communications tools and strategies to engage and inspire a diverse workforce.
Establish and maintain end-to-end integrated communication planning including measurement against objectives.
Maintain broad-based knowledge of the R&D function and areas of focus; use knowledge of business and communications insights, metrics, expertise, and decision principles to effectively diagnose topics with a wide range of complexity.
Stay abreast of internal and external developments, industry trends, as these pertain to strategic communication and ‘new ways of working’ priorities.

Leadership:

Drive change with proven ability to influence business leaders and Communications professionals to achieve desired outcomes.
Leadership responsibility to deliver an integrated cross function and R&D communications strategy that supports the broader RDS Communications strategy and aligns with divisional and Group Communications goals.

Who You Are:

Demonstrated passion and drive to shape Communications across large and diverse parts of our business areas and/or business areas in previous companies.
Demonstrated passion for and role-modeling leading in ambiguity, with proven ability to support with a creative mindset, very high self-awareness and for acting as a coach and mentor for other leaders and professionals.
Demonstrated enterprise mindset and system thinking, proven ability to work effectively across multiple business areas, global teams and key leadership areas in a fast paced VUCA environment.
Demonstrated ability to influence with courageous authenticity and build trust with individuals at all levels within the organization.
Demonstrated excellent situational assessment and objective evaluation skills, with an ability to comprehend and translate complex topics into manageable pieces, to then position the topics with strong communication and facilitation capabilities.
Demonstrated ability to leverage technology and data to generate insights as foundation for analysis, recommendations and decisions.
Demonstrated and significant experience in strategic communications in a fast paced environment, comfortable working in a matrixed and multicultural environment.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations or related field, or equivalent combination of education and work-related experience, required.
7+ years of experience in communications, preferably with a focus on external communications gained in the pharmaceutical or diagnostics industry.
Fluency in English (verbal and written) required.

Preferred Qualifications:

Scientific mindset and the curiosity to learn, with demonstrable experience of working with or in a research, development or laboratory environment in the pharmaceutical or diagnostic sector
Ability to manage indirectly: can ensure outcomes through indirect leadership
International or global work experience, with high cultural awareness and an understanding of cross-cultural communications.
Demonstrable abilities to develop and manage global communications strategies, plans, activities and teams.
Outstanding consulting skills: active listening skills, ability to extract and quickly process key information, summarize key needs or interests of internal customers, and provide targeted and appropriate coaching, insights and recommendations.
Excellent influencing and negotiation skills: consistently optimizes results through skillful collaboration with others and driving excellence through influence without authority.
Outstanding interpersonal and partnering skills: proven track record of building strong and sustainable relationships with internal and external partners/stakeholders and experience working effectively in a networked, matrix environment.
Track record of presenting to and coaching senior company executives/audiences and contributing to influencing their decision-making.
Self-motivation: able to thrive in a non-hierarchical, self-organizing environment, where teams form around projects and initiatives.
Fluency in German an advantage.

Relocation benefits are not available for this job posting.

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of California is $108,600 - $201,800. Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law. A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance. This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.

Roche is an equal opportunity employer and strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination based upon an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the online application process, please contact us by completing this form Accommodations for Applicants.