Head of Media Relations & Issues Communications

Responsibilities

• Define and lead Takeda's global, integrated enterprise media relations strategy through the execution of proactive approaches that advance Takeda's business priorities and narrative, strengthen corporate reputation and elevate awareness of the company's purpose, innovation, unique culture and patient impact.
• Partner across communications, public affairs and business functions to identify and maximize opportunities that enhance Takeda's profile at key corporate, business, scientific and societal milestones, as well as create high-impact opportunities to tell unique and compelling stories that highlight Takeda’s science, brands and values.  Ensure Takeda's policy point of view is part of the conversation in key centers, including D.C., New York, Brussels, London and Tokyo.
• Work closely with the social and digital team on integrated content.
• Build and maintain consistent and strong relationships with key journalists, editors, influencers and media organizations globally to strengthen Takeda's credibility and visibility.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and communicators on media engagement, thought leadership, executive visibility and reputation management.
• Act as the company's primary spokesperson on enterprise topics and ensure appropriate spokesperson readiness and training across the organization.
• Lead Takeda's enterprise global issues and crisis communications capability, ensuring the success of the vision, governance, frameworks and standards that support effective management of reputation-sensitive situations.
• Oversee enterprise application and ongoing improvement of Takeda's Issues and Crisis Communications Framework, ensuring consistent approaches to risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, message development, activation, response management and post-incident evaluation.
• Ensure global readiness and rapid response capability through clear governance, follow-the-sun operating models, training programs, simulation exercises and regional support models.
• Provide strategic counsel to executive leaders on issues preparedness, crisis management, stakeholder expectations and reputational risk mitigation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or a related field.
• 15 years of communications and media relations experience, preferably within the biopharmaceutical industry, including leading a team of media relations professionals.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise media relations programs and building integrated reputation strategies across large, complex, global organizations.
• Deep media relations expertise, with existing relationships with key top-tier national, international, business, healthcare and trade media, Proven experience leading issues and crisis communications in the pharmaceutical industry, including proactive planning, executive preparedness, stakeholder engagement, simulation exercises and hands-on crisis response.
• Experience working across and collaborating with multiple functions and senior stakeholder groups, including Business communications teams, Legal, Investor Relations, Public Affairs and executive leadership teams.
• Proven success leading and developing global, geographically distributed communications teams and building organizational capability.
• Strong executive presence and demonstrated ability to advise, influence and partner with senior leaders, including C-suite stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity, influence without direct authority and align diverse stakeholders across functions, regions and cultures.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex business, reputational, scientific and industry issues into clear, compelling strategies and narratives.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to connect communications outcomes to enterprise priorities, organizational performance, stakeholder trust and corporate reputation.

Benefits

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