Media Relations Lead (Senior Manager)

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Job Description

About the role:

As Media Relations Lead, reporting to the Head, U.S. and Global Corporate Communications, this role will be responsible for helping to enhance and protect Takeda’s reputation by supporting media strategy, process and engagement working in close partnership with colleagues across the organization. The role requires a strong storyteller with the ability to build and strengthen relationships with media and collaborate with colleagues to identify and build media opportunities.

How you will contribute:

• Support U.S. and Global Corporate Communications Media Relations and Operations Head to build a media relations center of excellence and media strategy that aligns with Takeda’s U.S. and Massachusetts reputation strategy, working in partnership with relevant colleagues.  
• Build and strengthen relationships with global top-tier media and key trade outlets to educate and engage journalists on important company news and initiatives.
• Have a strong sense of the media landscape and ability to create compelling stories.
• Ability to proactively work with individuals across the business to identify opportunities to engage media for interviews, at industry conferences and through other external thought leadership opportunities. 
• Support crisis communications, including proactively planning for and managing issues affecting the company and industry. 
• Support media and message development across the U.S., including Health Equity, DE&I, CSR and sustainability, climate and health in partnership with Global Communications colleagues. 
• Partner with colleagues to develop press releases, Q&As and standby statements for brand and corporate issues, as appropriate.

• Partner with others to manage Takeda.com’s global and U.S. newsroom, partnering with colleagues in Japan on the Japanese newsroom.
• Support media training for key spokespeople including executives and other senior leaders, as well as prepare briefing materials, backgrounders and messaging toolkits. 
• Manage global news brief (media monitoring), media relations email inbox and monitor for industry trends and issues as well as best-in-class media relations practices to educate colleagues on external environment factors to enhance and protect Takeda’s corporate reputation.
• Responsible for managing amplification strategies of key media stories.
• Manage agency partners on matters related to media relations activities.
• Support implementation of new technologies and AI to enhance Takeda’s communications strategies.
• Manage measurement of media impact on enhancing Takeda’s reputation, partnering with corporate reputation colleagues. 

Qualifications:

• A minimum of a bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or a related field. 
• A minimum of 6 years of experience in communications, with a strong track record of leading and executing strategic media relations efforts.
• Experience building relationships with journalists, preferably in the healthcare industry and Massachusetts, including trade and global media.
• Experience in the healthcare industry preferred, specifically within biopharmaceuticals, pharma or biotech.
• Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to anticipate and address opportunities and challenges through storytelling in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Strong planner and attention to detail. 
• Experience working with senior leaders and executives.
• Natural collaborator, comfortable working across functions and business units.
• Exceptional written and oral communicat