Senior Director, Corporate and CEO Communications

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary:

Illumina is looking for a Senior Director, Corporate and CEO Communications to lead a global team of approximately twenty, responsible for developing and executing a well-aligned, proactive and opportunistic communications strategy to drive and grow awareness about the power of genomics/multiomics. We look to position our customers as heroes, and the messaging and storytelling to highlight the doctors, patients, and researchers who use our products to accomplish advancements in medicine and science is of critical importance.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the enterprise as well as each of Illumina’s executive leaders are supported with a comprehensive communications strategy that reaches both internal and external stakeholders. Each communications plan will align with our corporate strategic imperatives and be designed with global reach and maximum impact in mind. This role will work with the team to position senior executives as world-class thought leaders in genomics and healthcare across top-tier media outlets and high-profile speaking engagements and will manage ongoing and emerging issues with the potential to impact Illumina’s reputation.

In addition to leading the team, the Senior Director, Corporate and CEO Communications will serve as the CEO’s communication partner, building communications strategy, CEO’s voice application and working with center of excellence partners to execute across internal and external channels.

Reporting to our Chief People Officer, the Corporate Communications organization is a highly collaborative and creative team. Every day, we work to connect our ~9500 global employees to our mission and our strategy, and we want to share that incredible mission, passion, and strategy externally too.  Reporting to this role will be the communications functional business partner team and internal communications execution delivery team, centers of excellence on public relations, social media, investor relations, and all other external platforms. Together we ensure that we are inspiring confidence about Illumina and our future to a broad range of audiences.

Excellent writing skills, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain calm during challenging circumstances are critical skills. And, a passion for communications and supporting an organization committed to changing the world is a must.

*This person must reside in San Diego or be able to relocate (relocation assistance offered).

Role Responsibilities:

Communications Strategy

• Develop a global communications strategy and framework that supports enterprise-wide, functional level and regional activities. Build and leverage a global calendar of internal and external events and meetings to ensure a strategic cadence and message flow directly connected to strategic and functional imperatives, Illumina’s values and near-term goals.
• Manage enterprise crisis management communication working externally with strategic communication partners.
• Direct the creation and execution of integrated internal communications strategies across corporate, regional and business unit leadership aimed to educate employees on Illumina’s financial and operational performance, drive employee engagement and create a sense of ownership in the company.
• Lead thought leadership development for our executives. Work with our social media team to enhance external executive visibility.
• Develop relationships and providing strategic counsel and expertise to leaders and their teams on communications needs.

CEO Communications

• Craft compelling content on behalf of the CEO, translating our mission and purpose into meaningful stories and developing powerful messaging that drives Illumina’s corporate positioning and brand. Partner with the external communications centers of excellence leader to create CEO’s external presence in support of corporate strategy.
• Draft concise yet thorough briefing materials used to prepare the CEO for engagements.

Team Leadership

• Lead the global Communic