For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.
Job Summary
The Executive Director is an important leadership role with the Charles River Laboratory (CRL), Corporate Communications organization. Responsible for developing and implementing an integrated executive communication strategy for the CRL business segments. Reporting to the CVP Chief Communications Officer, this role will lead the creation and execution of strategic initiatives to engage and educate internal/external audiences on the essential role we play developing new treatments for patients that desperately need them.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Stakeholder Management:
- Collaborate with C-suite executives, senior leadership, and department heads to develop tailored communication strategies and messaging, identify communications needs, make recommendations, and align on communications approach.
Strategy & Outcomes:
- Develops, leads and executes a scalable and optimized strategic internal communications strategy that aligns with company objectives, principles, and culture - including developing and utilizing appropriate channels, branding, and mediums. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of communication efforts to understand short-term and long-term success.
External Partnerships:
- Support External team and develop proactive strategies and protocols for managing potential crises
Communications:
- Sets the overall executive communications and messaging strategy supporting key CRL business segments. Can craft compelling and engaging storytelling and messaging that convey information in a relatable manner to all employee groups, using a multi-channel approach. Demonstrate thought leadership on the timing and cascading of key communications. Lead communications strategies for growth and expansion initiatives across the Company: new facilities, new markets, and new investments.
Data Analytics & Technology:
- Leverages technology to best reach audiences and uses data analytics to track and report progress against outcomes, as well as Stakeholder Engagement to shape relationships with external stakeholders. Uses industry trends and best practices to drive innovation within the team.
People Leadership:
- Manages a team of internal communication professionals. Support the team in bringing big ideas to life across our global sites in both campaign periods and across the year, through clear, compelling and connected story telling. Ability to manage team budget.
Manage other duties as assigned
Job Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or within related field
• Experience: 10 years of communications experience in global Fortune 500 or larger organization. At least 5 years managing a team.
• Other: Posses superior communications skills (writing, editing, verbal). Proven expertise in developing and implementing strategy, Executive presence, budget management, ability to navigate matrix organization
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Advanced or Master’s degree preferred
• Experience in Healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical, or contract research organizations
About Corporate Functions
The Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, Legal, Sales, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Corporate Development. They partner with their colleagues across the company to develop and drive strategies and to set global standards. The functions are essential to providing a bridge between strategic vision and operational readiness, to ensure ongoing functional innovation and capability improvement.
About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.
With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.
At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.
We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Charles River Laboratories is an Equal Opportunity Employer - all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, veteran or disability status.
If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.
For more information, please visit www.criver.com.
