Senior Director, Corporate and CEO Communications at Illumina, Inc. in San Diego, California

Job Description:

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 Communications Leadership Team, with a calm, confident presence that invites collaboration across the team and company.


• Lead the team to develop strategic communications platforms for Illumina's executives that communicate the company's vision, strategic imperatives and thought leadership to both internal and external stakeholders.


• Lead our global media relations and social media teams, to continue to differentiate Illumina from its peers and engage effectively with its key stakeholders.

Communications Excellence

• Accountable for the creation of a connected brand across touchpoints to increase business impact, drive revenue growth and build reputation.


• Build Illumina's reputation as a driver of positive progress in genomics, while managing reputational risk and crisis.


• Accountable for the creation of a unified corporate voice, narrative and messaging across internal and external audiences.


• Identify and promote opportunities across the organization to leverage content across multiple channels.


• Provide ongoing and meaningful measurement reports to determine communication effectiveness.


• Ensure all communications deliverables stay on track and deliver results, manage reviews, overall cadence, and regular metrics reporting.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or a related field and a minimum of 15 years previous experience in a communications role or related field.


• Background in healthcare, life sciences, biology or genetics or equivalent knowledge strongly preferred

Experience must include:

• Working directly with CEOs / senior executives


• Leading a global communications team with several direct reports


• Writing, editing and proofreading technical information and translating scientific information into messages/communications that resonate


• Change communication (including reorganizations, crisis communications)


• Leading both internal and external communications functions


• 10+ years effective team leadership


• Experience developing global communications strategy and flawless execution

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated strengths in:

• Collaboration and teamwork


• Building a best-in-class organization


• Strategic, global thinking, planning, and decision making


• Confident, independent interactions with senior management


• Commitment to quality and attention to detail


• Responsiveness, multi-tasking and balancing customer demands while managing multiple deliverables/deadlines


• Ability to calmly respond to the unexpected


• Excellent presentation and speaking skills


• Accountability for results

Location:

The successful candidate will work at HQ in San Diego.

The estimated base salary range for the Senior Director, Corporate and CEO Communications role based in the United States of America is: $201,100 - $301,700. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual's qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

At Illumina, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by cultivating an environment in which everyone contributes to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always been rooted in openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative views and perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and demonstrate our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion in the communities we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. Illumina conducts background checks on applicants for whom a conditional offer of employment has been made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal laws. Background check results may potentially result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. The background check process and any decisions made as a result shall be made in accordance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact accommodations@illumina.com. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. The position will be posted until a final candidate is selected or the requisition has a sufficient number of qualified applicants. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.