Summary

This 12-week internship is a high-impact, MBA-level experience within AstraZeneca's Corporate Affairs organization spanning brand communications, external reputation, internal employee activations, policy/government affairs, and patient advocacy. You will operate as a strategic consultant embedded within cross-functional teams to shape communications, strengthen trust with patients, HCPs, payers, and policymakers, and advance corporate affairs strategies for new and existing brands across the Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic (CVRM) therapy area. The internship culminates in a senior-level presentation that highlights the measurable value delivered from your projects that positively impacted business challenges and advanced outcomes for key stakeholder groups across the US business.

Job description

Summary

This 12-week internship is a high-impact, MBA-level experience within AstraZeneca's Corporate Affairs organization spanning brand communications, external reputation, internal employee activations, policy/government affairs, and patient advocacy. You will operate as a strategic consultant embedded within cross-functional teams to shape communications, strengthen trust with patients, HCPs, payers, and policymakers, and advance corporate affairs strategies for new and existing brands across the Cardiovascular, Renal, and Metabolic (CVRM) therapy area. The internship culminates in a senior-level presentation that highlights the measurable value delivered from your projects that positively impacted business challenges and advanced outcomes for key stakeholder groups across the US business.

Areas of Involvement

Consultative Strategy Development: Lead structured problem-solving to define objectives, assess stakeholder needs, and build integrated communications (product launch, disease awareness, external key messages) and policy tactics aligned to brand priorities
Cross-Functional Engagement: Partner with Commercial, Medical, Market Access, Policy, Media, and Patient Advocacy teams. Expect senior leader exposure and routine interactions with cross-functional stakeholders, including external agencies and vendors, to progress planning and compliant, supportive tactics
Insight Generation: Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative inputs (product and disease insights, competitive intelligence, market research, social listening, policy analyses, earned and owned media performance) to inform approach, narrative, and engagement plans
Innovation & Enablement: Pilot practical applications of AI and analytics in communications workflows, scenario planning, and narrative testing. Contribute to playbooks and templates that scale best practices for patient-centered content
Mentorship & Exposure: You'll have support from a manager and an executive sponsor to guide your growth. Expect regular touchpoints and feedback loops to help you progress. You'll also have access to lunch-and-learn opportunities across Corporate Affairs, offering insight into unique areas of the business such as clinical development or medical, legal, regulatory (MLR), and spanning business units such as Oncology and Rare Disease.

Requirements

Graduate-level student pursuing an MBA with an interest in life sciences, pharmaceutical/healthcare administration, marketing, public affairs, and/or experience working in highly regulated industries
Ability to turn complex data and stakeholder input into concise insights and recommendations
Strong storytelling and executive presence, including skill in patient-centered and scientific-focused writing
Experience with structured problem-solving, hypothesis formation, and developing strategy supported by relevant tactics
Proven teamwork, stakeholder management, and project orchestration skills with the ability to manage ambiguity and drive outcomes
Experience working with policy/advocacy groups or community organizations helpful
Strong interest in understanding a globally matrixed organization, collaborating across time zones with cultural awareness
Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
Familiarity with analytics, social listening, and tools for public relations professionals
Applicants must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa (e.g., CPT, H1-B, F-1 (OPT), TN, or other non-immigrant status)
This role will not provide CPT or OPT letters
Available to work onsite in Wilmington, DE five days a week
Must have an expected graduation date after August 2027
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Selected candidates may be asked for past writing, research, and project-aligned examples to demonstrate experience

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Company overview

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused pharmaceutical company dedicated to accelerating the delivery of life-changing medicines that create enduring value for patients, society, and shareholders. With a workforce of over 94,300 employees worldwide, the company operates across three core therapy areas: Oncology, BioPharmaceuticals (including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, Respiratory & Immunology), and Rare Disease. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca maintains strategic R&D centers in Cambridge, Gaithersburg (US), Boston (US), Gothenburg (Sweden), Shanghai, and Beijing. The company generated $54.1 billion in total revenue in 2024 and invested $13.6 billion in scientific research and development. AstraZeneca's bold aspiration is to be pioneers in science, lead in disease areas, and transform patient outcomes, with a goal to launch 20 new medicines and achieve $80 billion in total revenue by 2030. The company is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, health equity, and creating an inclusive work environment where diverse perspectives drive innovation.