External Communications Undergraduate

Pfizer UK Undergraduate Programme 2025/2026

External Communications Undergraduate

External Communications

Corporate Affairs │ October 2024

Who can apply?

Applicants must be completing a placement as part of a degree course at a UK University, either through Year in Industry/Industrial Placement or Gap Year.

Please note that we will only consider candidates who have applied by completing the Pfizer Placement Application Form. Candidates who do not complete and attach the application form will NOT be considered. You can download the Word version of the Application Form here: Undergraduate Vacancies | Pfizer UK and find instructions as to how to complete your application and more about eligibility criteria. 

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please see below!!

Department Overview
 

Corporate Affairs manages the external face of Pfizer and is accountable for all external engagement with key (non-medical) stakeholders such as the media, the government and patient groups.  These and other stakeholders shape our reputation and influence the healthcare, policy and commercial environment in which we operate.

Corporate Affairs is made up of the following teams:

• External Communications
• Policy & Public Affairs (PPA)
• Patient Advocacy
• Global Health & Social Impact (GHSI)

The role of the external communications team is to develop and implement high value strategic communication programmes to support Pfizer’s business priorities at Corporate, Business Unit and brand levels.  The external communications team helps shape the operating environment for our UK business and positively impacts the company’s reputation in the UK. Within this strategic remit, it is also accountable for some of the day-to-day processes and platforms that join Pfizer with its UK audiences and stakeholders.  For example, the team delivers a 24x7 press office process, dealing with media enquiries and proactively identifying opportunities to communicate about Pfizer corporate initiatives. The team also manages the social media channels and corporate website for Pfizer UK.

Through these activities we increase awareness and comprehension of Pfizer – with the aim of becoming one of the most trusted health brands.  Our audiences gain a compelling comprehension of our role in healthcare as an innovative biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and provides medicines and vaccines that help save and transform the lives of millions of people in the UK and around the world every year.  Our Purpose?  Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives.

What can I achieve and what will I be accountable for whilst completing a placement at Pfizer?

Working in the Corporate Affairs Directorate gives you a fantastic opportunity to experience engagement with the public, media and UK Government on issues and activities of national importance, often making a crucial impact on health, healthcare for people across the country.  You will also work closely with key challenges and opportunities in national policy, across health, business, science, regulation and more.

The role will allow you to develop a wide range of skills and to improve your knowledge of both external communications and the pharmaceutical industry. You will have the opportunity to support and lead on a number of key activities and initiatives and will learn about our approaches to communications excellence.  You will have significant levels of responsibility for our busy press office, social media channels, corporate website and cross-functional internal team work, sometimes taking the lead.  You will assist in developing and implementing corporate affairs tactical plans, including monitoring and evaluating key engagements and programmes with external stakeholders.  You will ensure we report on key opportunities and issues internally with the business. It will be a unique opportunity to work in a corporate environment with leading professionals in healthcare communications and social media.

Other tasks include:

• Supporting the development of messaging and materials for news media, social media and other digital channels – including writing, editing and the use of internal governance systems in a highly regulated environment
• Partnering with cross-functional colleagues to maximise our proactive engagement while delivering the best possible reactive engagement when needed
• Monitoring our live social media and press office platforms and systems to drive timely, appropriate action by the wider team and business when needed

• Providing timely and relevant updates to UK, regional and global colleagues on key activities
• Coordinating and developing regular updates to senior leaders in the UK and global business
• Supporting the organisation of Pfizer sponsored events, social media campaigns and media engagements
• Assisting with the preparation of presentations
• Supporting issues and crisis management
• Overseeing supplier relationships

What other opportunities and benefits do Pfizer offer?

Beyond the day to day role, you will also have the opportunity to:

• Attend meetings with leaders across the organization to discuss business unit specific strategy, projects, plans and associated activities
• Partner with colleagues in the wider corporate affairs team including patient advocacy and global health and social impact to gain experience in the cross functional landscape 
• Work closely with industry-leading external agencies
• Build your own peer network of undergraduate colleagues in many other functions and participate in company-wide activities including volunteering and diversity and inclusion activities associated with our Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs) which educate, advocate and represent on behalf of our Pfizer colleague community in all its diversity.

When can I start?

Placements will start on 1st  September 2025 and will run for 12 months.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Type of person we are looking for, in relation to ‘Skills’, ‘Knowledge’ and ‘Motivation’:

• Completing placement as part of University Degree either through Year In Industry/Industrial Placement or Gap Year
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent project management skills, including planning and prioritisation of multiple tasks
• Familiar with social media principles and systems; IT literacy (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Good on details, with a patient and methodical approach in our highly regulated sector
• Ability to work on own initiative or with others on tasks with and without supervision
• Ability to deal with people at all levels
• Interest in media, social media and policy landscape
• Able to use logical and creative thinking to solve problems and make decisions
• Creative and flexibility, with a willingness to learn new things and be agile/adaptable in approach

As a reminder…….

Who can apply?

Applicants must be completing placement as part of a degree course at a UK University, either through Year in Industry/Industrial Placement or Gap Year.

This position will close for applications on 1st December 2024.

Please note that we only accept application forms. Please do not send over your CV or cover letter as they will not be considered.

Please access the Word version of the Application Form here: Undergraduate Vacancies | Pfizer UK and find instructions as to how to complete your application and more about eligibility criteria.

 #LI-PFE

Purpose 

Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.  

Digital Transformation Strategy

One bold way we are achieving our purpose is through our company wide digital transformation strategy. We are leading the way in adopting new data, modelling and automated solutions to further digitize and accelerate drug discovery and development with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and the patient experience.

Flexibility  

We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!  

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.

DisAbility Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we encourage you to put your best self forward with the knowledge and trust that we will make any reasonable adjustments necessary to support your application and future career. Our mission is unleashing the power of our people, especially those with unique superpowers. Your journey with Pfizer starts here!