PR Manager

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. PR Manager - Europe Cambridge (2-3 days in the office) Closing Date: 21st June 2025 The PR Manager in Europe is an experienced, results-driven, and creative professional joining a team that is propelling business results by promoting and protecting Illumina’s reputation through external communications. The successful candidate joins a team that is proactively building Illumina’s image and awareness among customers, thought leaders, investors, employees, and the public through a strategic public relations programme. The PR Manager is part of a global Communications team and will collaborate with company leaders as well as marketing, sales, and HR teams to develop stories and winning approaches that advance business priorities across external channels. The PR Manager works with the company’s public relations agency and partners closely with global and regional communications colleagues to achieve shared goals. The role will regularly engage with members of the media, developing relationships and advancing storylines, and will serve as the operational coordinator for the Europe PR team. Illumina's employee benefits are industry-leading and include, flexible time off, private medical insurance, compassion and care time off, leisure travel insurance, pension, employee stock purchasing program, volunteer time off, and much more!
  Key Responsibilities Include:  

• Executes with excellence on objective-based assignments, including research projects, writing, material development, copy editing 
• Develops and executes strategic public relations plans to support company news and other milestones and measures and reports results.  
• Engages with the media to secure opportunities, generate trade media coverage, place feature stories, and build relationships with journalists to drive storytelling on a broad level. 
• Collaborates closely with members of the global communications team to ensure cohesive, aligned messages across multiple channels.  
• Engages with business leaders, marketing colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders to identify and build newsworthy stories that support the Company’s strategy and communications objectives.  
• Serves as the operations coordinator for Illumina’s public relations function, including project tracking and editorial calendar maintenance, as well as media list management. Recommends changes to optimize processes and procedures within the PR organisation. 
• Builds work plans and determines resources needed to meet goals and deliver tactical results. 
• Support Employee Communications when required.
• Works on complex assignments across multiple time zones, where problem solving requires conceptual thinking as all factors may not be clearly defined.
• Possesses high business acumen and professional judgment and demonstrates a sense of urgency / bias for action, required in effective media response. 
• Leads collaborative efforts with stakeholders outside their own area of expertise.  
• Interactions require effective communication and presentation of results/recommendations. 
• Reports to Sr. Director, Head of Communications, Europe.  

Changes to individual responsibilities may occur due to business needs and other related duties may be assigned. 
 
 
Experience/Education: 

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent experience.
• Biotech, life sciences, or healthcare industry experience preferred. Strong capability and interest in grasping complex science, technology, and medical themes, and communicating them to a broad audience. 
• Experience working both in-house and in an agency setting is preferred. 
• Strong writing skills – including experience writing press releases, pitches, op-eds, backgrounders, FAQs and other media tools. 
• Native-level proficiency in English with working proficiency in Spanish language required  
• Strong operational mindset – ability to maintain and organize databases, project trackers, and utilize project management software.  
• Ability to identify, track and report relevant PR metrics.  
• Clear and proactive communicator with ability to manage the needs of multiple stakeholders, including C-Suite. 
• Precise attention to detail. 
• Highly collaborative.  
• Strategic thinker and proactive problem solver. 
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and agile environment. 

We are a company deeply rooted in belonging, promoting an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always prioritized openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative 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 offer opportunities to engage in social responsibility. 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. Illumina prohibits the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the application and interview process. 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.