Head of Communications, Leica Microsystems

Bring more to life.

Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?

At Leica Microsystems, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. 

You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life.

Shape the Future with Us!

At Leica Microsystems, we have been shaping the future for over 175 years with groundbreaking optical and digital solutions.  With a culture rooted in customer focus, innovation, and teamwork, we lead the market in microscopy, imaging, and analysis, unveiling the invisible and empowering our customers to build a better, healthier world.

Joining Leica Microsystems means contributing to scientific discoveries and supporting surgeons in making critical decisions. Our advanced microscopes and AI-based image analysis solutions enable users to gain profound insights into development and engineering challenges. Here, you will work on meaningful projects alongside passionate colleagues, driving progress and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

The Head of Communications, Leica Microsystems is an operating company business leader responsible for driving brand preference and business impact for Leica Microsystems (LMS) and Danaher through strategic communications with measurable impact across priority stakeholders. This role has overall responsibility for the integrated external and internal communications plan for LMS and oversees the communications team that delivers communications initiatives for the operating company with contributions to Danaher’s overall life sciences platform business. They are the go-to strategic partner for the LMS President and their LT, providing strategic counsel and leadership communications.

This position will report to the VP, Life Sciences Communications and is part of the Life Sciences Communications Leadership Team and the LMS Leadership Team. The role can be located at one of the Leica Microsystems sites in Switzerland, UK, or Austria. The role requires job performance on‑site at one the posted locations.  For qualified internal candidates, the company may consider the possibility of remote or non‑posted sites given their current employment location, based on business needs and company policy.   

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Serve as a business leader and trusted go-to strategic partner for the LMS President and their leadership team, providing senior communications counsel.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive integrated communications strategy for LMS to drive brand preference, scientific leadership and associate engagement.
• Develop and implement a leadership communications strategy for the LMS President to drive thought leadership and engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead change communications strategy and execution for LMS change initiatives, including building advocacy for change and coaching leaders and people managers.
• Provide strategic counsel and rapid response capabilities for LMS level issues, to mitigate risk and protect brand equity. Build and maintain robust crisis protocols and scenario planning, aligned with the global enterprise issues framework.

• Establish robust metrics linked to business outcomes and brand preference to measure the impact of communications initiatives and optimize future initiatives.

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team of communicators who deliver business impact for LMS, fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, innovation and accountability.
• Empower the team to leverage advanced communications technologies, including AI, to enhance delivery of strategic communications.

The essential requirements of the job include:

• 10+ years of progressive experience in communications, marketing or related field preferably in diagnostics, life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech or healthcare sectors.
• At least 5 years of leadership experience, including ability to coach leaders, manage execution through others and lead teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Proven success in executive thought leadership, corporate communications (including product, science & technology communications) and associate engagement.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and ability to project confidence, command respect and influence others through composed, authoritative, and authentic behavior that earns stakeholder trust to advance priorities.
• Robust business acumen with strong financial and commercial understanding can translate business priorities into high-impact communications strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage data and insights to measure impact, solve business problems, optimize strategies and inform decision-making.

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Crisis and issues management in regulated industries.
• Change management strategy and execution.
• Use of technology and AI to optimize communications activities, with an understanding of the impact on team structure and capabilities.

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.