At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Public Affairs Intern
Location: Lilly Manufacturing Site, Dunderrow, Kinsale
Duration: 12‑Month Placement
Start Date: May 2026 – May 2027
Salary: €30,500
Working Pattern: 4 days onsite / 1 day remote
Hours: Full‑time, 39 hours per week

Placement Information – Public Affairs Intern

At Lilly, student placements are designed to be hands‑on and impactful. You’ll contribute to real work, gain exposure to a global organisation, and build practical skills that support your academic and professional development.

About the Role

This 12‑month Public Affairs placement is based at Lilly’s Kinsale manufacturing site and sits within the Public Affairs team, which leads external communications, government affairs, and ESG initiatives across Lilly Ireland.

You’ll work closely with site leadership and corporate teams, supporting high‑impact activities across communications, stakeholder engagement, and social impact.

What You’ll Do & Learn

During the placement, you will:

Work across multiple teams in a collaborative, cross‑functional environment
Take ownership of defined workstreams in internal and external communications
Support community engagement and social impact programmes
Contribute to creative, innovative, and continuous improvement initiatives
Build practical skills in public affairs, communications, and stakeholder engagement

You’ll receive structured support from your manager and the wider team, enabling you to apply your existing knowledge while developing new capabilities in a global, highly regulated environment.

Position Overview

The Public Affairs Intern will support the Kinsale Public Affairs function, partnering with site leadership and corporate teams on:

External engagement and stakeholder relationships
Internal and external communications
Community and social impact initiatives

This placement is ideally suited to a Master’s‑level student seeking hands‑on experience in a global organisation while building strong professional networks and transferable skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Public and Government Affairs

Support the development and delivery of public affairs and external engagement activities at site and national level for Lilly in Ireland.
Assist with stakeholder mapping and engagement, including local community, public representatives, agencies, and industry bodies
Monitor and summarise policy, regulatory, and political developments relevant to the life sciences and manufacturing sectors
Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences

University Outreach and Relationship Management

Support the improved coordination of Lilly Kinsale’s engagement with universities and higher‑education institutions and the development of an All-Ireland approach to 3rd level campus outreach
Help track and evaluate the impact of university engagement initiatives, providing insights and recommendations for improvement

External Engagement

Assist in the creation and maintenance of a database of external engagement with both professional organisations, trade associations and any other ad hoc activities.
Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and reports for local and corporate audiences

Environmental, Social and Governance

Assist in the ongoing development and delivery of Lilly’s All-Ireland social impact programme.
Work with other team members to deliver creative and effective ways to communicate the new social impact programme in line with Lilly broader ESG priorities to external stakeholders.
Support community engagement initiatives, events, and site visits
Assist with ad hoc projects related to corporate reputation, sustainability, and social impact

Compliance and Continuous Improvement

Maintain strict documentation audit trail as needed/required for external engagement activities, including review and approvals, and archiving when complete.
Contribute creative ideas and suggestions across all aspects of the student’s responsibility to bring new thinking and continuous improvement to the team and the site.

Candidate Profile

Essential Requirements

Recently completed (or due to complete) a graduate qualification in Public Affairs, Public Policy, Political Science, International Relations, or a related discipline
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to research, analyse, and clearly summarise complex information
Strong organisational and documentation skills, with careful attention to detail.
A proactive mindset with a willingness to learn and take initiative
Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team
Excellent interpersonal & communication skills
Energy & enthusiasm to learn and maximise the value of placement

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

#WeAreLillyUKandIreland

Public Affairs Intern

Job Description