Director – Policy & External Affairs

Job Description

Director – External Affairs, Policy & Corporate Communications

Roles & Responsibilities

• Member of the country leadership team. Lead the external affairs, policy and communications portfolio through a leadership team of highly skilled individuals.

• Strategize, develop and implement robust external affairs strategy and annual plans.

• Drive coherent policy strategy and engagement across our commercial and other divisions with footprint in India, both at Central and State levels; build key State-level partnerships and engagements in priority States for in India

• Build organizational capabilities, processes, talent, and bench strength in pricing, external affairs, policy, and communication.

• Shape the reimbursement and broader operating environment through direct engagement with government departments and collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, industry associations, and stakeholders.

• Secure reimbursement for the company’s products in India through relevant government bodies and support for funding.

• Develop and implement internal and external communications strategies.

• Collaborate with peers in business units, market access, medical, regulatory, policy, and external affairs at local, regional, and global levels.

• Leverage relationships with payers, clinicians, patient organizations, politicians, and government officials to support business needs.

• Policy Advocacy for Enabling IP and regulatory eco-system. Drive political will both at Center and State level to set up patient centric policies and associated funding

• Regular engagement with government officials and policy makers at center and state level. Enable the country leader’s regular cadence with top policy makers in Delhi and in the select states.

• Strategic leadership in shaping industry position on key policy priorities with relevance to through continued engagement with relevant Industry Associations (OPPI, FICCI, CII, USISPF, USIBC, AMCHAM and PAFI)

• Provide leadership oversight on the policy and external affairs for the Hyderabad Tech Center.

• Establish meaningful and strategic partnerships with patient organizations engaged in the therapeutic areas of India

• Shape the government and policy landscape for implementing patient centric initiatives across therapy areas including rare disease portfolio.

• Lead the development of the annual external affairs plan.

• Drive senior external affairs managers in developing and implementing reimbursement strategies, stakeholder management plans, policy advocacy plans, and communications plans.

• Create programs and development opportunities to nurture talent and continuously upskill team members; Retain key talent, identify skill gaps, and address these through strategic hires and internal development; Build a high-performance culture within the team, benchmarked to achieve industry leadership.

• Collaborate with senior managers and colleagues in solving complex reimbursement or policy problems; Make decisions that align with the company’s business objectives and values.

• Build a reputation with key stakeholders as a partner of choice; Leverage relationships with government and stakeholders to provide relevant information and inform decision-making.

• Negotiate with government to achieve mutually beneficial reimbursement listings, prices, and policy changes.

• Lead efforts to build high-performing cross-functional teams in India across external affairs, regulatory, medical, and marketing.

• Enhance India’s reputation with global colleagues and ensure effective leverage of global resources.

Decisions Made as Director of External Affairs:

• Recruitment of leadership team and staff.

• Identification of submission or other reimbursement opportunities.

• Organization and industry policy positions.

• Pricing and reimbursement strategies.

• Political engagement opportunities and programs.

• Communication strategy and implementation.

• Developing risk mitigation strategies for policy and communications for upcoming issues.

• Robust Stakeholders Engagement to establish brand India among policy makers and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to build a patient-centered policy environment that advances our business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Graduate Degree in economics, pharmacology, public policy, communications, or a related quantitative discipline. An advanced degree (MBA, MPA, or equivalent) is preferred.

• Bachelor’s Degree with 8 or more years of external affairs experience OR a minimum of a high school diploma with at least 12 years of equivalent experience which could include: communications, media, and/or military.

Knowledge:

• In-depth Understanding of public reimbursement evaluation systems.

• Comprehensive Knowledge of government policy development, enactment, and implementation, particularly in the healthcare sector.

• Familiarity with Regulatory Frameworks governing pharmaceuticals and healthcare in India, including IP laws and pricing regulations.

Experience:

• Proven Track Record in managing complex, cross-functional teams in a corporate or governmental environment, with a focus on external affairs and public policy.

• Demonstrated Accountability for achieving commercial results and external affairs objectives, with quantifiable outcomes.

• Extensive Experience in stakeholder engagement, including working with government officials, industry associations, and healthcare providers.

Skills/ Competencies:

• Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and implement long-term strategies that align with organizational goals and adapt to changing political landscapes.

• Advanced Economic Analysis: Proficiency in health economics and outcomes research, with the ability to apply these insights to pricing strategies and reimbursement negotiations.

• Public Policy Advocacy: Expertise in developing and executing advocacy strategies that influence policy decisions at both the state and national levels.

• Exceptional Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication abilities, with experience in crafting compelling narratives for diverse audiences, including policymakers and the public.

• Negotiation and Persuasion: Proven negotiation skills with a track record of achieving favourable outcomes in complex discussions with government and industry stakeholders.

• Leadership and Talent Development: Experience in building high-performing teams, mentoring talent, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Leadership behaviors:

Growth mindset, strong commitment to cross functional collaboration, agility, demonstrated track record of flawless execution, openness to diverse perspectives, demonstrated track record of developing and empowering others and - most importantly - role model of the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

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Employee Status:

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Job Posting End Date:

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Requisition ID:R358901