Vice President of European Public Affairs

Vice President of European Public Affairs

Job ID 393883BR

Jan 08, 2025

Summary

Location: Brussels, Belgium or Basel, Switzerland #LI-Hybrid

About the role:

As the Vice President of European Public Affairs (PA), you will be a dynamic and visionary leader, directly reporting to the Head of Global Public Affairs. This role is pivotal in managing enterprise government affairs and serving as a key member of both the Global PA and Europe Commercial leadership teams. You will excel in building and maintaining strong relationships with key government officials, influencers, and opinion leaders. You will craft and implement proactive strategies that positively impact our company and confidently represent the company externally on all public policy matters, especially in Brussels. This is an opportunity to be the strategic partner to the Global Head of Public Affairs to advise the CEO on all public affairs matters within the EU.

This leader will coach and develop a team of over 50 highly skilled individuals across the European region, Russia, and the UK.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive the strategic advocacy strategy for Brussels and the rest of Europe.
• Be the established point of contact and maintain working relationships with government officials, members of business, trade and political associations, and other stakeholders directly involved with the public policy process at the highest levels.
• Develop a strong relationship and shared vision with the company’s senior business leaders, establishing an external affairs mission that helps create and deliver competitive strength to the organization.
• Act as a key member of the senior management team and foster a proactive orientation in the external affairs arena; monitor developments of interest and concern to the company, keeping executive leadership informed of potential impacts and recommending solutions.
• Oversee the development and dissemination of positions to help advance the company’s objectives, including testimony, comments on regulations, and external affairs-related talking points for company leadership.
• Lead the creation and execution of specific external affairs strategies and programs to ensure significantly increased reputation and understanding of the company with respect to its strategic positioning in the industry.
• Lead a significant team of Brussels and Swiss-based, as well as in-country public affairs associates.
• Conceive, plan, develop and execute an annual business plan and budget designed to assist the company in achieving their strategic goals related to external affairs.
• Shape public policy and legislation with prioritization of policy trends/issues by using data and insights incorporating geopolitics and geostrategy.

Note: This role will require approximately 30% travel within Europe and at times outside of this.

Minimum Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent required. Advanced degree in Law, Public Health, or Public Administration is desirable.
• Current experience in government relations within a highly regulated industry, ideally within the pharmaceutical sector, possessing a deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical business model, EU healthcare systems, and the political and economic environment.
• Established and current network within the EU, particularly Brussels.
• Confidence in presenting and advising C-suite leaders on key public affairs topics.
• Broad business acumen and acute political sensitivity with excellent advocacy skills that can adapt to dynamic external factors while managing changing agendas in a fast-paced environment.
• Capacity to anticipate emerging government, public, or community/social issues of importance to the industry and to position the company effectively to handle such issues.
• Ability to lead a team of trained professionals, encouraging their growth and independence, leveraging their skills to increase visibility and credibility of the function.
• High self-awareness and proven agility to lead across large and complex cross-functional teams.

Benefits and Rewards:

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting, and inspiring each other to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? Learn more

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Alternative Location: Basel (City), Switzerland

Functional Area: Communications & Public Affairs

Job Type: Full time

Employment Type: Regular

Shift Work: No

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

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