Novartis is one of the world’s leading healthcare companies with an award-winning pipeline, operating in over 140 countries worldwide. Our goal is to provide high quality healthcare solutions to address the evolving needs of patients and society. In the UK, we employee over 3,000 people across seven sites and five divisions.
An exciting opportunity has arisen in the Market Access Department to lead and deliver the Pharma Government Affairs 2014 strategy across priority brands and strategic projects in the General Medicines business, as well as co-ordinating Novartis engagement with trade associations.
This is a highly visible role, working with senior leaders across the business and requires the ability to understand the commercial implications of public policy.
Major accountabilities
- Developing policy positions and government affairs programmes aimed at delivering a favourable business environment and maximising patient access to Novartis medicines in the UK;
- Executing the 2014 plan of government affairs activity across the UK and developing the 2015 strategy and plan;
- Engaging with Government, NHS, trade associations, patient groups, think tanks and other stakeholders on policy issues;
- Responding to consultations on behalf of the business to articulate policy positions;
- Supporting and briefing senior leaders on external meetings;
- Overseeing Novartis engagement with ABPI and EMG, including support for the General Manager’s role on the ABPI Board of Management;
- Leading and motivating a highly experienced team of public affairs professionals to deliver the above.
Experience
- A track-record of successful development of policy and policy influencing programmes in the healthcare/pharmaceutical space;
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Experience of leading and managing a team gained in:
- another UK healthcare company public affairs department and/or
- a UK public affairs agency, with a focus on healthcare and/or
- a third sector organisation with a healthcare focus (such as disease area charity, patient support organisation and so on) and/or
- a UK healthcare industry association (ABPI, ABHI, BIA etc.).
Policy
- Experience of translating ‘business’ needs into policy positions, negotiation with internal stakeholders in developing these;
- Experience of working collaboratively with other stakeholders to develop common policy positions, including through industry association working groups and other third parties;
- Experience of developing and coordinating (responses to) Government consultation documents.
Lobbying
- Familiar with Whitehall and Westminster in terms of workings of Government departments, in particular Department of Health, experience of interaction with ministers, officials, parliamentarians and so on;
- Familiar with NHS England and experience of interaction with national NHS stakeholders;
- The ideal candidate will also have experience of dealing with devolved nations governments;
- Experience of building coalitions of support with third party organisations to deliver multi-stakeholder public affairs campaigns.
Skills
- Ability to provide strategic counsel, often under pressure, to senior leaders on policy and government affairs issues;
- Strong networker able to manage a large number of external relationships;
- Ability to work cross-functionally, navigate large complex organisations and manage a high number of senior internal customers;
- Proven ability to understand and clearly communicate complex and technical topics simply and succinctly;
- Outstanding oral and written communication skills;
- Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.