Corporate Public Affairs Lead

About the role

Roche UK's Public Affairs team influences how legislation, regulation and the political environment affect communities and the pharmaceutical industry, aiming to ensure UK patients have the best access to medicines in Europe. The Corporate Public Affairs Lead is a senior, highly visible role that uses deep knowledge of the UK political system and healthcare policy to shape and execute the Corporate Public Affairs strategy with priority stakeholders, while managing agency and partner activity.

Key responsibilities

• Contribute to the enterprise Corporate Public Affairs strategy, combining therapy-area challenges and opportunities into portfolio-wide goals.
• Monitor and analyse the impact of national and, where needed, international policy developments on Roche's portfolio and pipeline, including MFN, VPAG and NICE processes.
• Use a network of senior external stakeholders to identify opportunities to articulate Roche's value proposition clearly.
• Support the Head of Public Affairs in coordinating briefing requests and meetings for senior leadership, including country visits from Global colleagues.
• Lead trade body interactions, including deputising for the Head of Public Affairs before senior political forum meetings.
• Lead strategic interactions with politicians, policymakers, think tanks and patient groups, and coordinate responses to Government consultations.
• Act as an internal champion for the Public Affairs team and advise internal teams on strategic direction.
• Craft arguments and proposals for external stakeholders and manage agency partner spend.

Required profile

• Substantive public affairs experience in a similar commercial organisation or central government, with a solid understanding of UK pharmaceutical policy and access issues.
• Strong track record of influencing policy and engaging with government officials on major corporate issues.
• Excellent knowledge of current affairs, healthcare and the UK political system, with a pre-existing network across Westminster and Whitehall.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a matrix organisation, manage change and competing priorities, and work under pressure.
• Proven ability to work within a compliance-led regulatory environment.

Required skills

• Project management and ability to prioritise multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication, able to explain complex information clearly.
• Relationship-building and stakeholder engagement.