Director, Policy, Advocacy and Government Affairs Switzerland

Position Purpose: Ensure Corporate & External Affairs liaison with commercial and site leadership in Switzerland. Provide strategic guidance and direction to the affiliate and site leadership teams on government relations, policy, and advocacy, enable early identification and mitigation of policy risks, and leveraging opportunities in support of our operations and commercial priorities. Lead engagement with government in support of site operations and commercial priorities,  develop a long-term external engagement plan for the company.

This role reports to:

• International Head Policy, Advocacy and Government Affairs
• Commercial Affiliate and Site Management (dotted line)

Main Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Develop and lead execution of strategic plan to drive public affairs, executive though leadership engagement that enable the success of CSL’s operations, business and patient access to our therapies in Switzerland.
• Lead and coordinate CSL company engagement with government officials, industry associations, patient advocacy groups and other stakeholders.  Represents CSL and takes leading role in key industry associations and committees. Partners with CSL functions to support external engagement priorities in Switzerland. Partners with Communications team for advancing strategic media relations in Switzerland.
• Lead the development of business-relevant policy updates to senior company leaders, in alignment with relevant affiliate functions and the CEA leadership.
• Serve on Switzerland Commercial Leadership Team, partner and pro-actively collaborate with functional leads, including Therapeutic Areas Commercial, Medical, Market Access, and Regulatory, to develop and execute joint strategies.
• Serve on Bern Site Leadership Team.]  Drives strategic site engagement at political level, in partnership with leadership of the manufacturing sites and the communications team.
• Bring strategic insights to shape CEA strategy in Switzerland and International region.
• Is a key interface partner and relationship manager with patient advocacy groups, and works closely with Medical Affairs and Communications teams on patient group engagement and corporate communications strategies and programs in Switzerland.

Position Qualifications and Experience Requirements:

Education:

• Graduate/professional degree in law, public health, international relations, political sciences or similar disciplines preferred.

Experience in Switzerland:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in healthcare policy/public affairs, access or comparable fields

• Experience designing and leading efforts to build company profile and impact with important healthcare public affairs stakeholders at the national and local levels

• Experience designing and leading efforts to build company profile and impact with important healthcare public affairs stakeholders at the national and local levels

• Experience collaborating with colleagues at multiple levels of the organization (matrix) to align on and execute shared goals

• Strong understanding of the workings of major government/public authorities and healthcare industry associations  

• Experience partnering with patient groups to advance shared policy goals

• Strong, proved network of relationships with government officials, policy makers, industry, patient advocacy, and other stakeholders that are influential in policy formulation

• Experience in biologics, plasma, or pharma products industries preferred

• Experience in media relations or integrated communications campaigns preferred

Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills, including ability to spot risks and draw connections between complex policy issues and business impact

• Strong communications skills, including ability to communicate accurate, succinct descriptions of policy/political developments to senior business and international leaders

• Results oriented & growth mindset

• Strong team player skills and ability to work in a matrix organization and orchestrate cross-functional efforts with tangible results. 

• German and English fluency required. Other languages will be an asset.