The Therapeutic Policy Lead GCC is a newly created role that will focus on shaping the external policy environment and drive its execution of our Company external affairs strategy in the GCC.
Therapeutic Policy Lead GCC will work in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders. The Policy Lead will drive external communications and engagements with key government stakeholders and policy makers in order to shape policies related to the strategic therapeutic areas (oncology and vaccines) and help in increasing access to our medicines and vaccines.
Therapeutic Policy Lead GCC will work in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders to design, select and implement strategies that enable the company to meet its strategic and business goals.
Carrying out this role requires ongoing interaction and strong collaboration with internal and external stakeholders including government officials, payors, policy and industry associations.
Our Policy team collaborates with governments and policy organizations at local and national levels. We address legislative and regulatory issues that promote and protect the discovery of innovative medicine, vaccines while improving and protecting patient access to care. We take great care to monitor and manage the reputation of our company communicating the work we do to improve lives.
Primary activities include, but are not limited to:
- Identification of the health policy challenges in the field of vaccines and oncology in the GCC in close collaboration with commercial, market access & medical teams and other relevant stakeholders such as communication and patient engagement.
- Creation and implementation of integrated policy plans in both vaccines and oncology considering common interests of external stakeholders in the GCC.
- Creation of trusting and reliable partnerships with the various stakeholder groups of the GCC health system and GCC health policy.
- Analysis of the health policy environment in the GCC, anticipation of any trends or reforms through continued monitoring of the healthcare eco-system changes.
- Representation of our Company with different trade association working groups institutions, professional organizations, public health organizations, attending government meetings to advocate for our Companies´ leadership position.
- Monitors evolving legislative and regulatory guidelines at local and/or national and/or central GCC level, identifies decision-makers and procedures, makes strategic recommendations, writes position papers, prepares and conducts lobbying discussions with trade associations.
- Collaborates with regional policy and communications colleagues to identify and develop policy priorities and advocacy messaging that are aligned with local, regional and global policy and advocacy priorities.
- Implements advocacy plans to seize opportunities and minimize threats that have a major impact on the business in the market. Proactively develops and provides alternative solutions and preferred approaches to policy challenges.
Required Experience and Skills:
- At least 3-5 years of related experience in policy and/or government affairs and/or market access and/or marketing strategies and/or external communication and/or public affairs and/or insurance in leading MNC or government sectors.
- Strong business acumen and experience in the GCC countries (must).
- Proven track record of successful strategy execution, experience interacting with key external stakeholders including Government Officials and/or Key Scientific leaders and/or Non-Profit Organizations.
- Excellent writing, editing and verbal communications skills in English and Arabic (must).
- Organizational skills, ability to manage multiple projects and meet fast deadlines.
- Experience with social media and digital platforms (preferred).
- Highly motivated and able to effectively communicate in cross-functional teams, across multiple languages and cultures.
- Team player, resilient, collaborative spirit, ability to succeed in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
- Travel to different GCC countries (60% of time).
Department: External Affairs and Communications
Reports to: External Affairs and Communications Director
Region: GCC
Based in either Riyadh or Dubai
Who we are … We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA in the United States and Canada and MSD everywhere else. For more than a century, we have been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Today, our company continues to be at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions and advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and animals around the world.
What we look for … Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group of colleagues who pursue and bring hope to countless people who are battling some of the most challenging diseases of our time. Our team is constantly evolving, so if you are among the intellectually curious, join us—and start making your impact today
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