Senior Director Corporate Affairs

The Senior Director, Corporate Affairs will lead all corporate affairs for Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease in Italy. She/he is responsible for the strategy, planning, and hands-on execution of globally- and regionally-aligned local policy engagement, government affairs, and communications to support Alexion’s reputation and market shaping ambitions.

She/he is a member of the Italian Leadership Team as well as the Europe & Canada Corporate Affairs network, within the Global Corporate Affairs function. This role will report to the Senior Director, Corporate Affairs, Europe & Canada, with an indirect report to the General Manager. She/ he will have line management responsibility for the Director of Communications and manage an indirect reporting line from the local Patient Advocacy team to ensure strategic alignment between advocacy, policy, government affairs and communications.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop the local corporate affairs strategy, incorporating policy shaping, advocacy, government affairs and communication strategy in support of our market shaping and reputational ambitions, and execute them in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Ensure strategic alignment between corporate affairs priorities and business drivers, including therapy area and market growth priorities.
• Align local communications objectives for corporate reputation, policy shaping, disease awareness and product communications with global and regional strategies.
• Contribute to and co-develop policy positions and government affairs strategies aimed at delivering a favourable business environment and maximizing equitable patient access.
• Lead and manage national and local media relations as well as prepare local Alexion company spokespeople as subject matter experts to engage with media and key external stakeholders. Develop trusted working relationships with journalists where appropriate; create/seize engagement opportunities; evaluate/respond to requests; and develop appropriate messaging and materials.
• Monitor and manage issues that could impact Alexion success or company reputation
• Work closely with the EUCAN & International Corporate Affairs teams to support initiatives and implement broader corporate campaigns at the local level.
• Work with the Vice President General Manager Italy and local teams to support local business priorities and employee engagement. 
• Collaborate with aligned functions (market access, regulatory, legal, compliance, patient advocacy, commercial, and medical) to maximize business performance and coordination of plans & activities
• Engage with Governments, politicians, payers, patient advocate, trade associations, think tanks and other stakeholders on policy issues
• Conduct briefings, meetings, forums and technical updates for legislators and regulators and their staffs on issues of concern to Alexion.
• Respond to public consultations on behalf of the business to articulate policy positions
• Build coalitions of support with third party organizations to deliver multi-stakeholder public affairs campaigns
• Identify, contract and lead/manage/oversee agencies engaged to support corporate affairs activities
• Ensure strategic alignment with AstraZeneca colleagues and priorities at market level.
• Manage in-country corporate affairs budget.
• Effectively manage, mentor and develop the Director, Communications, and ensure strong performance across the local corporate affairs team.
• Be a team player and pitch-in on various other department projects as the need arises.

Essential Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in in-house and/or agency corporate affairs, government relations or communications in a health care setting.
• Strong and broad background in public affairs in the bio/pharmaceutical industry.
• Robust media relations experience.
• Experience in content for digital and social media.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven track record of working successfully with both executives and subject matter experts.
• Knowledge of the local media and policy landscape as well as relationships with national and regional stakeholders. 
• Robust working experience in international and intercultural settings.
• Fluency in both Italian and English.
• based role in Milan or Rome

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading corporate affairs for an affiliate of a larger health care company.
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