Corporate Affairs Senior Manager

Job overview

The Corporate Affairs Sr Manager is responsible for the development and the execution of the governmental affairs & public affairs projects, stakeholder engagement plans and communication strategies for all current and future Biogen products. He or she is in charge of all public affairs projects related to the preparation of the successful launch of the first medicine impacting the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease. The Corporate Affairs Manager develops the Public Affairs strategy and policy proposals to secure the Multiple Sclerosis & Spinal Muscular Atrophy business and to optimize the Belgian policy for the uptake of biosimilars. He or she will be responsible for Public Affairs stakeholder engagement, corporate reputation, crisis communication management, strategic communications and media relations.

Principal accountabilities

1. Government Affairs – Development and execution of the government affairs strategy.

• Develops relationships with key members of parliament and their staffs, relevant Ministries and other senior key health policy administrators/government agency officials (payer, agency) to advance Biogen’s policy goals.
• Monitors the policy and political environment for salient and emerging issues and timely and regularly informs LT of those issues with potential impact on Biogen business.
• Identifies opportunities and threats in the legislative process to advance or defend Biogen’s policy objectives and develops in the most pro-active way communication and outreach plans adequately addressing the opportunities and risks.
• Supports in ensuring that business areas are timely informed of government initiatives or policies that may present a threat or opportunity to the Belgian market and/or Affiliate’s short and long-term planning objectives and develops related communication plan to leverage the opportunity where possible or pro-actively mitigating the risk.
• Active engagement in trade association to support/defend Biogen’s policy objectives.

2. Stakeholder Engagement – Develop and execute local cross-functional stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy

• Support Market Access efforts to establish alliances to effectively engage stakeholders and communicate on the needs to ensure HC system readiness for a therapy impacting the underlying cause of AD
• Engage with trade associations and policy makers around policy asks that improve health outcomes in Alzheimer’s disease [e.g. guidelines, governance, disease management, access].
• Manage stakeholder engagement around key issues important to Biogen’s current and future business.

3.Media Relations– Establish strong media network, ensuring alignment of local external and internal communication with global strategy.

• Pro-active media coverage around key milestones, leveraging multiple channels such as general media, medical and industry press, social media (including local company website(s)) to increase visibility and reach target audiences.
• Work closely across TA’s, providing guidance for them to plan, develop and implement product PR campaigns/communications, adapting global strategy to local activities.
• Support policy objectives with coordinated and strategic media campaigns.
• Manage public relations agency.

4. Strategic Communications– Develop and execute communications initiatives to support the Affiliate’s business objectives, the implementation of the corporate strategy and the promotion of a culture of excellence in Belgium/Luxembourg.

• Assume ownership for external communications and ensure 100% compliance with corporate communications and disclosure rules.
• Develop communication strategy to support Biogen’s portfolio & pipeline.
• Provide dedicated and expert communications counsel and insights to local leadership on positioning and messaging in building awareness, understanding and support for the company’s strategic goals and priorities among multiple stakeholders. Develop budgets for communications programs and activities; monitor progress and evaluate performance.

5. Reputation/Issue Management– Raise the company’s profile through developing communication strategies and projects supporting the company’s corporate reputation, strategic initiatives, marketed products and pipeline programs.

• Organize events to raise awareness of Biogen’s scientific activities, seizing relevant opportunities to enhance the organization’s image.
• Develop and implement local plans for corporate social responsibility (CSR), aligned with the corporate CSR strategy and including local community relations.
• Manage crisis communications and issues management. Identify and address issues that may impact Biogen’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. Develop and implement the Affiliate’s strategies for communicating / responding in the event of a crisis.
• Provide real-time support and guidance to the Leadership Team on crisis/issues management

• Master’s Degree in public affairs, political science, communications or related field; knowledge of the BeLux healthcare environment, in depth knowledge of BeLux medicines environment.

• At least 5 years professional experience in the public affairs area in pharmaceutical company with a focus on health care policy and external communications, and with a track record of Public Affairs & communication skills to enhance and drive business results.

• English fluent. French or Dutch mandatory