Developing Strategy & Influencing Public Policy
- Develop and implement a strategic vision of policy support for our company’s business and product plans, and for leveraging outside organizations to enhance the reputation of our company and its brands,
- Lead the development of a strategic public policy plan to ensure favourable healthcare investment and treatment delivery environment exists for the disease areas in which the company operates,
- Lead the early strategic analysis of local business potential for pipeline/compounds expected to enter the portfolio,
- Identify, resource and complete specific tactical projects that support the agreed public policy and market access plans,
- Focus on the generation, delivery and measurement of the impact of the public policy,
- Oversee the funding application process (i.e. KEYTRUDA) to insure optimal and timely access to innovative new therapies; drive the development of innovative proposals which secures prolonged or additional access to our company’s therapies,
- Lead the production of high-quality internal and external responses to relevant policies and discussion documents, as required,
- Liaise with EMEA region, and other relevant affiliates on public policy and market access projects to ensure shared learning and efficient replication of relevant initiatives,
- Execute strong lobbying activities in the areas of Healthcare Pricing Committees, Health Industries Guidance Committee, Health Insurance and Regulatory issues,
- Establish credibility and expertise as the authority on vaccinations and oncology in the pharmaceuticals industry,
- Lead the public policy portion of regularly scheduled planning meetings and develop an action plan accordingly.
Compliance, Monitoring and Managing Results
- Follow all relevant good practice guidelines, policies and procedures,
- Regularly monitor performance indicators such as public policy delivery, budgeting, and ensure appropriate actions are taken when deviations to plan are evident,
- Monitor, analyse and identify opportunities and threats in the African regulation/legislation framework and foresee the possible effects to the company, product portfolio and pipeline,
- Ensure adequate tools are developed and in place to assist with planning, implementation of plans and performance monitoring.
Leadership & Change Management
- Providing the Senior Leadership Team with strategic advice on public policy developments affecting the business with recommendations on government relations goals/plans to enhance business results,
- Identify changes on the horizon including relevant national and regional policies in relation to funding, provision of healthcare and treatment capacity,
- Identify, create and capitalize on opportunities to advance our company’s business plan through changes in public policy and contribute to the implementation of change by acting as a Change Agent in communicating the change process to the relevant stakeholders,
- Successful leadership and management of direct reports in accordance with company policy,
- Coach, mentor and develop the team to collaboratively work with business colleagues,
- Set objectives and conduct performance reviews for all direct reports as per HR guidelines and policy,
- Effectively delegate to direct reports in order to enhance their knowledge and development.
Stakeholder Management
- Work collaboratively with other functional leaders and functions such as franchise teams, market planning, clinical research, corporate affairs, market research, medical information, regulatory, statistics and strategic pricing to ensure integration of the latest public policy developments into their plans and strategies,
- Cooperate with government, industry associations, academia, think tanks, and partners in Sub Saharan Africa and around the world to shape the policy environment, protect our company’s reputation, and support the growth of our company’s business,
- Provide strong engagement and guidance to team to navigate complex relationships among various stakeholders to drive and achieve the government affairs and business goals in line with Corporate HQ strategies,
- Develop productive, meaningful and appropriate relationships with Government, Ministry of Health and patient representative stakeholders who are responsible for strategic planning and investment which affects treatment access and delivery at a national level,
- Provide insight and expertise in coordination with Corporate Communications on Public Policy and government related policies and their impact on the company.
Public Health, Policy & Product Knowledge
- Knowledge of the policy environment, industry and public health trends and the implications on our company’s business priorities.
- Ability to articulate and understand our company’s corporate responsibility & sustainability and public policy priorities and the impact these activities have on our company’s brand and reputation
- Ability to communicate and report on our overall approach to corporate responsibility and philanthropy, the portfolio of activities that speak to our company’s approach and a wide range of issues that affect our company’s reputation in corporate responsibility
Enterprise Brand Management
- Ability to develop, maintain and support our company’s business and reputation through interactions with internal and external stakeholders, including our customers.
- Ability to incorporate, as appropriate, research and analysis on our company’s reputation trends and alter strategies or plans accordingly
- Strengthen our employer brand and reputation
Stakeholder Analysis, Engagement & Influencing
- Demonstrates ability to lead & develop communications strategies for multiple stakeholders in order to accelerate our business priorities
- Ability to launch new business arrangements with agencies or creative partners, manage relationships through all phases of the contract and ensure adherence to contractual performance metrics and relevant regulatory considerations
Messaging Strategy & Development
- Accountable for shaping the tone, style and direction of key communications or campaigns based on in-depth knowledge of our company’s growth strategy, healthcare industry issues and stakeholder/ audience perspectives
Social Business Innovation
- Develop SBI strategy for the subsidiary and lead implementation across the business
- Ability to identify partner opportunities & oversee the development of complex business cases and project plans
- Represent SA & SSA on investor fund decision making boards
Qualifications, Skills & Experience
- Minimum 10yrs experience leading policy initiatives within a large organization
- Relevant degree
- Experience working within government, think tanks, public policy groups, regulated industry groups and/or relevant corporations,
- Proven experience in skills of tact, diplomacy, discretion, courtesy and persuasiveness,
- Knowledge and understanding of key policy issues of interest to the pharmaceutical industry would be an asset (e.g., health economics, market access, overall regulatory issues),
- Possess thorough understanding of the policy and legislative development processes in the country,
- Having established a solid foundation and credibility within the national policy stakeholders network,
- Ability to influence, motivate, advise and mobilize internal and external stakeholders around a particular topic and deliver successful results,
- Possess strong presentation skills and the overall knowledge, judgment and courage of conviction to be credible among government/corporate officials and win their confidence and respect,
- Clear reputation for ethical conduct, integrity and confidentiality and the ability to create a team culture of high performance and high integrity,
- Keen attention to detail, excellent written work product and presentations, results driven, proactive, ability to develop new and creative ideas,
Core Competencies:
- Strong leadership skills including building relationships, influencing others, adaptability, and resolving conflict through interaction with key stakeholders,
- Ability to think strategically and quickly analyze situations and implement an appropriate course of action,
- Decisive, tactical when required, with strong customer focus and result orientation,
- Creates a compelling vision that attracts followers and builds commitment,
- High willingness to learn with agility,
- Excellent strategic and analytical skills combined with the creativity to produce innovative value propositions for the company,
- Strong ability to demonstrate managerial courage,
- Ability to influence without having direct authority,
- Be a critical thinker with strong problem-solving skills,
- High degree of initiative and dependability,
- High level of personal integrity, and the ability to professionally handle confidential matters,
- Exceptional communication skills; can synthesize information clearly and crisply to colleagues and work,
- Collaborative mindset, with ability to achieve creative, win-win
Our Human Health Division maintains a “patient first, profits later” ideology. The organization is comprised of sales, marketing, market access, digital analytics and commercial professionals who are passionate about their role in bringing our medicines to our customers worldwide.
Who we are …
We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, 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 …
In a world of rapid innovation, we seek brave Inventors who want to make an Impact in all aspects of our business, enabling breakthroughs that will affect generations to come. We encourage you to bring your disruptive thinking, collaborative spirit and diverse perspective to our organization. Together we will continue Inventing For Life, Impacting Lives while Inspiring Your Career Growth.
INVENT.
IMPACT.
INSPIRE.
We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Regular
Relocation:
No relocation
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
25%
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Remote Work
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Yes
Hazardous Material(s):
Requisition ID:R119136