Director of Patient Advocacy, CVRM

Role Summary

Director of Patient Advocacy to lead the development and implementation of global patient advocacy group/non-profit strategy across key patient and professional groups spanning Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic (CVRM) diseases. This role requires strategic thinking, decision-making, and the ability to create shared agendas across different functions and external patient advocacy/non-profit groups, with a priority focus on advancing policy reforms and engaging with policy makers. The role aligns to and helps advance the global public policy strategy as a critical priority and works with internal partners across the CVRM team and Corporate Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic partnerships with patient advocacy groups/NGOs/non-profits, aligning with AstraZeneca's priorities and managing agreements to ensure shared success.
• Define and implement multi-year global/regional/local country patient advocacy programmes with quantifiable ambitions aligned to business priorities and policy agendas to improve earlier diagnosis and patients‚Äô access to appropriate treatment and care.
• Drive implementation of agreed plans, co-accountable with colleagues and priority countries to realize advocacy goals with a focus on achieving policy reform targets.
• Support the development of robust evidence and argumentation to advance policy reform initiatives and access to innovation at therapeutic and above-therapeutic levels, including contributing to peer-reviewed publications and consensus publications on the case for change.
• Oversee operational effectiveness of PAG/NGO relationships in the therapeutic area, including development of capabilities, standards and processes/systems.

Qualifications

• Graduate ‚Äì Bachelor‚Äôs or Master‚Äôs degree with a minimum of ten years' experience/working knowledge of global pharmaceutical market, NGOs, non-profits and innovative life sciences environment
• Extensive experience working for or with the biopharmaceutical industry, working with patient advocacy groups and other NGOs
• Expertise in delivering policy reforms in disease areas
• Deep understanding of healthcare systems and how to drive advocacy and healthcare policy change at country level
• Proven success in convening non-profit group coalitions
• Lead the creation and execution of successful disease campaigns targeted at specific audiences
• Experience / track record of successful projects realized across diverse countries
• Leadership capability with strong self-awareness and ability to identify winning strategies and solutions for multiple stakeholders
• Experience in developing cross-sector coalitions/partnerships to support policy change
• Strategic problem solver with the ability to comprehend complex matters and chart a clear path forward
• Self-starting, independent, entrepreneurial attitude ‚Äì a smart risk-taker who thrives on new challenges
• Eagerness and ability to collaborate with and mobilize different people and organizations; work effectively in a highly-matrixed organization
• Ability to communicate highly effectively with senior leadership, peers, and a variety of team members
• Strong learning agility

Skills

• Strategic partnership development
• Policy reform strategy and advocacy
• Stakeholder management in matrixed organizations
• Evidence generation and dissemination (publications, standards)
• Coalition building across NGOs, medical societies, academics

Education

• Bachelor‚Äôs or Master‚Äôs degree