Global Public Affairs Head - Sickle Cell Disease and Cross-Rare Initiatives

Role Summary

Global Public Affairs Head for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and cross-rare initiatives leads the public affairs strategy for the Rare Diseases franchise, collaborating with Global Brand Teams and Global Project Team to advance objectives. The role partners with Local Public Affairs teams to ensure global strategies are relevant locally, aligned on resources, and consistently executed. This position focuses on pipeline assets and future in-line therapies, and may lead cross-rare initiatives such as diagnosis. Located in Morristown, NJ and Cambridge, MA, with company-paid relocation benefits offered.

Responsibilities

• Drive implementation of a robust Global PA strategy to achieve the franchise vision in prioritized markets, establishing commitment to the SCD community and preparing the environment for launches and uptake of new therapies.
• Address unmet patient needs through scientific exchanges, evidence generation, community engagement, advocacy development, policy-shaping, and other high-impact PA initiatives, including patient access considerations.
• Manage relationships with patient groups and key stakeholders to ensure the voice of the patient informs business strategy.
• Incorporate external community input into programs in development or lifecycle improvements.
• Cultivate multi-stakeholder partnerships to deliver solutions aligned with franchise priorities and company position.
• Monitor trends and conduct policy analyses to inform PA strategy and communicate opportunities/threats to franchise leadership.
• Serve as strategic advisor and support the franchise SCD Head with external engagements to advance objectives and reputation.
• Develop and execute external engagement strategy for senior rare disease leadership to demonstrate leadership in SCD and advance business objectives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to input into broader SCD strategy and build cross-functional support for tactical execution (e.g., scientific exchanges, trial awareness with PAGs, roundtables, partnerships, evidence generation).
• Leverage resources across US and Global Corporate Affairs, securing alignment and a unified voice.
• Work with local PA teams to ensure global strategies reflect local realities and tool relevance.

Qualifications

• Required: Prior experience in SCD is essential for this position.
• Required: Experience in market shaping to support product launches, policy and advocacy strategies, and advanced responsibilities in a public affairs role.
• Required: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university (e.g., political science, law, economics, medicine, or pharmacy).
• Preferred: Post-graduate degree in public health or health care field, or Doctorate/Business (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD, MBA or equivalent).
• Required: At least 12 years of professional experience across Public Affairs; Market Access; Policy or Government Affairs with policy-shaping responsibilities or relevant pharma experience.
• Required: Strong collaboration across Local and Global teams.
• Required: Proven experience leading in a highly matrixed and pressured environment; cross-functional partnership experience.
• Preferred: Experience with Medical, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Communications teams.
• Required: Travel up to 30% may be required.

Skills

• Advanced technical and transversal skills: business acumen, crisis management, policy development, stakeholder relationship management, strategic insights, launch strategy, narrative writing, partnership development.
• Advanced leadership: influencing, result-oriented, strategic thinking.
• Strong prioritization and cross-functional collaboration capabilities in a matrixed environment.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable PA programs and tactics; experience deploying PA tools with affiliates.
• Relationship-building with patient organizations and strategic partners; knowledge of stakeholder groups including multilateral institutions and trade associations.
• Solid understanding of healthcare industry dynamics and timely political/pharma landscape trends.
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills; comfortable in ambiguous, fast-paced settings.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required; fields may include political science, law, economics, medicine, or pharmacy.
• Post-graduate degree (preferred): public health, health care field, Doctorate, or MBA.

Additional Requirements

• Up to 30% travel may be required.