Director, Global Public Policy, Asia Pacific

Job Description

Our Policy & Government Affairs team collaborates with government entities and policy organizations at the global, regional and national levels. We address legislative issues that promote the discovery and development of innovative medicines, vaccines, and animal health products while improving and protecting patient access to care.

Overview:

The Director, Global Public Policy, Asia Pacific is responsible for developing and executing global and regional policy strategies and advocacy plans supporting our business. This role involves collaboration and alignment across Corporate Affairs functions to support  critical business priorities across the Asia Pacific (AP). The Director will strengthen regional and market-level policy and advocacy capabilities, proactively identify and execute external engagement opportunities, implement comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies, and effectively communicate the economic and societal benefits of company’s contributions to regional health goals. Additionally, the incumbent will facilitate connections and communication between local, regional, and global teams, identifying implications for headquarters and other regions/countries as well as relevant geopolitical dynamics. The Director will also ensure close collaboration with regional multilateral bodies, advocacy organizations, and industry associations, and drive advocacy with regional U.S. government agency representatives.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Public Policy, Asia Pacific Hub, the Director will also ensure coordination across regional and global Communications, Therapeutic Policy, Social Business Innovation, Patient Engagement and Commercial teams.

The role is based in Singapore.

Scope of work and core responsibilities include: 

• Develop and execute public policy strategies and mitigation plans in collaboration with Global Public Policy teammates, Commercial leaders and in-market teams in the AP region.

• Integrate Policy, Communications, Social Business Innovation and Patient Engagement into external affairs activities in support of business-critical priorities in assigned subsidiaries and the broader AP region.

• Conduct policy environment monitoring, analysis and briefing of regional political dynamics and policy issues, including bilateral and regional relationships with the United States and other critical countries, which could impact or support  business objectives in the region and globally.

• Create and execute strategic stakeholder engagement plans to effectively position the organisation as a thought leader with key influencers and decision-makers throughout the region.

• Prepare clear, concise, and timely briefing documents and presentations for senior leader engagements with policymakers and key influencers.

• Represent company’s policy positions with government leaders and key influencers in meetings, conferences and other convenings in regional and local settings.

• Generate and socialize cohesive narratives to effectively communicate the full economic and societal benefit of our contributions to regional health goals, including strategies to effectively bridge Ministries of Health with non-traditional stakeholders, such as Ministries of Finance, Economy, and Trade.

• Draw upon professional network and develop strategic plans for partnership with the U.S. government, think tanks, and outside experts who can amplify our advocacy.

• Develop and execute strategies to maximize the impact of our engagement with trade associations and multi-lateral platforms (e.g., APEC) in the region.

• Build regional and market-level policy and advocacy capabilities, including assessing gaps and developing capability-building strategies aligned with business objectives.

• Contribute to quarterly and annual strategic planning and evaluation processes for the Global Public Policy function.

Skills and qualifications/education and experience:

• Required: Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Public Policy, Public Health, Public Administration, Political Science, or related field.

• Preferred: Master's or Professional degree or equivalent in Public Policy (MPP), Public Health (MPH or MSPH), Public Administration (MPA), Political Science (MA, MS), or International Business (MBA).

• Minimum of 15 years international government affairs advocacy experience with demonstrated ability to successfully advocate before U.S. and foreign governments.  Former U.S. government diplomacy experience and/or specialty in the region preferred.

• Accomplished public policy professional with at 5-8 years of demonstrated success working in international health policy and advocacy (industry, government or NGO)

• Experience and knowledge of health systems in various market archetypes (e.g., developed, developing economies).  Direct experience in AP region preferred.

• Experience providing strategic thought leadership and issue management to global and regional industry associations, think thanks and other advocacy organizations to shape policy.

• Demonstrated ability to work within diverse teams and achieve results, influence without authority, and contribute toward a common agenda with defined action.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to influence and effectively lead internal and external audiences to desired outcomes.

• Ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and high-level external stakeholders.

• Ability to master complex policy, regulatory and legislative issues, think creatively and develop innovative strategies and solutions.

• Ability to manage competing priorities, often under time-sensitive environments, with effective project management skills.

• High degree of ethics and ability to build effective internal and external working relationships.

• Demonstrated experience working across culturally diverse and matrixed teams with a high degree of collaboration.

• Fluent in English, verbal and written.

• Additional regional language skills are beneficial.

Who we are

We are known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, 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

Imagine getting up in the morning for a job as important as helping to save and improve lives around the world. Here, you have that opportunity. You can put your empathy, creativity, digital mastery, or scientific genius to work in collaboration with a diverse group.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, 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:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

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Requisition ID:R286878