Associate Director for Public Affairs

**_ PURPOSE OF JOB_**

The Regional Associate Director of Public Affairs is expected to be the key driver of engagement across different external vaccines constituency stakeholders, with a focus on vaccines policy shaping in partnership with Takeda Vaccines Business Unit VBU)*. Incumbent needs to drive the implementation of global vaccines policies and strategies throughout GEM areas and Local Organizations in Countries (LOC), in collaboration with GEM Public Affairs. He/she engages in and supports strategic stakeholder management throughout GEM and would regionalise/localise global VBU policy guidance, including delivery of audience-specific value messages, shape public health (and vaccines) policies, engage strategically with key multi-and bilateral organizations, support the local BUs to engage with government institutions, KOLs / academia, influencers, and other public organizations.
- Especially with the Immunization Science and Policy team (ISP)._
- _Over time, additional Therapeutic Area(s) may be added to this function, i.e. Oncology or Rare Diseases._

**_ OBJECTIVES_**
- Participate and align with GEM Public Affairs and ISP-guidance on the interfaces with supranational / governmental organizations and NGOs in vaccines policy and broader policy issues related to Takeda’s vaccine portfolio.
- Provide strategic direction to in-market teams in the creation and execution of local public affairs vaccines engagement and/or direct local teams, as needed.
- Monitor public vaccines policy and regulatory developments, emerging trends, and other political or public issues in GEM region and key markets; propose response strategies; ensure risks are managed and opportunities assessed.
- Bring the regional/LOC perspectives to the global Vaccines Business Unit (VBU) to optimize strategy in the context of global trends and priorities, and facilitate regular best practice sharing among the relevant internal stakeholders.
- Leverage global policy positions and assets to advance Takeda’s policy agenda at Areas/LOCs level, e.g. through Regional trade organisations or LOCs’ National organisations.
- Participate in relevant Global Launch Team’s Sub-teams eg Recommendations and Regional Brand Team & other cross functional meetings to provide regional/areas/locs’ policy perspectives.
- Build/enhance capabilities, conduct training, coache and mentorlocal teams engaged in vaccines advocacy and policy engagement; ensure adequate external support.

**_ ACCOUNTABILITIES_**
- Lead Takeda’s GEM vaccines policy strategy development in the areas of immunization, access and procurement mechanisms and policies.
- Enable and support execution of GEM’s vaccines policy strategy and related external engagement plans for priority markets, working closely with the GEM Vaccines cross-functional team.
- Liaise with external and internal stakeholders incl. supranational organizations, funding agencies and governments on scientific, regulatory and vaccine policy issues to ensure alignment of Takeda strategies with global, regional and national health agendas.
- Represent GPD-GEM in external settings as appropriate.
- Comply with internal Takeda ethics & compliance and legal requirements with respect to external policy shaping & communications and other external interactions; meet best practice standards in stakeholder management principles

**Critical functional knowledge**
- Expertise and experience in public health practice at an international regional or national level, especially as related to infectious diseases, vaccines or other public health prevention modalities of GEM markets.
- Proven ability to translate technical data into policy makers
- and payors-messages

**Critical business expertise**
- Deep understanding the impact of an infectious diseases/vaccines policy strategy and payor environment on portfolio.
- Ability to comprehend and synthesize complex information with experience in the identification, analysis and implementation of programs and procedures required to achieve corporate objectives

**Nature of Impact**:

- Direct impact to Takeda’s external image as a MNC with a vaccines portfolio, and value given the importance of public affairs and public policy in the the process and adoption of National Immunisation Programmes (NIPs).

**Communication Skills**:

- Excellent internal communication skills to align cross-functional teams with Takeda’s GEM- and VBU vision and strategy
- Excellent external communication skills to influence and nurture strong relationships with key external stakeholders including media, the general public and the vaccines constituency

**Innovation**
- Pragmatic use of digital to ensure effective communication, dissemination of information and enhance public influence

**Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities**
- Master degree in a health related field, law, political sciences or other related field, with 5-8 years public health expertise and experience, pertai