Position Summary
The Head of International Policy & Communications (IPC), China, reports to the Senior Vice President for International Policy & Communications in New York City and serves on the Leadership Team for the President of Pfizer China. This role is responsible for leading a team to advance an integrated policy, public affairs, communications and patient advocacy strategy for Pfizer in China.
Responsibilities
Policy and Public Affairs
● Enhance visibility and give Pfizer a prominent voice with policymakers in China. Develop and maintain strong relationships with key China policy stakeholders to advance business goals and further develop Pfizer’s reputation as a credible and respected voice in the life science sector and on the impact of the China’s health environment on society and the economy.
● Lead a best-in-class Policy and Public Affairs team, with respect to performance, behaviours, skills, and talent management, preparing Pfizer for the future world and leading with our values.
● Maintain strict compliance with all applicable policies and laws, especially those related to interactions with government official.
● Advocacy and coalition building with industry associations and other stakeholders to support pro-innovation and patient-centric policies, including AmCham China, RDAC, PhRMA, USCBC China Office.
● Assess the impact of the dynamic policy environment on Pfizer’s business strategy and provide counsel in key business planning decisions such as the operating plan, business reviews, and business development work.
● Identify emerging policy and legislative trends relevant to healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry. Analyze the implications of these trends and provide recommendations to relevant Pfizer China and Global leaders.
● Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships, including with global/regional policy teams (Market Access, Regulatory, etc.) to coordinate seamless, unified Pfizer representation to Chinese Government and ensure aligned Pfizer policy positions and strategy for engagement with Chinese authorities.
Communications (Internal/External)
● Proactively and reactively engage with media to build trust and reputation, positioning Pfizer as a leader in vaccines and oncology.
● Lead milestone communications (regulatory, data, clinical) for prioritized brands.
● Develop and execute public-facing disease awareness campaigns for prioritized disease areas and product categories.
● Manage external agencies for PR execution.
● Oversee social/digital communication platform management.
● Provide internal communications counsel for country leadership and develop narratives and materials to support colleague engagement initiatives.
Patient Advocacy
● Enhance the impact and quality of engagements with select patient advocacy groups.
● Capture and incorporate patient insights into Pfizer's decision-making processes.
Team Leadership
● Provide direct reports with clear and transparent roles and responsibilities.
● Create and maintain a team culture of integrity and compliance that values and drives high performance, supports innovation, and challenges the status quo.
● Encourage sharing of information and experiences to enhance productivity.
● Actively support development of direct reports and key talent by providing insights, direction, and opportunities.
● Win the right way by ensuring full compliance with local laws and regulations, as well as internal policies.
Qualifications
Professional Experience: 20+ years in the biopharmaceutical industry with experience in the fields of policy, government affairs, communications, and/or patient advocacy. BS/BA required, advanced degree preferred (MBA, MPH, JD).
Relationship Building: Proven track record of strong interpersonal abilities to cultivate and maintain relevant networks across government, key opinion leaders, media, industry, and the broader internal and external communities. Can successfully leverage these connections and network insights to positively amplify the company’s policy goals, advance its commercial interests, and strengthen Pfizer’s reputation.
Issue Management: Adept at anticipating and mitigating policy and political environmental risks. Can quickly identify emerging challenges and implement proactive strategies to navigate crises and turn them into opportunities. Agility and composure under pressure are hallmarks of success.
Strategic Thinking and Planning: Keen understanding of Pfizer’s broader objectives and the competitive landscape in China. Can align communications and policy engagement efforts across stakeholder groups to support the China commercial strategy, driving long-term value creation for the company.
Matrix Maturity: Dexterity to work between/across organizations and confidence to operate in a dotted and direct line matrix. Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong adherence to compliance and reputation management.
Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
Public Affairs & Communication