Overview
The Senior Director, Corporate Affairs will lead all corporate affairs for Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease in Italy. This role is responsible for strategy, planning, and hands-on execution of globally- and regionally-aligned local policy engagement, government affairs, and communications to support Alexion's reputation and market-shaping ambitions. The Senior Director is a member of the Italian Leadership Team and the Europe & Canada Corporate Affairs network within the Global Corporate Affairs function. The role reports to the Senior Director, Corporate Affairs, Europe & Canada, with an indirect report to the General Manager. The incumbent will have line management responsibility for the Director of Communications and manage an indirect reporting line from the local Patient Advocacy team to ensure strategic alignment between advocacy, policy, government affairs and communications.
Responsibilities
* Develop the local corporate affairs strategy, incorporating policy shaping, advocacy, government affairs and communication strategy in support of market shaping and reputational ambitions, and execute them in collaboration with cross-functional teams.
* Ensure strategic alignment between corporate affairs priorities and business drivers, including therapy area and market growth priorities.
* Align local communications objectives for corporate reputation, policy shaping, disease awareness and product communications with global and regional strategies.
* Contribute to and co-develop policy positions and government affairs strategies aimed at delivering a favourable business environment and maximizing equitable patient access.
* Lead and manage national and local media relations; prepare local Alexion spokespeople as subject matter experts for engagement with media and key external stakeholders; develop relationships with journalists; create and seize engagement opportunities; evaluate/respond to requests; and develop messaging and materials.
* Monitor and manage issues that could impact Alexion success or company reputation.
* Collaborate with EUCAN & International Corporate Affairs teams to support initiatives and implement broader corporate campaigns at the local level.
* Support local business priorities and employee engagement with the Vice President General Manager Italy and local teams.
* Collaborate with aligned functions (market access, regulatory, legal, compliance, patient advocacy, commercial, and medical) to maximize business performance and coordinate plans and activities.
* Engage with governments, politicians, payers, patient advocates, trade associations, think tanks and other stakeholders on policy issues.
* Conduct briefings, meetings, forums and technical updates for legislators and regulators and their staffs on issues of concern to Alexion.
* Respond to public consultations on behalf of the business to articulate policy positions.
* Build coalitions of support with third-party organizations to deliver multi-stakeholder public affairs campaigns.
* Identify, contract and oversee agencies engaged to support corporate affairs activities.
* Ensure strategic alignment with AstraZeneca colleagues and priorities at market level.
* Manage in-country corporate affairs budget.
* Mentor and develop the Director, Communications, and ensure strong performance across the local corporate affairs team.
* Be a team player and contribute to various other department projects as needed.
Essential Qualifications
* 10+ years of experience in in-house and/or agency corporate affairs, government relations or communications in a health care setting.
* Strong and broad background in public affairs in the bio/pharmaceutical industry.
* Robust media relations experience.
* Experience in content for digital and social media.
* Strong written and verbal communication skills.
* Proven track record of working successfully with both executives and subject matter experts.
* Knowledge of the local media and policy landscape as well as relationships with national and regional stakeholders.
* Robust working experience in international and intercultural settings.
* Fluency in both Italian and English.
* Based role in Milan or Rome.
Preferred Qualifications
* Experience leading corporate affairs for an affiliate of a larger health care company.
* Experience working within a European corporate affairs team.
* Other language commonly spoken in Europe.
Dates
Date Posted: 09-set-2025
Closing Date: 22-set-2025
Equal Employment Opportunity
Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on protected characteristics. Alexion provides reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue regarding an accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.
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