Senior Public Affairs

Are you ready to take the next step in your professional development in a globally expanding company? Join Novo Nordisk South Africa as a Senior Public Affairs & Communications Manager and get a life-changing career

This role is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and directly reports to Market Access Public Affairs Director.

**About the department**

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity, hemophilia, growth disorders, and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs over 45,000 people in 80 countries and markets its products in more than 169 countries.
With due recognition of the Novo Nordisk vision, values, and policies and in accordance with Novo Nordisk South Africa’s strategies and business objectives Contributes to the planning Patient Access and Public Affairs business plan and executes accordingly; contributes to expanding Company's public affairs development, maintains key databases ( stakeholder lists ), Liaises and disseminates NN messages to the external bodies (i.e. payers, decision-makers and NGOs) with the objective of influencing public affairs, government policy and industry positions and in accordance with Novo Nordisk South Africa‘s strategies directs and reviews the communication strategy and social responsibility programs of the company, liaises and influences the external bodies, with the objective of maximizing goodwill for the corporate brand.
The incumbent complies with Novo Nordisk principles and local legislation and regulations defending company interests. Nevertheless, as a requirement of business ethics; defending the confidentiality of company’s as well as patients, business plans, ideas, and strategies against third parties.

**The position**

As Senior Public Affairs & Communications Manager, you will be responsible for assigned responsibilities related to the position that require travel and flexible working hours as the activities are executed in accordance with the stakeholders’ available places, times, and the timelines of meetings. Within the general strategy and principles and in compliance with company interests, legal and ethical rules.
- Overseeing the network of relevant government bodies/officials such as Ministries of Health, Economy and Finance, industry/trade associations, policy-making entities, Non-governmental Organisations, parliament portfolio committee, and all other influencers.
- Screening and reporting on the developments in the healthcare policy environment affecting Novo Nordisk’s business, and provide Novo Nordisk management with advice on company positions and engagement plans.
- Supporting building and executing public affairs initiatives such as corporate social responsibility projects, public-private partnership programs, corporate events, and presentations to government officials.
- Overseeing all government engagement activities (e.g., official visits, presentations, meetings) and correspondences.
- Building novel approaches to improve government affairs function’s effectiveness for favorable outcomes for NN.
- Collecting, compiling, communicating, and acting as a repository of information for Government policy impacting Novo Nordisk’s business, particularly in the areas of economic, investment, and social policy, as well as therapeutic areas of diabetes, hemophilia, and obesity
- Developing yearly plans in line with the communication strategies supporting the functional and business strategies
- Managing and executing the corporate communication plan
- Setting, monitors, and forecasts an accurate communication budget
- Take the lead on public relations, effectively manage priorities on media
- Build positive, sustainable, and measurable relationships with key media and PR agencies
- Conducts public relations programs to create a favorable image for company products
- Supports marketing communications related to market growth activities, new product launches, internal events, and main exhibitions
- Builds communication - business links with ‘Changing Diabetes’, ‘Changing Possibilities in Haemophilia’ and ‘Changing Obesity’ initiatives
- Involves in the activities of communication to the public, manage various communications tools to maximize disease awareness

**Qualifications**
- You have a relevant academic degree or a master’s degree from a reputable university, preferably in Economics, International Relations, Business Administration.
- You have a Relevant experience of a minimum of 3-5 years in the fields of Government Relations, Patient Access, and Public Affairs preferably in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries
- You have excellent command over both written and spoken English and have a relevant business background
- Ability for Identifies, segment, prioritizes and targets market acce