Lead the Government Affairs (GA) team to deliver impactful Government Affairs strategies in alignment with AbbVie brand and corporate priorities, which positively shape our external environment and support sustainable patient access to medicines. Build AbbVie’s external profile among key policy and political stakeholders across the UK, utilise effective internal networks across the business and ensure high-quality team output. Support the GA team to challenge the status quo, maintain ambitious goals and join the External Affairs leadership team, driving integrated activities and contributing to a positive team culture.

Objectives:

• Define, develop and own AbbVie’s UK corporate and brand Government Affairs/Policy strategy
• Lead the GA team, assigning activities and ensuring the development of aligned strategies and engagement platforms that make a valuable contribution to healthcare delivery in AbbVie’s areas of focus
• Build and maintain strong political and policy advocacy networks, creating consensus on key policy areas and drive healthcare and life sciences prioritisation at both a national and local level.
• Ensure AbbVie is developing robust, transparent and effective working relationships with Government, Policy Makers, Civil Servants, Special Advisers, Think Tanks, Research Organisations, Professional Healthcare bodies and Health System Organisations.
• Lead and coordinate AbbVie’s representation at Industry Trade Associations and Business Groups, ensuring we maximise our impact, drive strategic alignment and secure strong share of voice on issues affecting our operating environment.
• Provide strategic political counsel to the affiliate GM and UK Leadership Team – ensuring that the business is kept well-informed of all relevant political and industry developments.
• Manage AbbVie’s strategic engagement programme.
• Supervise the development of AbbVie position papers and key policy messaging, as well as lead the development of responses to Government consultations.
• Responsible for horizon scanning and ensuring AbbVie maintains effective policy and legislative monitoring services in place, which help to identify opportunities and mitigate against risks.
• Supervise the Government Affairs budget, ensuring we get value for money from our agencies and vendors and deliver against our financial targets.
• Be a strong and effective internal advocate for Government Affairs within the affiliate and with above country colleagues, proactively seeking opportunities to promote and showcase the work of the team and build team visibility.
• Supervise the team’s use of Government/Public Affairs agencies both in our corporate and therapeutic areas, ensuring high standards are maintained and we get strong return on investment.
• Drive a high- performance team, distributing key projects and responsibilities and ensuring the team delivers impact in policy, corporate or brand areas they have been assigned.
• Team management: raise the bar on performance, providing direction to line reports and challenging where appropriate to increase our ambition.
• Support the development of key talent and the continued evolution of line reports, competencies and skills.
• Maintain the highest standards of ethics and compliance across the Government Affairs function.
• Participate as an active member of the External Affairs leadership team, assuming accountability alongside the External Affairs Director regarding the activities, ambition and output of the team.
• Identify and execute opportunities to integrate external affairs strategies, maximizing our output across multiple channels and realising synergies with both our Corporate Comms and Brand Communications and Patient Relations Teams.
• Work to positively resolve challenges to integrated working whilst maintaining stewardship of compliance issues.
• Play an active role in shaping the EA team culture, enhancing /evolving our ways of working