Head of External Affairs at Sanofi

JOB PURPOSE

As Sanofi look to merge several functions together across Market Access, Corporate Affairs and Communications, this role will be responsible for integrating the departments and setting the new vision. The primary role is to ensure the development and implementation of an integrated strategy for obtaining and maximizing market access and reimbursement for General Medicines, Specialty Care and  Vaccines Business Unit products based on their value and affordability for patients and payers and in line with the company`s goals and objectives. The role will also develop medium to long-term access strategies for new emerging therapies and marketed products to maximize the value of the offering for payors and patients throughout their lifecycle, whilst improving the relationships across Government, Private Healthcare and Payors.

In performing his/her responsibilities, the incumbent will closely collaborate with the Sanofi Business Units, Communication team, Public Affairs and Market access teams, Medical Affairs, and other functions. This person will have a solid reporting line to the Country Lead South Africa. In addition, the role will include responsibilities for certain Sanofi GenMed, Specialty Care and Vaccines products to define and implement the integrated payer strategy to reach optimal access and reimbursement for these products and offerings.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop and defend Sanofi’s image, reputation, and interests amongst key external stakeholders.
• Ensure that reimbursement/price submissions to authorities are of high quality and submitted within given timelines.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders on related topics around market access, BBB/EE, corporate affairs.
• Work with the BU´s to demonstrate value of core products and integrate payer perspective into brand strategies and external communications.
• Advise General Management and regional / corporate interface on a regular basis to anticipate environmental changes and ensure preparedness.

Priorities

• Prepare for, obtain, and maintain reimbursement for new and current products, incorporating health economic tools into the local pricing negotiation process.
• Build optimal market conditions for successful launches of new products.
• Demonstrate clinical, economic, and social value of our products to payers, decision makers and influencers.
• Handle pricing and tender business at both national and regional level.
• Develop a dialogue with and influence on key national health authorities, regulators, health care decision makers and patient advocacy groups.
• Develop tools and processes to evaluate return on investment of Market Access activities.
• Represent Sanofi South Africa internally (local affiliate , Global) and externally (national and regional bodies).
• People management, including following functions: Market Access, Communication, Corporate Affairs.
• Integrate insights from key healthcare trends and impact on public and private payer decision makers.
• Establish mechanisms for value monitoring, generation, and demonstration, including database analyses, clinical studies, observational projects, health economics studies and modelling.
• Develop influence network, as required, to support market access and managed care initiatives with provincial government and private payor programs.
• Build and enhance relationships with key payer decision makers and influencers.
• Ensure appropriate deployment of projects and activities within established timelines and budget.
• Coach and develop personnel.
• Manage numerous projects simultaneously and able to coordinate and manage both internal and external resources.
• Analyse local market trends, issues, and environmental factors to anticipate opportunities and risks of importance to Sanofi business results.
• Map, build and manage close relationships and partnerships with the most critical stakeholders to develop and execute local PA tactical plans to drive impact in country, in alignment with the global TA PA strategy and local market priorities.

Stakeholders include:

• Governments, policymakers, decision-makers, and budget holders.
• Trade associations.
• Patient associations / advocates & groups.
• Medical / Scientific Societies.
• NGOs, Think Tanks.
• Public Health foundations; and
• Other relevant local stakeholder or influencer.
• Prioritize and develop focused plans with these key external stakeholders by understanding their objectives/priorities, key initiatives, health and policy positions, strengths, and sources of leverage.
• Collaborate with country colleagues to ensure integrated efforts in support of country priorities.
• Ensure integrated efforts into a consistent Stakeholders Engagement Plan (SEP):
• Coordinate the mapping and allocation of key stakeholders across functions.
• Ensure overall consistency in messages to external stakeholders; and share regularly across functions the feedback of external engagement in order to adjust messages and plan.
• Enhance Sanofi’s company reputation and represent One Sanofi to their partners

ABOUT YOU:

JOB-HOLDER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree (accredited four-year college or university).
• Post-graduate degree in public health, public policy or healthcare related field / Doctorate degree (e.g., PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) will be a advantageous

Other Job Specific Requirements:

• 15 years of which a minimum of 10 years in a comparable management role in Access, PA/GA or commercial roles.
• Experience leading and managing people and developing / managing operational budgets.
• Experience in public affairs and patient advocacy, market-shaping strategies, advocacy campaigns, or advanced responsibilities in an industry public affairs role.
• Knowledge of and existing relationships with key external stakeholders in the country market.
• Ability to influence in a proactive, objective, and diplomatic manner.
• Ability to drive projects and initiatives and execute successfully in a complex environment, working with multiple internal and external stakeholders. Proven track record successfully executing complex projects and initiatives, on time, within budget, with measurement of results.
• Good understanding of stakeholder engagement techniques, policy-making processes and stakeholders, pharmaceutical and healthcare business, country-specific PA community and healthcare landscape.
• Ability to develop successful partnerships with local non-governmental influencers.
• Ability to drive local alignment, execution, buy-in across and within the country BU leadership teams though effective interpersonal relations and networking.
• Must be able to demonstrate ability to be a good team player and engage with a wide variety of stakeholders from different functions.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both internally and externally.
• Working in a complex, changing, multinational and matrix environment.
• Think strategically, strong communication, analytical and writing skills.

Key Competencies or Skills Required

• In-depth knowledge and understanding of the healthcare (and reimbursement) landscape in highly regulated industry sectors preferably within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical industries.
• Proven track record of having developed and implemented an integrated strategy for obtaining and maximizing market access and reimbursement for General Medicines, Specialty Care and Vaccines BU.
• Experience in developing medium to long-term access strategies for new emerging therapies. and marketed products to maximize the value of the offering for payors and patients throughout their lifecycle.
• Extensive network across relevant public health partners, funding agents, government and the private sector and experience navigating the complexity that comes with a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Expertise in positioning the Company as a trusted Public Health partner and opinion leader in the pharmaceutical and healthcare environment to create an integrated value proposition to Sanofi when interacting with external stakeholders with the ability to build trust in the local market, preserving and developing the reputation of Sanofi as a patient-focused company.
• A creative visionary who makes decisions by analysing current and future scenarios. Disrupts the status quo with innovation, while remaining pragmatic and focused on priorities.
• A seasoned, culturally nuanced, people-centric and agile leader with experience leading strategic relationships balancing wise counsel with effective challenge. Adept at influencing a broad array of stakeholders including stakeholder strategy and persuasion to achieve a shared outcome, conflict management and constructive challenge.
• Strategic relationship building and management skills including stakeholder engagement skills (adept in navigating networks and influencing stakeholders not limited to relevant public health, partners; funding agents, government, etc).
• Established networks within local government, public and private sectors.
• A charismatic and performance driven leader who brings experience building and leading diverse but inclusive cultures and has an adaptive style and ability to unlock the potential in teams.
• A track record of developing local talent and building an aligned and collaborative leadership team.
• An individual who will integrate effectively into a multicultural leadership team and Sanofi culture, established on Sanofi’s ‘Play to Win’ Leadership Framework.
• The position is to be assumed by a South African National (local or diaspora) and there is a strong preference for the individual to meet the criteria of diversity.