YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibility of this role is to contribute to the successful long-term performance for Bayer; however, specifically for Bayer Healthcare Consumer Care in the U.S. The incumbent will be a major contributor to the development and implementation of worldwide  BHC Consumer Health communications strategies and policies for issues management, strategic initiatives and communication strategies and policies in the U.S. Incumbent will be a member of the U.S. Communications and Public Affairs Leadership Team, directly reporting to and led by the Senior Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs.

The primary responsibilities of this role, Vice President Communication, Consumer Health, are to: 

• Develop and lead a team, as a community of communicators in the United States;
• Reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Communications, Government Relations & Policy and is a member of the Leadership team;
• Develop and manage integrated strategic external and internal communication programs that maximize appropriate positioning
  develop and lead the web communications team and platform for the Bayer Consumer Health internal and external corporate and marketing sites;support its desired image among key internal and external audiences, opportunities for Bayer Consumer Health products and programs, and
• Advance Bayer’s stakeholder engagement strategy to protect and defend the company’s reputation from potential threats and risks, particularly involving its products;
• Provide professional communications support to create and execute programs that assure maximum sustainable positive exposure – proactive public relations for the Bayer brand and programs/advocacy, reactive issues management and crisis communications (including product and site issues and litigation), fully integrated internal/employee communications and strategic communications support to executive leadership;
• Oversee and advise Bayer Consumer Health executives and senior managers about environmental and political trends and strategic communication issues;
• Develop and execute proactive and reactive communications programs regarding issues and litigation concerning business, and assist in programs surrounding the broader Bayer Consumer Health businesses;
• Partner with the Vice President of Government Relations and team to create and execute initiatives in the public sector; liaison with policy professionals and lobbyists in the Washington, D.C. office and provides direction and staff support to senior Bayer executives participating in key associations (e.g., CHPA, etc.) Work with regulatory and issue management team;
• Work closely with and align with the global head of communications for Bayer Consumer Health;
• Advance Bayer Consumer Health global policy positions and align U.S. and European/global policy initiatives and messaging to ensure Government Relations and communications staffs are positioned to engage stakeholders on relevant issues;
• Represent the company at visits in various communities where we have operations,  or visits to Bayer sites and ensure we have robust home base strategies and plans for key sites;
• Articulate company position in line with leadership and represent the business to outside stakeholders and media, in alignment with other Bayer businesses in the U.S.;
• Participate on Bayer Consumer Health Communications Leadership Team and serve as coordinator for all communications for Bayer in the U.S.;
• Lead corporate social responsibility and all giving programs for Bayer Consumer Health;
• Collaborate with Bayer’s U.S. Donations officer to manage contributions programs to assure compliance to industry standards and corporate policy;
• Provide communications support to Bayer Corporation and Bayer Consumer Health programs and staff groups for core company projects –diversity initiatives, corporate philanthropy, HR policy changes/announcements, compliance policy communications, IT policy changes/announcement;
• Drive/facilitate discussions among management teams and executive groups on critical business decisions;
• Articulate strategic alternatives and action points (goals, outcomes, decisions) and manage teams through the process to drive agreement/consensus;
• Provide cohesive Bayer Consumer Health support to U.S. and global leadership on media issues, political issues, pending legislation, political outreach, site issues and Business Unit-driven U.S. commercial programs to assure aligned Bayer Consumer Health position and stance;
• Support development and implementation of strategic direction and messaging within Bayer to build intellectual capital and use agencies for tactical support, where required.

WHO YOU ARE

Your success will be driven by your demonstration of our LIFE values.  More specifically related to this position, Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and 20 plus years of experience in communications;
• Strong experience and proven track record working with issues, government bodies, NGOs and media;
• Experience working in senior management for large multinational life science company and global communications consultant organization;
• Global/U.S consumer products experience preferred;
• Broad international management experience and significant exposure to policy arena and proactive engagement of high profile media management;
• Proven experience as in strategic proactive internal, external and executive-driven communications;
• Demonstrated broad corporate experience, which includes senior leadership responsibility at multi-billion dollar company;
• Demonstrated extensive experience dealing with senior editorial writers/journalists and electronic media;
• Experience in working with industry trade groups, outside public relations and advertising agencies, senior management and employees at all levels of the organization;
• Must have sufficient experience and skill to provide expertise and direction to a wide range of activities with a variety of objectives;
• Ability to command the attention and respect of other members of senior management and, at the same time, understand the intricacies of dealing with people, particularly third-party individuals and organizations, the behavior of which can have a significant impact on the success or failure of the business both regionally and internationally;
• Must be able to influence and achieve results without direct line responsibility and lead/drive groups to consensus;
• Demonstrated clear understanding of the business goals, objectives, plans and priorities of the company;
• Experience in agency management and selection;
• Ability to work effectively with technical thought leaders;
• Capability to work in a multicultural environment;
• High result orientation with proven track record of strong implementation skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated persuasive communicator, both written and oral;
• Proven ability to be diplomatic and articulate;
• Politically astute and able to influence people with disparate views and priorities to advance the best interests of Bayer and Consumer Health;
• High level of energy, initiative and ownership;
• Demonstrated success in conceptual and problem solving capabilities;
• Strong interpersonal, partnering, and influencing skills;
• Ability to bring together a variety of different viewpoints from different stakeholders, including senior management, and to work towards a common approach with the right level of integration and guidance.

Domestic Relocation Available