YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of this role, Vice President Pharmaceutical Communications Americas, are to: 

The primary responsibility of this role is to contribute to the successful long-term performance for Bayer, specifically for Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (BHC) in the Americas.  Bayer's largest and fastest growing global market.  The incumbent will be a major contributor to the development and implementation of worldwide Bayer Healthcare (BHC) pharmaceuticals communications strategies and policies for issues management, strategic initiatives and communication strategies and policies in the U.S.  The position will be a member of the U.S. Communications, Government Relations & Policy Leadership Team, directly reporting to and led by the Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs of Bayer Corporation.

• Develop and manage proactive integrated strategic external and internal marketing communication programs that maximize appropriate positioning opportunities for BHC its products and programs, and support its desired image among key internal and external audiences;
• 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 product communications/public relations/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 executives and senior managers of BHC pharmaceuticals on environmental and political trends and strategic communication issues; 
• Manage US-based BHC pharmaceutical division communications staffs and group budgets; manage communications support of all BHC and Bayer AG companywide strategic initiatives and communications. Coordinate with BHC Americas communications staff;
• Develop and execute proactive and reactive communications programs regarding litigation concerning Bayer HealthCare pharmaceutical business, and assist in programs surrounding the broader BHC businesses;
• Liaison with appropriate regulators including members of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and partner with Bayer regulatory and medical team members to advance Bayer programs;
• Partner with the Government Relations (GR) teams to create and execute public policy initiatives in the public sector; liaison with policy professionals and lobbyists in Washington, D.C. office and provides direction and staff support to senior Bayer executives participating in key associations (e.g., PhRMA, BIO, NPC, NWDA, etc.);
• Advance BHC pharmaceutical global policy positions and align US, Americas and European/global policy initiatives and messaging to ensure GR and communications staffs are positioned to engage stakeholders and relevant issues; 
• Represent the company at visits with municipal, state and federal policymakers in various communities where we have operations, or visits to Bayer sites; 
• Articulate company position in line with leadership and represent the business to outside stakeholders and media in alignment with other BHC pharmaceutical business in the Americas;
• Work with the head Bayer’s U.S. Donations officer to manage contributions programs to assure compliance to industry standards and corporate policy and support Bayer core therapeutic areas;
• Lead and manage broad process design for BHC pharmaceutical communications; 
• Provide communications support to Bayer Corporation and BHC programs and staff groups for core company projects – Diversity initiatives; corporate philanthropy; HR policy changes/announcements; compliance policy communications; IT policy changes/announcements;
• Drive/facilitate discussions among management teams and executive groups on critical business decisions; act as executive lead if needed;
• Articulate strategic alternatives and action points (goals, outcomes, decisions) and manage teams through the process to drive agreement/consensus; 
• Provide cohesive BHC pharmaceutical Americas and global leadership on political issues, pending legislation, political outreach, site issues and Business Unit-driven US commercial programs to assure aligned BHC position and stance;
• Support development and implementation of strategic direction and messaging within Bayer to build intellectual capital; 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 with direct international pharmaceutical experience a must;
• Experience working in senior management for large multinational healthcare company and global communications consultant organization;
• Strong experience and proven track record working for/with a global pharmaceutical regulatory bodies a serious plus;
• 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 company.  Marketing and/or Strategic planning experience a plus;
• Demonstrated persuasive communicator, both written and oral;
• 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;
• Proven ability to be diplomatic and articulate. Must be able to influence and achieve results without direct line responsibility and lead/drive groups to consensus.  Politically astute and able to influence people with disparate views and priorities to advance the best interests of Bayer HealthCare pharmaceuticals;
• 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;
• High level of energy, initiative and ownership;
• Capability to work in a multicultural environment;
• Demonstrated success in conceptual and problem solving capabilities;
• High result orientation with proven track record of strong implementation skills;
• Strong interpersonal, partnering, and influencing skills; ability to bring together a variety of different viewpoints from different stakeholders, incl. senior management, and to work towards a common approach with the right level of integration and guidance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters/MBA;
• Extensive knowledge of FDA staff, policies and procedures.