Senior Director, Public Affairs Canada

Job Description

At Gilead Sciences Canada Inc. we take pride in being recognized as one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employer 2024. Click here to find out why Gilead Sciences Canada is a top employer!

Chez Gilead Sciences Canada Inc., nous sommes fiers d’être reconnus comme l’un des meilleurs employeurs du Grand Toronto pour 2024. Cliquez ici pour en savoir plus sur les raisons de notre succès.

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

The Role:

Reporting to the head of Public Affairs for Australia, Canada and Europe (ACE), Senior Director, Public Affairs Canada is responsible for the conception and delivery of strategic branded and unbranded communication programmes, community engagement, corporate giving, plus corporate and employee communication intended to protect and enhance Gilead’s corporate reputation while helping us to become the biotech employer and partner of choice.

This role is a member of the Canadian cross-functional leadership team and the ACE Public Affairs Leadership Team, working closely with Public Affairs colleagues within ACE and globally.

How you will ‘ Create Possible’ :

• Responsible for the development and execution of Gilead Canada’s communications strategy, in alignment with global direction and local leadership, in support of the product portfolio and business objectives, anticipating short-medium and long-term needs. This role covers a wide range of areas including media relations, digital, reputation management, issues and crisis management, brand/therapeutic area communications, corporate communications, and employee engagement

• Provide strategic input and advice to the General Manager and Canada Leadership Team.

• Partner with the General Manager and Canada Leadership team to build and execute on the affiliate business goals and objectives

• Provide strategic oversight on product and therapy area communications

• Design and implement strategic programs and tailored narratives that proactively communicate Gilead’s perspective and shape corporate reputation

• Develop, strengthen and maintain key relationships with a wide variety of community advocates, organizations and professionals and champion patient engagement in appropriate cross-functional projects

• Enhance Gilead’s profile among industry associations, media, and other influential organizations in Canada

• Coordinate with cross-functional colleagues to ensure alignment and collaboration in strategic priorities and messaging across different stakeholders

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with business press, consumer media, key industry opinion leaders and external stakeholders

• Respond to media requests and coordinate interviews with Gilead spokespeople and external spokespeople as appropriate

• Issues mitigation and management

• Drive internal communications and employee engagement by proactively driving ideas and programs that support culture evolution

• Partner with the General Manager, HR Business Partner and the broader cross-functional team to execute on business-critical internal events such as National Business Meeting, People Leader Summit, etc.

• Manage the performance and ongoing development of three team members, including 2 therapeutic area leads and a grants and donations coordinator (at the current time)

• Effectively manage all aspects of public relations agency relationships, including direction and project management

• Manage budgets to target

• Understanding of the regulatory frameworks on local provincial and national levels and ability to compliantly manage internal approvals and interactions with the review team.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills :

• Proven experience in product PR, media and advocacy in Canada

• Excellent understanding of the Canadian political/health policy and access environment, including processes and key stakeholders, is a must

• Must have experience with public relations tactics and resources and the relationship of those tactics to other department roles and functions

• Strong cross functional working skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders in other functions to achieve corporate goals

• Previous experience in product launches (regulatory and reimbursement) in Canada

• Ability to understand and accurately communicate complex science

• Demonstrated experience in media relations (traditional and social), issues management; knowledge of healthcare and industry media and reporting trends

• Experience managing multiple projects (timelines, budgets, priorities) simultaneously; flexibility and results-oriented focus are essential

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to interact with senior management and high-profile experts appropriately, with confidence and ease

• Ability to give formal presentations to internal and external audiences of various sizes

• Proven ability to manage and develop people

• Demonstrated knowledge of regulations and principles specific to communications for a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company

• Fluency in French and English is strongly preferred. Non-bilingual candidates will also be considered.

• Typically requires a BA degree in communications, liberal arts, business or science-oriented field (or International Equivalent) proven relevant experience, which includes solid healthcare public relations experience

Behaviours:

• Ability to engage and manage multiple stakeholders to achieve objectives

• Curious with a strong learning agility (the ability to rapidly study, analyze and understand new situations and business problems)

• Operationally excellent and resilient in the context of a rapidly changing environment

• Organised with systematic approach to prioritisation

• Process orientated to achieve the business objective

Gilead Core Values:

• Integrity (always doing the right thing)

• Teamwork (collaborating in good faith)

• Excellence (working at a high level of commitment and capability)

• Accountability (taking personal responsibility)

• Inclusion (encouraging diversity)

Gilead Leadership Commitment:

• I AM BOLD in aspiration and AGILE in execution.

• ​I CARE and make time for people.

• ​I LISTEN, speak openly and explain the "why."

• ​I TRUST others and myself to make sound decisions.

• ​I OWN the impact of my words and actions.

We are committed to creating a healthier world for everyone – no matter the challenges ahead of us. Through bold and transformative science, we’re driving innovation that has the potential to become the next generation of life-changing medicines. Our ambition is evident in our mission. Because the impossible is not impossible. It’s what’s next.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.

The salary range for this position is CAD $196,690 - $254,540 annually. In addition, this role is eligible for a discretionary target annual bonus. Gilead determines base compensation by considering factors such as experience, qualifications, and geographic location. As a result, actual compensation may vary.

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