Head of Communications and Patient Advocacy, Canada

Key responsibilities:

• Represents function on Country LT and is a trusted partner to Country President. Leads the Country Communications & Patient Advocacy organization across key areas of Corporate Communications and Therapeutic Area Communications & Patient Advocacy, using data-driven and multidirectional strategies to shape business outcomes and to promote and protect the company reputation.
• Provides counsel to business partners on latest communications channels/trends and opportunities to utilize C&PA strategies to contribute to the achievement of business goals. Includes utilization of real-time global and local data to model future trends.  Manage relationships with internal and external key stakeholders helping them change the way they see or think about an issue to enable business outcomes.      
• Ensures collaboration across teams & units, above brand / functional activities and across geographies, to support fully integrated learning and interdependent ways of working that enables delivery of best-in-class comms and patient advocacy delivering business impact and shape the environment.
• Oversee execution of TA communications and patient advocacy strategy across team, including strategic partnerships with patient organizations and other stakeholders to shape the external environment. Prioritize audience mapping and insights-based decision making across TAs. Implement influencer engagement strategy as needed.  
• Implement strategic roadmap for patient advocacy at country level in partnership with Public Affairs to shape environment and deliver business impact. Monitor & inform functional and business partners on patient-driven policy trends. Identify opportunities of engagement with PAG and category-breaking partnerships to amplify Novartis commitment to patients and society. ​​​  
• Oversee and drive local corporate communications strategy including media relations; policy comms in partnership with Public Affairs; and people & culture communications to serve our corporate goals. Utilize real-time data to provide strategic guidance and leadership to Public Affairs on comms aspects to craft impactful messaging and implement successful earned and paid media tactics. Support advocacy efforts by providing communication expertise for policy initiatives and campaigns.​ 
• Leverage executive communications in alignment with the corporate affairs and country enterprise strategy.  
• Accountable for executing communications strategies in the event of issues and crises.  
• Lead and develop Communications & Patient Advocacy Country team members​ to enable delivery of category-breaking work. Ensure systematic implementation CA analytics & insights frameworks and tools to enable our transition to a predictive function underpinned adaptive strategies utilizing real-time data. Consistently monitor performance, enable agility and iterative learning in ways of working.  
• Acts as the local Novartis spokesperson and represents Novartis across relevant external forums and working streams including communications teams in local trade associations and other cross-industry partnerships.

Essential Requirements:

• Success rate in achieving defined communications & Patient Advocacy and organizational goals outcomes as defined by Country Priorities; CA function planning (OGSM) and driven by Analytics & insights .  
• Leadership and functional alignment of communications & Patient Advocacy strategies, priorities, and objectives across TAs and corporate priorities.   
• Early identification, management, and resolution of critical issues.   
• High quality and relevant strategies/relationships with key media, influencers, patient groups and HCP leaders.  
• Demonstration of strategic thinking and collaborative working with CA colleagues across the organization.   
• Performance of agencies, contractors.  
• Embraces the predictive and strategic mindset to be data-driven, engages with stakeholders in a multidirectional manner, role-models an approach of iterative learning and interdependent ways of working.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.