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Head of Communication and Government Affairs, Pharma Supply Chain

Employer
GlaxoSmithKline
Location
Brentford (City/Town), London (Greater)
Salary
Competitive
Closing date
31 Oct 2018

Your Responsibilities
We are searching for   Head of Communications & Government Affairs to lead a small global team and contribute as a business leader in GSK’s Pharmaceuticals Supply Chain. The Pharmaceuticals Supply Chain plays a vital role in delivering GSK’s ambitious strategy and helping patients and consumers around the world to do more, feel better and live longer. Come and join the team! 

Following the decision to separate our Consumer Healthcare and Pharma Supply Chains, we are establishing a Pharma Supply Chain (PSC) business unit, with a new operating model, led by Regis Simard, President and member of the Corporate Executive Team. PSC is focused on delivering the Pharma strategy, working hand in hand with R&D and our Commercial organisation, by achieving:
• Sustained top quartile performance in safety, quality, compliance and service
• Significantly better cost competitiveness, through sustainable improvements in operational efficiency, procurement and simplification, releasing cash for reinvestment in innovation and growth

To achieve this, the Supply Chain needs to:
• Help strengthen alignment and collaboration across Pharmaceuticals to drive value for the business
• Improve employee engagement in our workforce of over 20,000 around the world – particularly among more junior grades, many without regular access to a computer or digital media
• Connect effectively with external partners (customers, suppliers) and stakeholders to build trust and enable change 

World class communications, government affairs and employee engagement will be key to success.

Delivering supply chain communications and government affairs is the responsibility of the Pharma Supply Chain CGA team, working closely with Pharma and Corporate CGA colleagues worldwide to manage risk and deliver effective external communications, to meet both business and corporate objectives. The Pharma Supply Chain CGA team is part of the Pharma and Worldwide Markets CGA team, within the Communications & Government Affairs (CGA) function.

WHAT IS YOUR JOB PURPOSE?  
A capable and experienced senior communicator is required to act as Head of Communication and Government Affairs (CGA) for the Pharma Supply Chain.  With more than 20,000 employees and over 30 manufacturing sites around the world, the Pharma Supply Chain must achieve stretching operational targets while driving sustainable performance improvements end to end and partnering with the business to design manufacturing and supply strategy and capabilities for the next generation of medicines.  This requires the PSC team to be more closely aligned and integrated with both R&D and commercial teams.

As the leader of the PSC CGA team, this role acts as a strategic communications and government affairs business partner to the President, PSC and the PSC leadership team, advising, challenging and coaching them to inspire employees, align them with business strategy and priorities and engage them in organisational, operational and culture change. At the same time, the PSC CGA lead is accountable for effectively identifying risks and managing our reputation and major issues (e.g. product recalls) and business change, such as restructuring, externally.  The role leads the PSC CGA team and broader communications champion network across the PSC manufacturing network, building an effective community of good practice across the organisation, while helping to shape the Pharma CGA agenda and facilitate excellent collaboration with colleagues in markets and at the centre – both day to day and as a member of the Pharma CGA leadership team.  

WHAT ARE YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES?  
• Provide strategic counsel to the President PSC and his/her leadership team on employee engagement, the external environment and issues management.
• Develop an effective communications and government affairs strategy and plans to deliver against business priorities, as agreed in consultation with the PSC leadership team, and aligned with the broader CGA strategy.
• Play an influential leadership role to improve employee engagement in PSC, in order to support execution of business strategy and drive improvements in performance on supply chain fundamentals (quality, safety, sustainability), supply and financials (working capital and cost).
• Increase understanding of supply chain among R&D and Commercial colleagues in GSK, highlighting the benefits of greater alignment and collaboration, new processes and ways of working
• In partnership with HR, steer a leader-sponsored culture change in PSC that simplifies ways of working, strengthens accountability and decision-making, improves teamwork and enables greater pace and agility in execution.
• Independently monitor and evaluate the changing internal and external environments and proactively consider the implications/impact (threats and opportunities, financial and reputational impact) on current and future business strategy, reputation and employee motivation, advising the business on appropriate action to manage the impact. 
• Support site directors and local leaders across PSC, particularly in the manufacturing sites, helping build capability and alignment, and upgrade key communication channels to make them more effective and strengthen their sense of connection with the business.
• Support the PSC Leadership team and senior corporate leaders reporting to the PSC President by providing strategic advice, planning, communications/media training, coaching and input to both internal and external content. 
• Partner with the PSC President to support him/her in all aspects of their communications remit as a CET member.
• Be a leader and active contributor to performance of the Pharma CGA lead team, identifying and leveraging opportunities to increase alignment and impact.
• Lead the development and implementation of CGA strategy on all aspects of the PSC for GSK, working closely with other teams in Communications & Government Affairs to manage issues – both internally and externally - which have broader impact on the enterprise.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TEAM?  
Please apply via our online portal providing your CV and Cover Letter.

Please ensure you apply before COB 31st Oct 2018  to ensure you’re in the running!

(Please take a personal copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available online post closure of the advertisement)

During the course of your application you will be requested to complete voluntary information which will be used in monitoring the effectiveness of our equality and diversity policies. Your information will be treated as confidential and will not be used in any part of the selection process.
If you require a reasonable adjustment to the application / selection process to enable you to demonstrate your ability to perform the job requirements, please contact 0808 234 4391. This will help us to understand any modifications we may need to make to support you throughout our selection process.

*LI-GSK

 

Why You?

Basic qualifications: 
This role requires a senior and experienced communications leader who is capable of credibly influencing and challenging at a senior level, up to and including Corporate Executive Team level.  They will have a proven track record of developing and delivering impactful communications strategies that are effective at both a global and local level, including how to engage a culturally diverse and remote workforce, many of whom are not regular computer users. They will be experienced in external issues, media and stakeholder management, able to anticipate risks and make connections between different issues and stakeholder interests – looking across the GSK business.

The role requires an inspirational and supportive leader, capable of galvanising a small, global team to deliver high performance, while coaching to build capability and develop talented individuals to reach their full potential. 

The role also requires an ability to understand a complex, technical business area sufficient to identify and ruthlessly prioritise the opportunities and issues that matter most, taking complex briefs and simplifying information quickly.

This role must also contribute beyond the CGA function and on an equal basis, as a member of a high performing PSC lead team – engaging fully in the work of the team to set strategy and deliver performance in one of GSK’s largest and most complex business units. 

Proactive and self-starting, creative and forward-thinking, the person in this role will ideally have a deep understanding of GSK or Pharmaceutical operations in a complex international company, combined with awareness of the external operating environment, and the ability to develop effective networks inside and outside the business.  This person will have sensitivity to the many different cultures and social, economic and environmental issues that exist, and leverage this to assess how to communicate and engage employees and stakeholders most effectively. 

Critically, the person in this role must be highly effective at working across boundaries and able to cope with ambiguity and an emergent agenda of change, where not all answers are known at the outset (“we must build the bridge as we cross it”).

 

Preferred qualifications: 
See above

 

Why GSK?
WHO ARE WE?  
At GSK we are a science-led global healthcare company. We research and develop a broad range of innovative products in three primary areas of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare.  Our mission is inspiring and challenging – to help people do more, feel better and live longer.

We have a significant global presence with commercial operations in more than 150 countries, a network of 86 manufacturing sites in 36 countries and large R&D centres in the UK, USA, Spain, Belgium and China.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?  
At GSK we are all inspired by the difference we make and challenge ourselves every day to improve the lives of patients and consumers. That’s why we have created an environment where everyone feels valued, able to develop, contribute to our mission and be proud of what we achieve.

You will join GSK’s vision to do more, feel better and live longer: 
Find out how you can do this .

WHO WILL I BE WORKING WITH?  
Click here to meet your team.

HOW DO I DEVELOP MY CAREER?  
To support you in achieving your role and career ambitions you’ll be given the opportunity to:
• Play an important role in delivering our mission
• Be an essential part of diverse, global team
• Develop others as part of your own professional growth
You will also have regular personal development meetings with your line manager to give you the opportunity to create a fulfilling career at GSK.

HOW WILL I BE REWARDED?  
The Total Reward Package offered is:
• Competitive Salary
• Competitive on Target Bonus
• 26-days paid holiday
• Personal Healthcare, with the option to purchase family cover
• GSK Pension
• Share & Save Schemes
• Total Reward Discounts

 

Contact information: 
You may apply for this position online by selecting the Apply now button.

 

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