Government Affairs and Communications Director ViiV UK

We are a specialist pharmaceutical company 100% dedicated to developing medicines to treat and prevent HIV. As the pioneers in HIV innovation, we constantly push the boundaries of science to develop medicines that can change lives and give people more choice. Beyond our medicines, we are proud of our deep connection with the HIV community and work with partners to advance research and development, address HIV-related stigma, increase access to our medicines and provide funding and support to local community organisations to support their efforts in the HIV response.

We are ViiV Healthcare. Here until HIV and AIDS are not.

Director, Communications & Government Affairs (CGA)

Position Overview: This is an exciting opportunity to join ViiV UK as a Director, Communications & Government Affairs (CGA). As CGA Director, you will develop and deliver integrated communications and government affairs strategies that support ViiV's UK commercial priorities. The role shapes the UK external environment to support sustainable and timely access to ViiV's innovation. You will report to the UK General Manager and work cross functionally to drive high impact, outcome focused programmes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Government Affairs Leadership: Create and deliver an outcome driven government affairs strategy that proactively engages policy stakeholders and nurtures trusted relationships that drive positive changes in the external environment.
• Strategic Advisor: Provide trusted insights and strategic counsel to ViiV UK Commercial Leaders, guiding commercial strategy and decisions, bringing the external view in, and providing analysis of what that means for our business.
• Product Launches and Advocacy: Develop and deliver integrated CGA launch campaigns; data releases, targeted and creative approaches to communication and advocacy plans that set ViiV apart from competitors.
• Craft and Execute High Impact Communications: Develop and implement both external and internal communication strategies, seizing every opportunity to share pipeline advances, deliver thought leadership on topical issues and bolster advocacy for improved patient access and a sustainable health system.
• Media Relations / Issues Management: Develop and lead media relations strategies that enhance reputation and mitigate against risk, including hands on issues management and media engagement.
• Senior Leader Engagement: Provide strategic guidance and messaging for key stakeholder interactions, supporting senior leaders in their engagements; speaker events, social media, media, government.
• Insights & Analysis: Actively monitor media and policy developments to ensure timely insights and analysis are delivered to the business, enabling risk mitigation and opportunity capture.
• Voice of ViiV: Act as a spokesperson and representative for ViiV in CGA relevant forums and within GSK and externally. Be proactive and visible in person across key external stakeholders, attending topical events and initiating an external engagement programme that supports specific interest areas.
• ViiV UK Leadership: Where appropriate, lead or take part in key business projects to support overall business objectives for ViiV UK.
• Disease Awareness: Partner with the medical team for development and delivery of integrated disease awareness programmes, collaborating with relevant partners to enhance public understanding, educate stakeholders and support patient and system needs.

Why You:

• Proven Track Record: Demonstrated strategic capability and delivery of outcome based achievements in healthcare communications and policy within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Excellent Relationships: Established relationships relevant to the pharmaceutical industry and health policy with proven experience of developing effective relationships in a highly matrixed organisation.
• Leadership and Adaptability: Ambitious, proactive, and able to influence and engage effectively in a complex, fast paced environment.
• Influence and Collaboration: Ability and capacity to influence at various organisational levels, both within and beyond ViiV.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Highly skilled and experienced in written and verbal expression, building trusted, meaningful relationships.
• High Personal Accountability and Integrity: Holds yourself to the highest standards of accountability and integrity, ensuring trust and reliability.
• Demonstrated Ability to Work Across Matrixes: Collaborates effectively with local, regional, and global franchise matrixes.
• Experience of Leading Agency Partnerships: Strategically works with agency partners to deliver high impact CGA programmes that produce tangible outcomes.
• Independence and Multitasking: Develops high impact strategy and works independently to deliver set objectives, handling multiple projects simultaneously.
• Business Acumen: Well developed commercial understanding that ensures informed decisions and CGA strategies aligned with business goals.
• UK Healthcare Expertise: Good knowledge of the UK healthcare landscape and market access pathway, experience working with or within Government on health priorities.

Key Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level or with equivalent proven experience.
• Significant experience in Communications & Government Affairs in the pharmaceutical industry, with commercial and/or market access exposure.

Working Arrangement

This role is hybrid. You will be expected to work onsite 2 3 days per week at our London HQ. Some travel within the UK may be required.

Values We Value

You are honest, curious, and team focused. You listen and build trust quickly, use evidence to shape recommendations, act with transparency, welcome different perspectives, create an inclusive working space, and manage competing priorities with calm.

Equal Opportunity Employer

ViiV is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any basis prohibited under federal, state or local law.