Director, International Policy Communications

Novartis seeks a Director of International Policy Communications in Basel to lead global policy narratives, influence stakeholders, and strengthen the company's reputation across key markets.

This role sits at the intersection of policy, public affairs, and communications, tasked with shaping the global policy conversation at Novartis. The position drives a cohesive international strategy to influence policymakers, industry stakeholders, and opinion leaders while enhancing the company's standing in critical markets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the global policy communications strategy to align with enterprise and Public Affairs goals.
• Create and manage integrated policy narratives that reinforce Novartis' positioning in international markets.
• Convert complex regulatory, policy, and access issues into strategic messages that resonate with external audiences.
• Build scalable global frameworks, toolkits, and messaging structures to support consistent local implementation.
• Lead enterprise-wide preparedness through scenario planning and strategic response strategies for policy communications.
• Coordinate cross-functional alignment with Public Affairs, Value and Access, Patient Advocacy, and Communications teams.
• Utilize data, insights, and artificial intelligence to guide strategy and improve predictive communications capabilities.
• Act as the central strategic integrator to ensure coherence, discipline, and impact across regions and policy ecosystems.

Requirements

• Extensive background in policy communications, public affairs, or corporate communications within multinational organizations.
• Proven track record at the Director level with tangible examples of impact and delivery.
• Deep expertise in the geopolitical landscape, with strong knowledge across Europe.
• AI fluency in day-to-day execution and efficiency, as well as understanding of AI impact on external landscape.
• Data-driven mindset with experience leveraging insights and artificial intelligence to inform communications strategy.
• Demonstrated success working across highly matrixed, international environments with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across Public Affairs, Communications and senior business leaders.

Nice to have

• Additional experience in APMA/other regions

What the company offers

• Performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters.
• Insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs.
• Flexible and hybrid working options, where possible.
• Minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave.
• Long-term equity awards granted at group level.

About the company

Novartis is committed to reimagining medicine together. The company prioritizes pay equity as a fundamental principle of its employment policy. It strives to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect, building outstanding, inclusive work environments and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities it serves.

• Committed to reimagining medicine together.
• Pay equity is a fundamental principle of our employment policy.
• Committed to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that treats all employees with dignity and respect.
• Committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.