Head of Patient Relations and Communications

7777

In House Pharma

Neg

Thames Valley

Patients are at the centre of our brand strategies and this role is responsible for managing relations with patient groups and developing ‘Best in Class’ patient group engagement strategies which are well respected externally and internally.

These strategies will lead to the development of programmes which deliver direct patient benefits and contribute to business objectives.

The Head of Patient Relations and Brand Communications will be responsible for leading multi-stakeholder programmes, including managing the media profile, monitoring and maximizing brand web presence (as allowed within ABPI Code of Practice), developing key messages and stories as well as supporting disease awareness campaigns.

This individual will take on additional leadership responsibilities within the department specifically looking at developing Patient Relation Manager capabilities and set overall Company strategy for patient group interaction.

This position has responsibility for two direct line reports – the Patient Relations and Communications Manager for Rheumatology and the Patient Relations and Communications Manager for Gastroenterology/ Dermatology
• Lead brand communications and patient relations strategy and oversee management of these programmes. Participate in Brand Team meetings as required. Play active part in these meetings representing the Patient Relations and Communications function, and where necessary also represent the Government Affairs function.
• Shape business decisions and provide counsel at most senior level by anticipating and managing stakeholder reactions.
• Lead development of brand strategies to present to Senior Managers/ GM
• Provide leadership and motivation to two direct reports to ensure they contribute to the brand team in a strategic, meaningful and inspirational way, as well as ensuring that they deliver to deadlines, objectives and KPIs
• Proactively identify opportunities for brands across stakeholder groups, working in conjunction with brand team members
• Provide support to salesforce – e.g. provide overview of PR activities and media results, produce newsletter where required, inspire salesforce to support communications activities e.g. sourcing media case studies
• Support internal communications relating to brand such as internal awareness of product milestones (e.g. NICE announcements)
• Work with other ‘Heads of…’ to internally evaluate the success of communications/ stakeholder management within brand by setting and reviewing KPIs and evaluating external feedback
• Develop best practice case studies of successful communications/ stakeholder management activities to share with local and international colleagues

Patient Group Relations

• Set overall strategy and develop engagement plans for Company interaction with patient groups.
• Proactively identify, evaluate and establish relationships with national and local patient advocacy and support groups in disease areas where the client hasa pipeline with clinical research teams to support clinical trial recruitment in these areas (if necessary/ allowed under local regulations)
• Discuss policy developments and likely impact on patients and service delivery
• Identify areas of commonality and similar ideology where client and patient group can work in partnership to improve outcomes for patients and service delivery models
• Take responsibility for development and implementation of Sponsorships and Donations policy
• Assess and evaluate impact of partnership programmes. Develop KPIs for all interactions with third parties. Evaluate the success of collaborations.

Media
• Oversee development of brand key messages/ stories and other communications materials for use with media
• Establish trusted business relationships with key health journalists.
• Identify opportunities to proactively place/ pitch media articles for key brands brand (within ABPI Code of Practice)
• Act as spokesperson for the media
• Advise and counsel media trained executives on delivery of brand messages
• Lead and develop the company approach to social media programmes
• Manage review process for external communications interacting with local and corporate review teams
• Collate case study banks for use with media
• Oversee the development of authored-led features/ advertorials and symposia, where appropriate

Issues/ Crisis Management for brands
• Build issues and crisis plan for each brand
• Update and coach affiliate senior management team on successful handling of issues/ crisis
• Act as company spokesperson during issues and crisis

Agency Management
• Ensure PR agencies are optimally managed – from having contracts in place to ensure ROI and value for money

•Fully competent in MS Office computer packages (Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
• Experience managing large scale communications campaigns
• Excellent communications skills – both written and verbal
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Ability to build relationships with third parties using good negotiation skills
• Very good budget and time management skills
• Strong planning and organisational skills
• Drive and enthusiasm
• Well-developed networking and influencing abilities to leverage relationships within and outside of the company.
• Strong cross-functional management abilities.
• Drive and enthusiasm:
• Strong planning and prioritisation skills.
• Initiative and vision: challenge existing assumptions and interpretations from all internal departments.

Previous relevant company or PR experience in either Pharmaceutical Product Communications or working for a patient/ health related charity
• Line management experience
• Experience of leading and developing strategy and operating at a senior level
University degree in communications, journalism, public relations

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