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**Job Function: **
Communications & Corporate/External Affairs
**Job Sub Function: **
External Communications
Job Category:
Professional
All Job Posting Locations:
São Paulo, Brazil
Job Description:
Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Brazil
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Role Overview
The Director, Communications and Public Affairs, Brazil leads the development and execution of integrated communications and public affairs strategies that strengthen Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine’s reputation, trust, and license to operate in Brazil. The role shapes the country narrative and guides disciplined, compliant execution across public affairs and stakeholder engagement, external communications and media, internal communications and employee engagement, and digital channels—ensuring alignment with Latin America and global frameworks while reflecting Brazil’s policy, access, regulatory, and cultural context.
The position reports to the Senior Director, Communications & Public Affairs, Latin America, and serves as a strategic advisor to the Brazil Managing Director and leadership team. The role partners closely with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Legal/Compliance, HR, and other cross-functional leaders to anticipate risk, align stakeholders, and advance enterprise and business priorities. The Director also collaborates with regional and global communications/public affairs teams and external agencies to pull through enterprise priorities and share insights and best practices across markets.
Key Responsibilities
Integrated C&PA strategy and corporate narrative (Brazil): Lead the country communications and public affairs strategy and narrative (corporate and portfolio/therapeutic areas), translating business priorities into clear, measurable plans and guiding content and channel execution across the operating model.
Public affairs, policy, and stakeholder engagement: Lead stakeholder mapping and multi-year engagement planning with policymakers, health authorities, industry associations, HCP bodies, payers, patient/advocacy groups, and other external partners to build trust and advance key policy and access priorities.
External communications, media, and thought leadership: Direct proactive and reactive external communications, including announcements, executive visibility, third-party advocacy, and media relations; provide message stewardship and ensure compliant local adaptation aligned to regional/global positioning.
Issues management and crisis preparedness: Provide leadership for monitoring Brazil’s external environment; anticipate and manage reputational, policy, and regulatory risks; and guide crisis communications preparedness and response in partnership with Legal, Regulatory, Medical, Quality, and regional/global teams.
Internal communications and employee engagement: Lead internal communications that strengthen engagement and culture by translating enterprise and Brazil priorities into clear narratives, leader-ready communications, and key moments informed by listening and insights.
Operating model, measurement, and agency management: Establish and continuously improve the Brazil C&PA operating model and measurement approach, using insights to optimize performance and share best practices.
People leadership and values-based culture: Lead, develop, and coach the Brazil C&PA team and agency partners, fostering a values-based culture grounded in the Credo, diversity, equity & inclusion, and strong compliance and ethics standards.
Role Clarity
- Owns Brazil integrated communications and public affairs strategy and execution, aligned with Latin America and global frameworks.
- Does not own global enterprise strategy or standards, but ensures strong local pull-through and compliant adaptation.
- Acts as a strategic advisor to Brazil leadership and as the connector between global/regional guidance and local execution.
- Accountable for high-quality execution, governance, measurement, and collaboration across functions, agencies, and stakeholders.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s degree required in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Public Affairs/Public Policy, Marketing, International Relations, or a related field. Advanced degree (e.g., MBA or Master’s) preferred.
Experience and Skills
Required
- 10+ years of progressive experience in communications and/or public affairs, including people and/or significant program leadership; experience in highly regulated industries (healthcare/life sciences preferred).
- Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, including executive briefings, key messages, Q&A, and preparation for high-stakes engagements.
- Proven experience developing and delivering communications for multiple audiences (e.g., statements, media materials, speeches/talking points, digital/social content) and managing complex programs end-to-end.
- Strong understanding of public affairs/policy environments and stakeholder engagement in Brazil, including collaboration with government agencies, industry coalitions, and advocacy groups.
- Experience with issues management and crisis communications in coordination with Legal/Compliance and business partners.
- Ability to lead through influence in matrixed organizations, driving alignment across functions, markets, and agencies.
- Experience using measurement and reporting mechanisms (KPIs/dashboards) to evaluate impact and drive continuous improvement.
- Excellent judgment, writing, and verbal communication skills in fast-moving, issues-sensitive environments.
- Fluent Portuguese and English (spoken and written).
Preferred
- Advanced degree (MBA or Master’s) in Communications, Public Affairs/Public Policy, International Relations, or related field.
- Demonstrated ability to build credibility and effective relationships with healthcare and public policy stakeholders in Brazil.
- Experience acting as a spokesperson and/or leading media engagement in coordination with legal and business partners.
- Experience working in a regional/global matrix environment, adapting global narratives to local needs and sharing best practices across markets.
- Spanish proficiency.
Other: Ability to travel domestically within Brazil and internationally as needed.
**Required Skills: **
Preferred Skills:
Brand Reputation Management, Communications Measurement, Consulting, Content Creation, Corporate Communications Management, Corporate Communications Strategy, Corporate Management, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Cultural Competence, External Communication, Media Relations, Organizational Knowledge, Relationship Building, Social Awareness, Stakeholder Engagement, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility