External Affairs Manager (m/w/d)

Merck Merck · Pharma · Vienna, Austria

The External Affairs Manager will be part of the Policy and Corporate Communications Team, responsible for strategic focus and implementation in political work within the Austrian healthcare system, with a particular emphasis on oncology (early detection, screening, and care optimization). This role involves engaging with external stakeholders, analyzing the health policy environment, representing the company, and collaborating across various internal and external teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. Identification of health policy challenges and proposals for improvement, particularly in oncology in Austria, as well as joint internal definition of medium- and long-term goals and activities
  2. Creation and actual implementation of integrated policy plans, taking into account the common interests of various stakeholder groups at federal and state level
  3. Creation of trusting and reliable partnerships with the stakeholder groups of the Austrian health system and Austrian health policy, focusing on all perspectives (patients, science, interest groups, as well as at federal and state level)
  4. Analysis of the health policy environment in Austria, anticipation of potential trends or reforms, and interpretation of their significance and scope for action
  5. Representation of the company at meetings with decision-makers in Austrian health policy and further development of one's own network

Skills

Required

  • Completed studies - preferably with a scientific, communicative, or political background
  • Expertise in the Austrian healthcare system and Austrian health policy and the political landscape as a whole – professional experience within the healthcare system (system, consulting, interest representation, pharma) preferred
  • Strong customer orientation, focus, and strategic thinking
  • Ability to solve complex problems considering the interests of various stakeholder groups
  • Existing network in the Austrian healthcare system and ability to build sustainable customer relationships
  • Professionalism, determination, and sense of duty to consistently and successfully implement planned activities
  • Flexibility and commitment, as well as a solution-oriented personality who enjoys getting involved, shaping, and juggling multiple activities simultaneously
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills in speaking and writing (German and English)

Nice to have

  • Adaptability
  • Building Customer Loyalty
  • Cancer Diagnosis
  • Communication Coordination
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Cross-Team Collaboration
  • Customer Rapport
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
  • Data Analysis
  • eCommerce Marketing
  • Field Marketing
  • German Language
  • Global Initiatives
  • Government Relations
  • Healthcare Policies
  • Health Economics
  • Impact Analysis
  • Legislative Issues
  • Management Process
  • Marketing
  • Marketing Management
  • Operations Management
  • Policy Development
  • Policy Interpretation

What the JD emphasized

  • oncology
  • early cancer detection
  • screening programs
  • cancer care optimization
  • Austrian health system
  • Austrian health policy