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Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Reports to: Vice President, Head of International Public Policy
Job purpose
The Senior Director, International Public Policy (GCC, KSA, Türkiye & India) will lead Lilly’s public policy strategy and execution across the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and India.
The role serves as the primary public policy partner to affiliate leadership, translating business priorities into actionable policy strategies that support patient access, innovation, intellectual property protection, sustainable healthcare systems, and long-term business growth.
Working across a highly diverse and complex region, the individual will identify emerging policy risks and opportunities, develop evidence-based policy positions to shape the external policy environments, and provide strategic counsel to business leaders. The role will also be leading and coordinating the engagement with Regional Multilateral Organization’s offices, Think Tanks, Academia to serve affiliate’s needs.
Success in this role requires strong business acumen, strategic thinking, and the ability to work across a complex matrix organization, bringing together expertise from Corporate Affairs, Market Access, Legal, Regulatory, Medical, Commercial, other functions relevant to formulate integrated policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
Key responsibilities:
Regional policy strategy and execution (GCC, KSA, Türkiye primary, India support)
- Develop and execute a coordinated public policy strategy across GCC markets, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and India, aligned with affiliate, regional, and enterprise priorities.
- Partner with affiliate leadership teams to identify business priorities and translate them into actionable policy strategies.
- Anticipate, assess, and communicate policy developments that may impact Lilly’s business, growth ambitions, and patient access objectives.
- Lead policy drafting and develop recommendations for affiliate, regional, and enterprise leadership, with the aim of supporting the external engagement with governments.
Affiliate partnership and business integration
- Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to affiliate leadership teams across the region.
- Support affiliates in the development and execution of market-specific policy analysis and advocacy initiatives.
- Ensure policy considerations are integrated into business planning, launch preparation, and long-term strategic decision making.
- Provide strategic guidance on priority therapeutic areas and business growth opportunities.
- Strengthen policy capabilities across affiliates through coaching, coordination, and sharing of best practices.
External engagement and policy shaping
- Build and maintain productive relationships with key policy stakeholders, policy influencers, think tanks, academic institutions, multilateral organizations, and industry associations.
- Represent Lilly in relevant policy forums, trade associations, and external working groups.
- Support the development of thought leadership initiatives and policy partnerships that advance innovation, patient access, and healthcare system sustainability.
- Identify opportunities to shape policy debates and strengthen Lilly’s position as a trusted policy partner.
International and enterprise collaboration
- Represent the region within Lilly’s International Public Policy network and contribute regional perspectives to enterprise-wide policy initiatives.
- Collaborate closely with Global Public Policy and other regional policy leaders on cross-border and global policy priorities.
- Support the localization and implementation of enterprise policy priorities
- Facilitate cross-market learning and sharing of policy best practices.
Strategic intelligence and horizon scanning
- Establish robust monitoring of legislative, regulatory, political, economic, and geopolitical developments across the region.
- Develop forward-looking assessments of emerging policy trends and their implications for Lilly’s business.
- Provide regular executive briefings and strategic recommendations to regional and enterprise leadership.
- Support executive engagement with external stakeholders through the preparation of strategic talking points, briefing materials, analyses and recommendation on local policy reforms.
Qualifications and experience:
- Minimum 15 years of experience in public policy, government affairs, healthcare policy, market access policy, corporate affairs, or related functions within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry.
- Strong understanding of healthcare policy and government decision-making processes across GCC markets, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and India.
- Demonstrated ability to translate business priorities into policy strategies and measurable outcomes.
- Proven experience influencing complex policy discussions and building trusted relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong leadership capabilities with a track record of operating effectively in highly matrixed organizations.
- Experience working across multiple countries and cultures.
- Advanced degree in public policy, law, economics, international relations, public health, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
- Fluency in English required; Arabic/Turkish language capabilities are advantageous.
Critical success factors:
- Excellent policy drafting skills
- Exceptional business acumen and strategic thinking.
- Ability to connect policy, business, geopolitical, and healthcare trends into clear strategic recommendations.
- Strong leadership and influencing skills in complex matrix environments.
- Ability to build alignment across functions, geographies, and senior stakeholders.
- Executive presence and strong communication capabilities.
- Strong judgment, learning agility, and problem-solving skills.
- High integrity and commitment to Lilly’s values.
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