Government Affairs& Public Policy Associate Director; Regional - Quebec

Job Description

The Associate Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy is accountable to develop and execute the government relations strategy in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces. This person will be Vertex Canada's key contact with political decision makers, policy makers and payers within the region and work cross functionally to achieve our corporate objectives.

• Develop and execute Vertex's government relations strategy at the provincial level in order to achieve timely access to approved Vertex medicines and support a competitive Life Science ecosystem
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with government officials (e.g., provincial legislators, ministerial/legislative assistants, civil servants, etc.). Serve as the primary contact point for governmental relations to discuss public policy, and corporate priorities.
• Organize and coordinate government-related activities, such as meetings and visits and represent Vertex at relevant external events, conferences and governmental consultations
• Assess the impact of relevant legislation, regulations and public policy on the business and patient access to innovative new medicines. Provide strategic advice, develop and execute tactics to seize opportunities or mitigate risks.
• Participate in industry working groups regarding public policy initiatives relevant to Vertex's business, like rare diseases, cell and gene and other Life Sciences relevant topics.

• In collaboration with Corporate Communications, develop stakeholder communications strategies, including disease awareness campaigns
• Assist in developing communications products such as key messaging and talking points/Q&A to articulate Vertex's value proposition, importance of timely access to approved medicines and policy positions for use during interactions with external stakeholders
• Develop and implement appropriate issues management and crisis communications plans as required.

• Bachelor's degree in political science, communications, business administration or a related field
• Experience working at a senior level in government relations, communications, or other relevant roles
• Demonstrated experience working directly with government stakeholders at both the political and civil service levels and navigating a complex and bilingual environment
• Experience in people and vendor management
• Experience working in a biotech/pharmaceutical company, in the government or in the health care system/industry
• Sound knowledge of public policy and government structures within assigned regions
• Experience working in corporate communications or market access with the good understanding of rare diseases
• Understanding of the legal, regulatory, and compliance environment and commitment to adhere to high ethical standards
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with strong written and verbal communication abilities, and demonstrated capacity to work effectively with all levels and functions in a very fast-paced environment
• Bilingual fluency in both French and English.

This position is exempt from the compensation disclosure requirements under applicable law.

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, retirement and so much more.

This recruitment process may involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in screening and assessing applications. AI may be used at various stages to support decision-making, including reviewing resumes and evaluating qualifications. If you have any questions about how AI is used in this process, please contact A