Government Affairs and Policy Manager, Sub Saharan Africa at GE Healthcare

Job Description Summary

You will support the GE HealthCare business leadership in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) through the development and implementation of a government affairs and market access strategy for the SSA region with a focus on Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Zambia and Uganda. Represent the company to key public decision makers at local, national and regional level and identify and create commercial opportunities in public markets. Shape the health care policy environment and protect the business from political and regulatory developments that may have a negative impact on business operations. The position will report functionally to the Executive Global Government Affairs and Policy Leader, will be a member of the Global Government Affairs and Policy Team and the Sub Saharan Africa Leadership Team.

Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a government affairs and market access strategy to promote and protect GE HealthCare through engagement with Sub Saharan Africa political entities with a focus on Kenya, Nigeria & South Africa, including government, legislative, administrative and regulatory bodies as well as international organizations.  
• Identify commercial opportunities in the public sector and develop these in partnership with business leaders from successful closure to execution and address bottlenecks. Lead the engagement with governments and international organizations in deals where these entities are an instrumental stakeholder.
• Work closely with the GE Healthcare country GMs, business unit leaders, partnerships & solutions, healthcare finance, regulatory affairs, legal and marketing teams across the region to develop policy positions and business development opportunities.
• Identify possible deterrents and threats to GE HealthCare in key markets and the region and partner with the EMEA and Global Government Affairs team to formulate strategies to mitigate these risks. Lead and support functional assignments on an ad-hoc basis within the EMEA and Global Government Affairs team.
• Track emerging national and international laws and subsequently work with internal and external stakeholders to develop strategies that allow GE HealthCare to mitigate impact and adapt to required changes.
• Engage within key trade associations and the diplomatic corps (US Embassy, etc) in the region to ensure GE HealthCare’s leadership on key industry issues and initiatives, represent the company in public conferences and meetings.
• Secure key meetings for GE Healthcare leadership with key stakeholders in the Healthcare industry.
• Drive partnerships with government stakeholders at various levels to increase GE HealthCare brand visibility and thought leadership and identify and deliver opportunities to position the company in the field of health policy, health care technology and innovation at conferences, events and political meetings.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• 10 years’ experience in government, government affairs, business development, interacting with Sub Saharan Africa government officials and international political and financial organizations impacting healthcare investment and public health delivery.
• Deep understanding of the Sub-Saharan Africa health care systems especially in the public sector.
• Demonstrated understanding of government policy development and decision-making processes, including ability to identify and have access to key policy makers.
• Deep understanding of how the governments function and the key processes that drive business engagement
• Broad experience in business development across the region working on projects right from vision to realization working with partners like USAID, AFDB, World Bank, etc.
• Demonstrated orientation towards business growth and experience in connecting policy and business outcomes. 
• Demonstrated experience of interacting and bringing together leaders across the public and private sector with an aim of developing business opportunities for GE HealthCare.
• Substantive understanding of key healthcare policy and public health issues such as healthcare system development from primary care to care area capacity expansion.
• Strong team player with the ability to bring together leaders from different functions to deliver on business goals. Executive presence and ability to advise GE business leaders. 
• High degree of personal initiative, strong public speaking and written communication skills.