Vaccines External Affairs Director, Global Public Health (Nairobi) at Johnson & Johnson

Background

Pioneering a new business model, Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health (GPH) is the first fully-dedicated organization within a healthcare company that combines R&D, access programs, in-country operations, and consumer insight capabilities to ensure that innovative treatments and technologies of public health importance are available, affordable and accessible to the world’s most underserved populations. With 100+ dedicated staff, GPH is active in Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, mental health, Ebola, COVID19, and several other areas of public health concern. The organization works across many regions and countries leveraging J&J’s global footprint and collaborating across sectors in public-private partnerships towards the vision of “Innovation for all, everywhere at the same time”.

 Summary

The Vaccines External Affairs Director will lead engagement with (global and regional) non-governmental partners involved with the procurement, delivery and implementation of J&J vaccines in lower-income countries, in close coordination with Access Strategy and Impact (AS&I) and Africa Implementation and Impact (AI&I) content experts, policy experts within Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy (WWGA&P), and other relevant functions including Market Access, Medical Affairs, and Regulatory Affairs. This position reports to the Senior Director External Affairs, Global Public Health.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of engagement strategies with global and regional stakeholders involved with the deployment of vaccines in lower-income countries in support of GPH vaccine access strategies.
• Build strong relationships and serve as first point of contact for prioritized external stakeholders in the immunization ecosystem.
• Global stakeholders include multilateral organizations such as the Gavi Secretariat, WHO, the Office of the COVAX Facility, UNICEF, The World Bank, and other global institutions supporting the implementation of vaccines in lower-income countries such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PATH and CHAI. Regional stakeholders include WHO regional offices, Regional Development Banks, Africa CDC, and other regional organizations.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to secure multilateral financing for J&J vaccine access in lower-income countries. Lead engagement with the Gavi Secretariat to share product updates, evidence and other information necessary to support inclusion of J&J vaccines in the Gavi portfolio, with input from and in close collaboration with relevant functions (Market Access, AS&I, AI&I, others).
• Coordinate and support cross-functional efforts to obtain policy recommendations from WHO for use of J&J vaccines, in close coordination with the Vaccine Policy Director, Medical Affairs, R&D, Market Access, and others.
• Support cross-functional efforts to respond to UNICEF tenders.
• Support engagement with intergovernmental bodies including the African Union procuring J&J vaccines for lower-income countries in close partnership with regional Government Affairs and AI&I colleagues in Africa (and Asia).
• Monitor and share global-level guidance relevant to J&J vaccine implementation from key vaccine stakeholders with regional and local GPH vaccine teams (e.g. information on COVAX allocations of J&J vaccine, country eligibility and application guidelines for Gavi support of J&J vaccines, etc.). Serve as the internal subject matter expert on these matters.
• Lead (internal) External Affairs Working Groups for COVID19 vaccine, Ebola vaccine, and future vaccines as relevant, to coordinate external engagement.
• Enhance J&J’s reputation as a trusted private sector partner in global public health.

Qualifications

• Required education is a BA. Preferred education is a Master’s degree in public policy, health policy, or related field
• A minimum of 10 years work experience in global health policy, advocacy, government affairs, global health program management, or related field is required.
• Solid understanding of global health funding mechanisms and international architecture including vaccines and immunization ecosystem required
• Experience working with global health stakeholders and networks in global health community required; experience working in low-resource settings is a plus.
• Experience working in/with the pharmaceutical industry strongly preferred
• Excellent networking and diplomatic skills required. Demonstrated cultural sensitivity required.
• Excellent verbal, representational and written communication skills required.
• Able to work independently, as well as collaboratively in multi-disciplinary teams is required. Project management experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success at developing collaborative and effective relationships in complex, highly matrixed organization required