Job Description
Do you want to make a strategic impact in healthcare, where policy and patient interests meet?
In this senior role, you will connect policy, patients, and stakeholders, turning complex issues into tangible results.
Welcome to our team
Patients are at the heart of our work. Our company's mission is to save and improve patients' lives. The Policy, Communications & Patient Advocacy (PCPA) department is responsible for positioning our company with patients, politicians, the press, the public, and our employees. This is achieved through collaboration with government and patient organizations, public affairs, media relations, and corporate external and internal communications.
About the role
As Associate Director Policy, you will focus on optimizing the investment climate in the Netherlands for our company. You will work closely with colleagues in cross-functional teams and actively contribute to advocacy strategies for initiatives such as product launches.
In this role, you are a visible strategist with strong subject matter expertise who effortlessly builds coalitions, both within our organization and externally. You operate 360 degrees, moving smoothly between political stakeholders, societal developments, patient associations, and industry associations. Cross-functional collaboration is in your DNA. You look beyond your own role and actively contribute to shared objectives. You identify relevant developments in the outside world and within the organization at an early stage, translating them into clear impact analyses and strategic execution plans.
You are able to convey knowledge both inside and outside the organization. You work in a structured manner and ensure proper monitoring of progress, providing clear reports on a regular basis.
For new product launches, you are the strategic advisor who helps colleagues and managers turn complex issues into concrete opportunities and actionable steps. You maintain valuable relationships with political stakeholders, government, industry associations, and patient associations, and know exactly who you need to engage to achieve results. As an agile professional, you effortlessly combine ad-hoc responses to current developments with staying on course within our medium- and long-term strategy. You report to the Director Policy, Communication and Patient Advocacy.
Primary responsibilities
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Developing a well-founded strategy for advocacy and stakeholder management on relevant topics
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Developing a solid execution plan for the strategy and implementing it independently, while initiating and coordinating collaborations
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Formulating clear and substantiated positions
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Identifying relevant external developments and showing initiative in conducting necessary impact analyses
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Proactively coordinating all contacts with stakeholders within this policy area
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Staying informed of regional/global internal developments, interpreting them for our organization, and translating them into actionable external positions
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Externally representing various (industry) organizations and coalitions/partnerships
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Identifying stakeholders and their relevance (stakeholder mapping)
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Building and maintaining a valuable and broad external network of stakeholders, ranging from government, politics, and industry associations to patient associations
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Acting as a knowledgeable strategic advisor based on subject matter expertise for internal stakeholders at various levels
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Preparing clear reports on relevant developments, key objectives, measurable results, and progress
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Building deep subject matter expertise and transferring this knowledge internally to relevant colleagues
Your profile
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You have a completed Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field, such as political science, public administration, health sciences, economics, or a similar field of study.
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You have at least 5 years of work experience in a strategic policy role, preferably in the pharmaceutical sector, healthcare, or within an industry association or government organization.
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You have demonstrable experience in building coalitions and maintaining relationships with external stakeholders such as patient associations, industry associations, and political contacts.
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You closely follow economic, societal, and political developments and know how to translate these into strategic advice.
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Working in an international matrix organization is familiar territory for you: you switch effortlessly between different departments, levels, and cultures.
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You have excellent command of Dutch and English and are able to make complex topics accessible to different target groups.
What we offer
A role with substantive depth, strategic influence, and a strong external network. You will work at a high level on policy and patient interests within an organization where your expertise is valued and makes a real impact.
In addition, we offer:
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A competitive salary, depending on knowledge and experience.
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3% end-of-year bonus and an annual bonus based on individual and company results.
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At least 35.5 days of leave.
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Travel allowance and a solid pension scheme.
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A high-quality company restaurant with fresh and healthy meals daily.
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On-site sports facilities, including classes such as boxing, Zumba, and Pilates.
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Excellent coffee, prepared by a professional barista.
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A game room including a pool table and ping pong table.
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A contribution to your sports subscription, to support your physical well-being.
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Mental well-being support via Lyra Health, for you and your family members.
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Access to a separate prayer and meditation room.
Required Skills:
Government Relations, Public Health Policy Development, Public Relations (PR), Strategic Planning
Preferred Skills:
Current Employees apply HERE
Current Contingent Workers apply HERE
Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
Employee Status:
Project Temps (Fixed Term)
Relocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Hybrid
Shift:
Valid Driving License:
Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
08/24/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.