Patient Advocacy

**Job Description**:
This function accumulates all associated Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy activities at the Colombian Affiliate.

The person will be responsible to create and develop the foundation of the Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy work in the Colombian affiliate, will liaise with the global SMA and MS public affairs and patient advocacy teams to bring international best practices to the Colombian affiliate, educate the affiliate about the challenges and benefits of engaging with the Media and Patient Advocacy Groups and will be responsible to develop local procedures and policies to guarantee that the function will be implemented in accordance to local compliance norms.

This person will be responsible to support the affiliate to generate awareness about its therapeutic areas for both the internal and external public.

**Responsibilities**:
Patient Advocacy strategy, execution, and implementation - actively support strategies development, implementation, and execute patient relations in Biogen’s portfolio and pipeline,positioning Biogen as a leading biotechnology company. Patient Advocacy Education and Development - Drive execution of educational initiatives for Biogen working with patient advocacy and developing materials to aid in enhancing skills to support the execution of local efforts.
- Development and execution of patient advocacy strategy in the Affiliate and working closely with the Market Access team.
- Engage with patient organizations, campaigning health groups, trade associations, and policymakers around projects that improve health outcomes in multiple sclerosis, SMA, Alzheimer’s, and other conditions and rare diseases.
- Provide counsel and hands-on guidance.
- Responsibility for creating and implementing e.g. Patient Advocacy Toolkit, Newsletters, and Patient Advocacy Catalogue.
- Drive best practice sharing initiatives including webinar series.

Understand and educate internally on the legislative initiatives for the country and create policy proposals working with agencies and the local pharmaceutical association. Participate in the definition of the public affairs strategy for Colombia.
- Track, report and analyze legislation.
- Liaise with AFIDRO or any necessary national entity to work on policy and regulation.

Develop, align, and execute communications initiatives to support the Affiliate’s business objectives, the implementation of the corporate strategy, and the promotion of a culture of excellence. Oversee the communication strategy and execution of various external and internal audiences.
- Assume full accountabilities for all external communications in the Affiliate and ensure 100% compliance with corporate communications and disclosure rules.
- Provide dedicated and expert communications counsel and insights to local leadership on positioning and messaging in building awareness, understanding, and support for the company’s strategic goals and priorities among multiple stakeholders.
- Disseminate corporate product press releases, talking points, and confidential Q&A documents as appropriate.
- Provide real-time support and guidance to the leadership team on crisis/issues management.

Establish a media network in Colombia, acting as the lead spokesperson for the company and ensuring alignment of local external and internal communication with global strategy.
- Drive media coverage around key milestones, leveraging multiple channels such as general media, medical and industry press, and social media (including local company website(s)) to increase visibility and reach target audiences.
- Manage crisis communications and issues management.
- Work closely and fully aligned with the Business Unit Leaders, Medical, Market Access & Government Affairs at the Affiliate to support policy objectives with coordinated and strategic media campaigns on a case-by-case basis.

Reputation/Issue Management - Raise the company’s profile through developing communication strategies and projects supporting the company’s corporate reputation, strategic initiatives, marketed products, and pipeline programs.
- Manage the local-language corporate affiliate website, ensuring consistent corporatevbrand identity adherence.
- Identify and address issues that may impact Biogen’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. Develop and implement the company’s strategies for communicating/responding in the event of a crisis.
- Adapt global/regional Public Affairs messaging.

Measuring Success.
- Develop measurable goals to track the impact and effectiveness of communication strategies and tactics.

**Minimun Education and Experience Requiriments**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, or a related field communications.
- Experience covering organizational communications, PR, or marketing communications.

**Qualifications**:

- Knowledge of the biopharmaceutical industry, with an understanding of the local health system and other regulatory bod