Government Affairs & Regional Public Affairs Head - Saudi Arabia

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Government Affairs & Regional Public Affairs Head for Saudi Arabia to lead Sanofi's government engagement and institutional relations across the Kingdom. This pivotal role involves fostering trustworthy and enduring partnerships with governmental bodies, regulatory authorities, health institutions, and national stakeholders. The objective is to enable enduring access to medicines, strengthen health systems, and promote the adoption of health innovations within all Sanofi global business units (GBUs).

Working within the Corporate Functions team based in Riyadh, you will represent the company at strategic forums aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and national health transformation priorities, playing a key role in enhancing patient health outcomes nationwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain strategic partnerships with Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH), Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), National Health Insurance Council (NHIC), NUPCO, local health clusters, procurement organizations, and other institutional allies to drive Sanofi's objectives across all business units.
• Act as Sanofi’s representative in important national government initiatives supporting Vision 2030, focusing on health transformation, localization efforts, digital health advancements, and immunization strategies.
• Continuously monitor legislative and policy changes within Saudi Arabia’s healthcare sector, evaluating their impact on Specialty Care, Vaccines, and General Medicines sectors, and offer actionable recommendations to the business.
• Lead and contribute to regulatory submissions, position statements, and consultations related to pricing, regulation, localization, digital health, vaccination, and specialty care treatment pathways.
• Formulate and execute advocacy plans addressing national health priorities such as disease screening, prevention, rare diseases, digital therapeutics, immunization, and chronic illness management.
• Drive collaborations with scientific societies, national councils, public health bodies, and industry groups to enhance health system capabilities and support disease-awareness campaigns.
• Deliver policy intelligence, insights, and scenario planning to cross-functional leadership at the country level, acting as a key advisor in the Country Council, Access Committee, and cross-GBU governance forums.
• Manage crisis response protocols, monitor external risks, and oversee institutional communications while maintaining full adherence to Sanofi’s ethical governance and external engagement standards.

Candidate Profile

• 6 to 10 years of relevant experience in Government Affairs, Public Policy, Institutional Relations, or Regulatory/Market Access within the Saudi Arabian healthcare landscape.
• In-depth knowledge of Saudi healthcare structures, including MOH clusters, SFDA, NUPCO, and the initiatives under Vision 2030.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Medical, Access, Legal, Communications teams, and multiple GBUs in a complex corporate environment.
• Fluency in Arabic and English is mandatory for this role.
• Proficient in Healthcare Policy Analysis, Strategic Insight Development, Government Advocacy, Engagement with Trade Associations, Partnership Cultivation, and Formulation of Strategic Policies.
• Strong skills in stakeholder relationship management, policy development, business understanding, and communication.
• Competence in innovation facilitation and crisis management at an intermediate level.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, International Relations, Political Science, Law, or related disciplines is required; an advanced degree is preferred.
• A successful history of establishing credible and lasting relationships with senior government officials and institutional stakeholders in Saudi Arabia.

Why Join Us?

• Contribute meaningfully by supporting a leading biopharma company that delivers transformative treatments to millions worldwide while upholding strong commitments to patients, communities, and the environment.
• Play a direct role in shaping healthcare policies and enhancing access throughout Saudi Arabia in alignment with Vision 2030 objectives and national priorities.
• Drive impactful change within the organization by enhancing scalability, efficiency, and sustainability of a global biopharmaceutical enterprise in Saudi Arabia.
• Collaborate extensively with senior leaders and government authorities to convert complex policy challenges into practical patient-focused solutions.
• Benefit from expansive career development opportunities including challenging roles, cross-functional engagements, and tailored growth pathways.
• Work within diverse, high-performing teams where every contribution is valued, and your voice influences future directions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all prospective employees, irrespective of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or any other status protected by law.