Head of Communications Netherlands & North Europe MCO Communications Coordinator

• Location: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

• Travel expectations: limited 

About the job

Sanofi is implementing an ambitious plan called “DRIVE” complementing our Play to Win Strategy with 3 main objectives (i) keep fuelling our pipeline (ii) make Sanofi a modern science-driven healthcare company (iii) serving our patients. In this context, the key purpose of the job is:

• To drive the strategy-setting, engagement, and activation of all external stakeholders who steer or influence the policies that determine Sanofi’s ability to successfully secure patient’s access to medicines.  

• The Public Affairs Head ensures that the local PA needs from the Global Business Units are well-known and addressed. Based on their strategies, any activities and opportunities are identified and pursued. This role also addresses any cross-GBU topics, and is the first point of contact for the Global Public Affairs team.  

The Head of Communications Netherlands & North Europe MCO Communications Coordinator  is part of the Specialty Care Netherlands Leadership Team and reports into the General Manager Specialty Care Netherlands/ North Europe MCO Lead. 

Key dimensions: scope & scale

• Internal and external communications Netherlands. 

• Internal communication North Europe MCO. 

• Point of contact to NL country coordination team.  

• Point of contact to North Europe MCO council.  

• Member of crisis management team NL & NE. 

Main responsibilities:

At country level, the Head of Communications develops and leads effective corporate and brand communications that raise visibility around Sanofi vision and offering in the country, to increase the company’s brand equity and enhance the organisation’s profile in key therapy areas.

• Oversees the country communication in coordination with Global corporate media relations. 

• Oversees the country employee engagement to ensure that our people are fully engaged with Play to Win priority initiatives. 

• Designs, implements, maintains, and manages a comprehensive internal and external communications plan (including programming, planning and execution in all relevant areas such as crisis communication, public relations, social media strategy).   

• Ensure alignment across GBUs and Functions in terms of strategic communications to support each business / function focusing on added value, fully integrated campaigns.  

• Contributes to the Global Communications Strategy by providing recommendations and inputs.  

• Oversees relations with journalists to build long term trust-based relationships including organisation of interviews for the Country Lead. 

• Supports Media Relations in managing top tier country’s media and advises on drafting, distribution and impact on group image or share price of press releases in partnership with the departments concerned. 

• Analyses the groups’ image and share of voice in the media and shares analysis with MCO and at group level to shape future activities. 

• Develops and implements a strong, positive new flows about business initiatives externally and internally. 

• Proactively leads on communications strategy to generate strong impact across brands, to consolidate and enhance their position, and shape and secure the potential of products within the portfolio. 

At country level, the Head of Communications plays a leading role as applicable, in Issues / Crisis Management for the country.

• Plays a leading role in the Country Crisis Team, including training Crisis Team members on how to effectively handle crisis situations. 

• Works with the Crisis Team to effectively manage all issues that could meaningfully impact on our reputation, business operations or financial performance. 

• Is the lead contact person for guidance and liaison with the media both proactively and reactively for high profile issues and crisis situations and leads our internal and external communications response.  

At country level, the Head of Communications provides strategic advice to Senior Leaders and establishes effective relationships across the business to ensure that communications are understood and integrated across functional and organisational boundaries.

• Is a key strategic advisor on communications for the NL Country coordination team and Head of Public Affairs NL. 

• Contributes to the Global Corporate Affairs Strategy by providing recommendations and inputs as it relates to the country. 

• Makes business recommendations to impact business decisions based on image objective. 

• Understands commercial, governmental and legal strategies, and advises on appropriate communications tools to achieve objectives. 

At North Europe MCO Level, the Head of Communications will have an oversight and coordinate the internal communications activities for the NE MCO and elevate the country topics at NE MCO council level. 

• Provides to the NE MCO lead the consolidated view of key Communications priorities and progress on execution across BUs countries in very close collaboration with other Country/Hub Communication teams.  

• Provides a strategic approach and coordinate the NE MCO communication activities to ensure that we work together more efficiently xBU xCountries to directly support the implementation of our Play to Win Strategy. This will include providing communications support to corporate functions and GBUs and ensuring our people are fully engaged and we all speak with One Sanofi Voice. 

• Is also responsible for providing strategic communications, and issues management advice to NE MCO Council and working in partnership with Global Corporate Affairs.  

Management of Resources  

• Accurately raises Purchase Requisitions with information provided by requestor and ensures such information is correct. 

• Updates systems in a timely way to reflect the current status of purchase orders and any deliveries of goods and services. 

• Attends to invoice system requests and queries quickly and efficiently. 

Ethical Leadership   

• Takes personal accountability to use personal experience and knowledge, as well as the training and tools provided by Sanofi, to maintain a good knowledge and understanding of all ethics and governance relevant to the role (including the Industry Code of Practice, Sanofi Policies and Procedures and any relevant legal requirements); and demonstrates personal leadership in applying these to all work undertaken.  

• Escalates any decisions, or seeks the support of colleagues or management, if personal knowledge and understanding is not at the level required to carry out any part of the role. 

Environmental and Safety Leadership 

Cares for his/her own safety and wellbeing and the safety of others, and co-operates with the company to ensure a safe place of work.  Employees are therefore expected to:

• Support and conform to Company safety rules and procedures to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. 

• Report any accident, incident or near miss, whether it be of personal injury or property damage. 

• Assist in the investigation of accidents with the objective of introducing measures to prevent recurrence. 

• Thoroughly read all safety documentation issued by the Company and comply with its requirements. Escalate any doubts or uncertainties to their supervisor and/or manager. 

• Ensure the overview and management of arrangements for the health, safety and wellbeing of their team, maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and with the Company’s policies and annual PASS (Health and Safety Plan) documents.  

• Ensure that all new employees undertake HSE Induction Training. 

• Ensure that employees receive sufficient information, instruction and training to carry out work safely. 

• Where an employee is required to drive a motor vehicle for their role, ensure that the appropriate professional driving skills training is completed and reviewed. 

• Regularly include health, safety and wellbeing matters on the agenda of departmental meetings.  

Investigate, report and record, with the assistance of the HSE Manager, all accidents and near misses, however slight. 

About you

Soft skills: You are a dynamic leader with the proven ability to thrive in a cross-cultural and complex matrix environment. You bring your experience in successfully leading a Communication organization to align with our company strategy. Your ability to leverage communication strategies to gain a competitive advantage and foster a culture of strong employee engagement is essential. We value your demonstrated skills in influencing relationships, driving collaboration, and optimizing opportunities within a matrix structure. Success in stakeholder management and the capacity to act at a senior level both within and outside the group are key

Technical skills: You possess a robust knowledge of the communications field, including internal and external communications, PR, brand communications, and media relations. A comprehensive understanding of the country’s legislation and codes of practice is required. Familiarity with the Sanofi product portfolio, strategy, company, and services will be beneficial. Extensive media training and experience in the Pharma sector are also important for this role..

Why choose us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
• Drive implementation science, powerful crowdsourcing and open innovation , discovering the ways to bring science to live faster , contributing to a patient first mindset.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

PursueProgress. Discover Extraordinary.

Progress doesn’t happen without people – people from different backgrounds, in different locations, doing different roles, all united by one thing: a desire to make miracles happen. You can be one of those people. Chasing change, embracing new ideas and exploring all the opportunities we have to offer. Let’s pursue progress. And let’s discover extraordinary together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or gender identity.

Watch our ALL IN video and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion actions at sanofi.com!

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