Public Affairs Lead - GenMed Regional

Position Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Public Affairs Lead – General Medicines to drive impactful advocacy and stakeholder engagement initiatives in the field of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) within the General Medicines team. This role is pivotal in shaping the national healthcare landscape by fostering meaningful partnerships, advancing public policy, and enhancing health literacy to improve early screening, timely diagnosis, and support systems for patients, families, and caregivers navigating T1D. The ideal candidate will play a key role in strengthening Sanofi’s reputation as a trusted leader in equitable healthcare access and optimized patient pathways for chronic and specialty conditions.

Key Responsibilities

The Public Affairs Lead will be responsible for developing and executing comprehensive public affairs strategies that align with Sanofi’s mission to improve patient outcomes. Core responsibilities include:

• Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy: Build and nurture trust-based relationships with T1D patient associations, parent and caregiver groups, juvenile diabetes foundations, and healthcare professionals to advance patient advocacy and support initiatives.
• Awareness & Education Programs: Co-design and lead national and community initiatives that raise awareness of early T1D symptoms, screening options, and autoantibody testing pathways, ensuring timely diagnosis and intervention.
• Patient Insights & Needs Assessment: Collect and analyze patient insights to identify unmet needs related to diagnosis delays, psychological burden, school integration, and daily disease management challenges, informing strategic priorities.
• Policy & Regulatory Advocacy: Collaborate with health authorities, pediatric associations, endocrinology societies, and policymakers to advocate for the recognition of T1D screening as a public health priority, influencing national policies and guidelines.
• Cross-Sector Partnerships: Establish and lead collaborations with pediatric hospitals, school-health programs, public-health foundations, digital-health partners, and research consortia to drive integrated solutions for T1D management.
• Health Literacy & Campaign Leadership: Develop and execute joint initiatives with NGOs and scientific societies to enhance T1D health literacy, symptom recognition, and referral pathways, ensuring alignment with Sanofi’s ethical governance standards.
• Strategic Alignment & Compliance: Ensure patient insights and early-detection perspectives are integrated into General Medicines’ strategic planning, public-affairs priorities, and corporate reputation efforts while maintaining compliance with Sanofi’s patient-engagement and ethical standards.

About Sanofi

Sanofi is a global biopharmaceutical company driven by innovation, research, and a commitment to improving lives. As an R&D-powered, AI-enabled organization, we harness the power of science to develop life-changing medicines and vaccines that address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges. Our deep expertise in immunology and a robust pipeline enable us to deliver transformative therapies that treat and protect millions worldwide. Together, we strive to turn scientific breakthroughs into tangible improvements in patient care and public health.

Qualifications & Competencies

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• Experience: 5–7 years in Public Affairs, Patient Advocacy, or chronic disease NGO environments, with a focus on Type 1 Diabetes, endocrinology, pediatric health, or autoimmune conditions.
• Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the T1D pathway, including screening, autoantibody testing, diagnosis, psychological impact, school integration, and chronic management.
• Partnership Management: Proven experience in managing relationships with health authorities, scientific societies, and community-health organizations within healthcare or advocacy contexts.
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in both English and Arabic to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.
• Core Competencies: Expertise in Patient Advocacy, Healthcare Policies, Launch Strategy, Innovation, and Strategic Insights. Strong capabilities in Partnership Development, Crisis Management, and Public Awareness Campaigns.
• Business Acumen: Exceptional communication skills, stakeholder relationship management, and strategic thinking to drive impactful outcomes.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Communications, Public Policy, Life Sciences, or a related field; advanced degrees are a plus.
• Passion & Commitment: A demonstrated passion for patient advocacy and a track record of improving outcomes for individuals with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes.

Work Environment & Travel

This position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a hybrid work model and moderate travel requirements to engage with stakeholders, attend conferences, and participate in national initiatives.

If you are a proactive leader with a passion for driving meaningful change in healthcare advocacy, we invite you to join our team and contribute to transforming patient outcomes for T1D and beyond.