Regional Director, Government Affairs

The incumbent must be able to act independently and demonstrate sound business judgment within the scope of their assigned project and activities. Travel will be required to the countries of responsibility.

The incumbent is part of the Global Government Affairs, Asia Pacific Team, interacts within the Asia Pacific region. This position reports to Divisional Vice President Government Affairs, Asia Pacific.

Primary Function

• To protect and advance Abbott's interests and its business units through active engagement of government stakeholders, and by representing Abbott's interests through relevant allies.
• To cover Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Thailand, if candidate is suitable)
  
  

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Bring strengths in advocacy, business knowledge, judgement, and process management to successfully lead Government Affairs efforts for Abbott.
• Develop superior political, policy and influencer networks for Abbott by coordinating the building of strong GA, GM, Functional, Staff and External Advisor networks to cover key targets. Ensure that Abbott team has skills needed to build and maintain effective networks.
• Build the reputation of Abbott GA as the preferred, go-to trusted partner, honest brokers who drive for constructive solutions.
• Establish and maintain relationships with specifically assigned key members of Legislature, Ministries, Civil Service and Executive Office with great importance to Abbott's goals and objectives. This involves identifying key targets, prioritizing resources, networking with their office staffs and developing outreach and grassroots programs.
• Stay apprised of business goals and strategies in order to assess impact to Abbott from regional, local, state/provincial legislative, executive, and regulatory activities. Consult with appropriate business and corporate personnel in making such determinations, providing recommendations for formulation of action plans.
• Identify health care, economic and other policy developments in Government that could impact Abbott's business and operation. Proactively identify opportunities for Abbott to pursue favorable government policies and effectively defend Abbott against government policies that could harm shareholder interests. Drive efforts of GA team to positively address these policies.
• Review and analyze legislative and executive branch activities in consultation with appropriate business and corporate personnel to assess the level of impact to the company.
• Develop proactive policy and strategic plans to influence legislation and agency actions for both macro and business/product specific initiatives. Develop successful positioning the right content (data), emotional understanding and political sensitivity.
• Develop and successfully implement action plans by working with relevant business and corporate personnel and when appropriate, with outside allies, coalitions and trade associations.
• Increase the management and business unit understanding of, and participation in the policy-making and political process on behalf of Abbott. This involves collaboration with the business units for input on critical issues and involving appropriate executives to advance Abbott's positions with policymakers.
• Deliver strong messaging in support of Abbott positions - combining the right substance, with a credible, trusted approach. Work collaboratively across all support functions to ensure message consistency and delivery to key targets via appropriate channels.
• Participate in Asia Pacific country and regional government affairs strategies and meetings as assigned.
• Is a member of Country BAC, for each country of responsibility.
  
  

PROBLEM-SOLVING

Problem solving and integrity are key competencies of this position. Requires strong analytical skills to dissect complex range of public issues and assess impact to Abbott. Incumbent must be able to apply sound judgment to the analysis and resolutions of various problems inherent in managing programs linked with key customers and governments along with the various cross-divisional business units. A high degree of interpersonal skills is required to work across all of the internal and external individuals and groups. Strong writing skills.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Position has significant impact of Abbott business operations. Incumbent needs to appropriately anticipate, identify, coordinate and successfully execute a cross-divisional / customer-based / government-linked strategic program(s).

Education

• Bachelor's degree required, a Master's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Health, or MBA is preferable.
  
  

Experience

• 15 years' minimum in positions of increasing responsibility and experience in government affairs or public policy in best-in-class health care/consumer products industry is strongly desired.
• Proven extensive contact network, involvement and success in influencing the development of government policies/legislation and strong knowledge of the process.
• Exceptional level of influencing and managing relationships within and outside of organization to develop, implement, and coordinate strategic direction, action plans and tactics.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, adept at managing a complex array of projects, personalities and resulting issues.
• Experience in matrix and project management. Team player who can effectively work across the internal and external organizations.
• Must be fluent in English (oral/written).