Associate Director – Government Affairs, Sustainability & Patient Advocacy
Job Summary
Job Description
Job Description
Associate Director Government Affairs Sustainability & Patient Advocacy
Position Summary
The Associate Director Government Affairs Patient Advocacy & Sustainability will lead the development and execution of integrated strategies that strengthen the organizations reputation advance public health priorities and improve patient outcomes across India. This role requires a seasoned professional with strong government relations experience deep understanding of CSR laws public affairs patient advocacy ecosystems and demonstrated ability to work with statelevel health systems patient groups policymakers
The incumbent will collaborate closely with crossfunctional teamsincluding Market Access Medical Affairs Corporate Communications and Business Unitsto shape policy embed third party voice in decisionmaking and expand equitable access to innovative healthcare solutions.
Key Responsibilities
Government Affairs & Public Policy
Patient Advocacy & Engagement
State Government Engagements
CSR Strategy & Program Leadership
Develop and execute a comprehensive government affairs strategy aligned with business priorities and public health objectives.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with key ministries at both central and state levels including Health Pharmaceuticals Finance Commerce & Industry Science & Technology and others.
Represent the organization in industry associations policy forums and expert working groups to influence legislation and regulatory frameworks.
Partner with internal teams to analyse legislative and regulatory changes providing strategic recommendations and action plans.
Build coalitions with policymakers patient organizations public health groups and scientific societies to advance shared health objectives.
Foster strong and credible relationships to position the company as a trusted partner in the Indian healthcare ecosystem.
Bring the voice of patients into organizational decisionmaking by championing patientcantered policy development.
Map engage and strengthen relationships with patient organizations ensuring compliant and ethical collaborations aligned with therapeutic priorities.
Support patient groups in capability buildingincluding disease awareness health literacy advocacy skills and evidencebased policy engagement.
Facilitate participation of patient groups in consultations scientific meetings and advisory boards.
Build deep partnerships with priority state governments to advance statelevel health programs vaccination initiatives and disease elimination strategies.
Identify and address statespecific patient pathway barriers in collaboration with Market Access Medical Affairs and Business Units.
Track evolving state health priorities and develop tailored engagement plans to support adoption of innovative healthcare solutions.
Lead the design and implementation of CSR programs aligned with national priorities sustainability frameworks and the companys broader public health mission.
Ensure all CSR initiatives comply with Indias Companies Act Schedule VII CSR requirements and relevant regulatory guidelines.
Partner with NGOs public health organizations and community stakeholders to deploy highimpact CSR projects in areas such as health equity disease prevention health literacy and community capacity building.
Establish KPIs and impact measurement frameworks for CSR and sustainability initiatives ensuring transparent reporting in alignment with internal and statutory requirements.
Integrate CSR and sustainability efforts with Government Affairs Patient Advocacy and Market Access teams to ensure cohesive stakeholder engagement.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelors degree required.
PGDBM MBA Masters in Public Health Public Policy Health Administration Life Sciences or related fields preferred.
Experience
16 20 years of experience in Government Affairs Public Policy Patient Advocacy or Healthcare Public Affairs.
Proven track record of engaging with government bodies patient groups and public health organizations.
Experience navigating complex regulatory and multistakeholder environments.
Strong understanding of Indias policy ecosystem and statelevel health systems.
Experience with CSR sustainability or ESGlinked initiatives is desirable
Capabilities & Skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to influence across levels.
Strong strategic thinking with ability to translate policy insights into actionable plans.
Ability to manage sensitive issues and engage with diverse sometimes challenging stakeholders.
Strong analytical and problemsolving skills; experience with policy analysis and advocacy.
High credibility ethical judgment and commitment
Required Skills:
Adaptability Adaptability Communication Coordination Corporate Communications Strategy Corporate Sustainability Data Analysis Financial Research Health Literacy Health Outcomes Legislative Issues Market Access Medical Affairs Oncology Marketing Patient Advocacy Policy Analysis Policy Development Policy Interpretation Political Forums Public Health Public Health Policy Development Public Policies Regulatory Compliance Regulatory Frameworks Relationship Building Stakeholder Engagement 2 morePreferred Skills:
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Employee Status:
RegularRelocation:
VISA Sponsorship:
Travel Requirements:
Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not ApplicableShift:
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Hazardous Material(s):
Job Posting End Date:
05/11/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.
Required Experience:
Director
About Company
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, New Jersey, USA is known as “Merck” in the United States, Canada & Puerto Rico. We are known as “MSD” in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America & Asia Pacific. We are a global biopharmaceutical leader with a diverse portfolio of prescription medicine ... View more