Director, Public Affairs

Overview    As Incyte Italy enters a new phase of growth, this role offers a unique opportunity to define and lead the Public Affairs function and its impact in the Italian healthcare ecosystem.
The Director, Public Affairs, Italy is responsible for shaping and delivering an integrated strategy across government affairs, communications and patient advocacy to support business priorities and long-term market shaping. This senior role requires a strategic and hands‑on leader who can navigate a complex external environment, build strong stakeholder relationships, and translate insights into impactful execution.
Reporting to the Italy General Manager with a dotted line to the Head of Public Affairs International, the role is a part of the leadership team, strengthening Incyte’s reputation and positioning with policy makers, media and patient communities.
Function Responsibilities    
1. Strategy & Leadership      Define and lead an integrated Public Affairs strategy (government affairs, communications, patient advocacy) aligned with Italy business priorities
Act as a strategic advisor to the General Manager and leadership team on external environment, positioning and reputation
Identify opportunities and risks in the healthcare, policy and societal landscape, translating them into actionable strategies
Lead market shaping initiatives to enable optimal access and positioning of Incyte’s portfolio
2. Government Affairs & Policy      Define and implement a government affairs strategy, including stakeholder mapping and engagement priorities
Build and maintain high‑level relationships with national and regional policy makers, institutions and trade associations
Monitor and anticipate policy, regulatory and legislative developments, providing strategic guidance to the business
Position Incyte as a credible and trusted partner in healthcare policy discussions
3. Communications & Reputation      Define and oversee corporate, brand and external communication strategy
Ensure consistent and impactful media engagement and visibility across general, trade and digital channels
Lead corporate positioning, narrative development and reputation management, including crisis communication readiness
Oversee development and approval of external communications materials
4. Patient Advocacy & Partnerships      Define and implement a patient advocacy strategy, embedding patient‑centricity across the organization
Build strategic partnerships with patient organizations to advance shared objectives
Ensure deep understanding of patient and advocacy landscape in Italy, identifying collaboration opportunities
Integrate patient insights into business strategy and decision‑making
5. Cross‑functional Leadership & Execution      Partner with Market Access, Medical, Commercial and Legal/Compliance to ensure aligned external engagement strategies
Lead cross‑functional initiatives and ensure effective execution of Public Affairs plans
Manage agencies and external partners to deliver high‑quality outcomes
Ensure compliance, ethics and transparency in all external interactions
6. External Representation & Influence      Represent Incyte at key external forums, industry associations and stakeholder engagements
Build and maintain a strong network of influencers across policy, media and patient communities
Enhance Incyte’s visibility, credibility and thought leadership in Italy
Requirements      BA/BS required. Advanced degree in science, health or business‑related field preferred
10+ years’ experience across public affairs, government affairs, communications and/or patient advocacy
Strong  network within Italian healthcare ecosystem   (policy makers, institutions, media, patient groups)
Proven experience in  strategy development and execution in complex environments
Demonstrated ability to  influence senior stakeholders internally and externally
Strong leadership presence with  entrepreneurial, self‑starting mindset
Experience in  market shaping and reputation building initiatives
Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills
Ability to operate effectively in a  matrix and international environment
Strong commitment to  ethics, compliance and integrity
Fluent Italian and English
Disclaimer    The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Management reserves the right to change or modify such duties as required.
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