Director, CHAT/CEE Corporate Affairs

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

The Director, CHAT/CEE Corporate Affairs is responsible for setting and executing the communications and advocacy strategies across the CHAT/CEE Sub-Region (Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republik).

This includes external communications (brand and corporate reputation and policy comms), media relations, patient advocacy, issues management, digital communications, science communications, site communications, as well as internal communication.

He/She is a seasoned Corporate Affairs leader with strong strategic, digital, and creative ability to drive integrated communications initiatives across multiple markets. The Director reports to the Head of Europe/Germany, works closely with the sub-region General Manager, global teams and cross-functional leadership teams, serving as a key member of the sub-region`s leadership team.

Develop and deliver the Corporate Affairs Strategy for the Sub-Region (End‑to‑End, including Science & Drug Development, GPS and Commercial communication)

• Design, oversee, implement and continuously evolve an integrated, end‑to‑end Corporate Affairs strategy for the sub-region, aligned with global priorities and local business objectives.
• Ensure seamless connection between strategy, narrative development, channel selection and execution across all Corporate Affairs disciplines.

• Provide strategic direction and guidance on prioritization to deliver for sub-region and advise on proposed tactics. Represent the CHAT/CEE sub-region above market and report on activity and metrics. Help develop the team and enable their capabilities.

• Work in close collaboration with sub-region GM and Business Units to design and execute robust, integrated communications strategies that support BMS's vision of transforming patients' lives through science.
• Set overarching CA strategic objectives for the sub-region, laddering up from regional and global commercial strategy and priorities.
• Proactively drive initiatives that build a strong BMS reputation, aligned with global and regional objectives, and support policy and access work through communication to shape the external environment.
• Co-create and set annual priority, pan-market "must-win" communications activities aligned to the sub-region`s pillars of responsibility.
• Directly manage and prepare for issues impacting our reputation.
• Establish and manage annual budget cost-effectively including partnerships with suppliers and vendors.

Strategic counsel to the Sub-region markets:

• Be an active member of the CHAT/CEE leadership and network and contribute thinking to the overall direction of the company demonstrating industry, scientific, commercial and product acumen. 
• Be a trusted leader in handling confidential and sensitive industry issues, sensitive data and organizational change etc.
• Equip CA colleagues with regional tools: narrative messaging / media training

Team & Functional Leadership

• Support, coach, and develop Corporate Affairs colleagues across the sub-region, building community, shared purpose, and a high-performance culture.
• Ensure alignment of country-level initiatives with broader sub-region, regional and global CA strategies and priorities.
• Work closely with Commercial, Drug Development, GPS, Medical, Policy, Market Access, HR, Legal and Global Corporate Affairs to ensure integrated planning and execution.
• Establish and maintain a consistent metrics framework to demonstrate the value of CA work to commercial business partners and above-market stakeholders.
• Represent the sub-region`s CA priorities with International, and WW CA colleagues, advocating for sub-region and market needs and mobilizing support.

External Communications, Media & Reputation

• Oversee external communications strategy and execution, including media relations, thought leadership, corporate storytelling and reputation management.
• Anticipate and manage stakeholder reactions to corporate, regulatory, policy and data milestones.
• Lead issues and crisis preparedness and response, ensuring clear roles, messaging and decision‑making.
• Position BMS as a credible, trusted and responsible partner within the healthcare ecosystem of the market.

Scientific and Brand Communications incl. Clinical Trial Recruitment Comms

• Provide Corporate Affairs leadership for pipeline assets, priority products and launches, ensuring integrated communications across corporate, brand and disease awareness narratives.
• Ensure alignment between product‑related communications and overarching corporate reputation goals.

Patient Advocacy Engagement

• Shape and execute policy‑ and advocacy‑related communications, in close partnership with Government Affairs, Market Access and Medical Affairs.
• Support engagement with patient organizations and industry bodies, ensuring consistent narratives and compliant execution.

Employee Engagement

• Advise on a strategic internal employee communications plan for the CHAT/CEE GM.

Education, Qualifications & Skills:

• Master`s degree in Communications, Business, Sciences, or a related discipline.
• 15+ years of Corporate Affairs, brand, commercial, or corporate communications, preferably in the pharmaceutical/biopharma industry.

• Demonstrated business acumen and experience in the life sciences, biotech or pharmaceutical industries.

• Ability to effectively counsel senior leaders.

• Excellent matrix management

• Exceptional collaborative and teaming skills; Ability to interact effectively with colleagues and counterparts at all levels of the company, both within the Corporate Affairs team and across the larger matrix.

• Substantial experience managing and coaching culturally diverse, virtual, or hybrid teams.

• Discretion when handling sensitive matters

• Advanced written, verbal, editing, and interpersonal skills, including hands-on experience developing business leader communications and materials.

• Strong consultative and creativity skills; keen attention to detail.

• Ability to pivot and excel in a fast-paced, challenging environment.

• Self-directed with proven track record meeting tight deadlines and balancing multiple initiatives with competing priorities.

• Commitment to a highly-ethical organization – demonstrate the BMS values

• Proactivity & high level of personal accountability
• Proficiency with digital communications and effective use of social media platforms.
• Fluency in English and German; proficiency in an additional relevant cluster language, preferred.
• Travel required as needed.

We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials – if this role excites you, but doesn’t perfectly match your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway.

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways-of-working.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [email protected]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

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BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

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