Sr. Specialist Policy & External Affairs

Job Description

Ready to shape healthcare beyond the traditional boundaries? Join and help influence policies and partnerships that improve patient access and truly make an impact.

Purpose of the Position

In this role, you will help shape the healthcare environment in Bulgaria by building strong external partnerships and influencing policy to enable patient access to innovative solutions. You will play a key role in driving our vaccination agenda, especially HPV and contributing to future launches by preparing the ecosystem for change.

Welcome to Our Team

You will join an innovative, high-performing team that works at the intersection of internal communications, external communications, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), and external affairs. Together, the team plays an important role in how the organisation engages with employees, stakeholders, and society. We bring together diverse backgrounds and perspectives and work closely across functions while maintaining a strong sense of autonomy and ownership.

We are a social, supportive, and energetic team that enjoys working hard and celebrating success together. Everyone is encouraged to bring fresh ideas, challenge the status quo, and help shape the future of healthcare.

Main Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, government bodies, and regulatory authorities

• Drive public affairs and policy initiatives to support patient access, with a strong focus on vaccines (e.g., HPV)

• Develop and manage stakeholder engagement strategies to strengthen our position in the healthcare ecosystem

• Represent our organisation in interactions with external stakeholders, industry associations, and public forums

• Contribute to shaping healthcare policy and the external environment in collaboration with internal and external partners

• Support the development and implementation of policy-related strategies aligned with business priorities

• Identify opportunities to influence healthcare policies and improve access to innovative solutions

• Collaborate with regional and European colleagues on policy topics and external affairs initiatives

Your Profile

• A Bachelor’s degree is the minimum preferred educational background

• Experience in public affairs, policy, healthcare, government, or relevant external-facing roles

• Strong stakeholder network or ability to build relationships with policymakers and decision-makers

• Interest in healthcare systems, access, and policy shaping

• Strong communication and influencing skills, including in an international context

• A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively within a team

• Proactive, curious, and open to new ideas and perspectives

• Comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving environment

• Fluency in English and Bulgarian

What We Offer 

• We offer a competitive remuneration package

• A role within a globally recognized healthcare leader. 

• The opportunity to directly impact patient outcomes in a high-growth therapeutic area. 

• A collaborative, cross-functional team culture that values diverse perspectives and bold ideas. 

• A company culture rooted in ethics, integrity, and a genuine commitment to patients. 

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

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