Associate Director, Policy and Access

Syneos Health, Inc.; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Syneos Health, Inc. seeks an experienced Associate Director to shape and scale its Policy & Access practice within PR & External Affairs across Europe.

You will provide strategic counsel on healthcare policy, market access and health system challenges, and lead programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. You will drive growth, contribute to practice development, coach colleagues, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver integrated client solutions.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in health policy, market access, healthcare systems, public affairs or related field.
• Experience leading client programs and providing strategic counsel to pharmaceutical, biotechnology or healthcare organizations.
• Strong consultancy, leadership and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and open to AI-enabled tools to enhance thinking and client solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic policy and access programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
• Provide high-quality strategic counsel on healthcare policy, market access and health system challenges.
• Identify and lead organic growth and new business development initiatives.
• Contribute to the continued development and growth of the Policy & Access practice.
• Collaborate across PR & External Affairs, Medical Communications, Commercial and other Syneos units to deliver integrated client solutions.
• Coach, mentor and develop team members to raise capability and performance.
• Monitor emerging healthcare policy and access trends and translate them into actionable insights.
• Contribute to thought leadership, capability development and innovation across the practice.

Skills

Policy & Access leadership

Healthcare policy expertise

Strategic counsel

Business development

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Associate Director to help shape and scale our growing Policy & Access practice within PR & External Affairs. This role is an opportunity to help strengthen and expand a Europe-based practice that supports clients navigating complex policy, access and healthcare system challenges. The successful candidate will work closely with colleagues across the Syneos network to develop integrated solutions that bring together policy, access, communications, advocacy and stakeholder engagement expertise. The successful candidate will bring expertise in health policy, market access or healthcare systems, combined with strong consultancy, leadership and relationship-building skills. They will provide strategic counsel to clients, play a leading role in business growth and practice development, as well as strengthening the role of policy and access expertise across the wider PR & External Affairs business. We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, working collaboratively with colleagues and clients, and identifying opportunities to create greater impact. This role will suit an individual who combines intellectual curiosity with commercial awareness and who is excited by the opportunity to help build a growing practice and develop the next generation of consultants. As a member of the leadership team, this individual will contribute to client growth, team development, thought leadership and operational excellence, while helping to strengthen Syneos Health's position as a trusted partner to clients navigating an increasingly complex healthcare environment.

• Lead strategic policy and access programs for pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients.
• Provide high-quality strategic counsel on healthcare policy, market access and health system challenges.
• Identifying and leading on both organic growth and new business development.
• Contribute to the continued development and growth of the Policy & Access practice.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across PR & EA, Medical Communications, Commercial, Clinical and other Syneos business units to develop integrated client solutions.
• Support the development of team members through coaching, mentoring and leadership.
• Monitor emerging healthcare policy and access trends and translate them into actionable client insights.
• Contribute to thought leadership, capability development and innovation across the practice.

How Success Will Be Defined

• Deliver high-quality strategic counsel and programs that help clients achieve their objectives.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and become a valued advisor.

Practice Growth

• Contribute to revenue growth through organic expansion and new business opportunities.
• Support the development of new capabilities, services and thought leadership.
• Help strengthen and expand the Policy & Access practice within PR & External Affairs.

Collaboration

• Build strong relationships across the Syneos network and contribute to integrated client solutions.
• Actively support collaboration across European and international teams.

Leadership

• Develop and support team members to achieve their potential.
• Contribute positively to the culture, reputation and long‑term success of the practice.

Personal Development

• Continue to build expertise, networks and leadership capabilities.
• Develop a personal profile aligned to the growth ambitions of the practice and broader business. Has significant experience in health policy, market access, healthcare systems, public affairs or a related field.
• Has experience leading client programs and providing strategic counsel to pharmaceutical, biotechnology or healthcare organizations.
• Is intellectually curious and enjoys tackling complex healthcare challenges.
• Is comfortable operating in ambiguity and helping clients navigate uncertainty.
• Can build trusted relationships with clients, colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Has experience leading, mentoring and developing teams.
• Demonstrates a proactive, growth‑oriented mindset and the ability to identify opportunities beyond the immediate brief.
• Brings strong communication, research, analytical and consultancy skills.
• Enjoys working collaboratively across disciplines, functions and geographies.
• Demonstrates an openness to emerging technologies, inc. the application of AI‑enabled tools to enhance strategic thinking, client solutions and ways of working.

Experience in the following areas would be advantageous

• Health policy, health systems and access environments in one or more of Europe, LATAM and APAC regions.

At Syneos Health, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace.

At Syneos Health Public Relations, the possibilities are infinite.

Because of our "no walls, no limits" philosophy and entrepreneurial spirit, our employees have the opportunity and potential to work on projects beyond their years of experience. The only limitations here are those that are self‑imposed, and we make sure to reward staff based on talent, not title.

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