Oncology Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs Leader

Johnson & Johnson; High Wycombe; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare company is seeking an EMEA Oncology Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs Leader. The successful candidate will drive visibility and reputation for oncology products across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This role encompasses strategic communications and advocacy, requiring over ten years of experience in healthcare communications and proven leadership skills. The ideal candidate must excel in building relationships with stakeholders and managing complex communications strategies.

Benefits

Travel opportunities across EMEA

Competitive benefits

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in product and portfolio communications within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven success in launching innovative medicines including media relations and crisis management.
• Experience in leading, mentoring, and developing direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead EMEA Oncology Portfolio Communications and Public Affairs strategies.
• Manage media, social media, and congress communications across EMEA.
• Coordinate crisis communications and issue management.

Skills

Strong leadership and strategic thinking abilities

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

In-depth understanding of media and digital platforms

Fluency in English

Ability to thrive in a complex environment

Education

University degree in Sciences, Medical or Communications

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

At Johnson & Johnson we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated and cured—a world where treatments are smarter, less invasive, and solutions are our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Essentially we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow and profoundly impact health for more people.

Job Function :

Communications & Corporate / External Affairs

Job Sub Function :

External Communications

Job Category : People Leader

All Job Posting Locations :

Bandung Jawa Barat Indonesia, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire United Kingdom, Imperia Italy, Issy-les-Moulineaux France, Madrid Spain, Vienna Austria, Warsaw Masovian Poland, Woerden Utrecht Netherlands

Job Description :

EMEA Oncology Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs Leader

Contract : Full Time

Location : EMEA

Overall purpose of the role :

As the EMEA Oncology Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs Leader at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (IM) you will be responsible for advancing, protecting and enhancing the company’s portfolio visibility and reputation, and strengthening patient advocacy in Oncology Solid Tumours and Precision Medicine across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

In this position you will shape the strategy and positioning of the Oncology business across EMEA in close collaboration with functions including Commercial Strategy, Regulatory, Market Access, Medical Affairs, Marketing as well as Communications & Public Affairs (CPA) and Patient Engagement & Advocacy (PEA) teams at local, regional and global levels.

You will manage and oversee end‑to‑end pipeline and product CPA and patient advocacy activities—including media, social media, congress communications, thought leadership, internal communications activities and product issues management—across EMEA markets, while leading regional patient advocacy and engagement initiatives. You will elevate external alliances and strengthen the public affairs lens by creating and deploying strategic third‑party advocacy with payers, policymakers and patient groups to accelerate access to key pipeline assets.

You will report to the EMEA Access Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs (APCPA) Leader.

Key Responsibilities and impact :

• Lead Oncology Solid Tumours Portfolio CPA in EMEA: Design and execute EMEA‑specific, insights‑driven CPA strategies in support of J&J’s Oncology Solid Tumours Therapeutic Area (TA) priorities, market needs spanning in‑market and pipeline products and indications, including lung, bladder, prostate, colorectal and head & neck cancers. Develop/adapt and implement J&J’s Oncology TA and Precision Medicine positioning narrative and messaging in EMEA. Lead pre‑launch, launch and post‑launch in‑market communications, data and regulatory milestones communications and public affairs through integrated, multichannel plans (media, social/digital, congress, etc.). Represent EMEA Operating Companies’ voice in J&J Global Oncology forums and strategic planning processes to ensure feedback and alignment.

• Lead Oncology Solid Tumours Portfolio Patient Advocacy & Public Affairs in EMEA: In collaboration with the EMEA Patient Engagement & Advocacy (PE&A) team, serve as single point of contact (SPOC) for regional patient advocacy groups in oncology solid tumour indications, leading and shaping short‑to‑long‑term support and partnership activities. Develop disease‑specific strategies to enhance access across key therapeutic areas, collaborating with PEA, Public Affairs and Government Affairs & Policy teams. Lead co‑created advocacy activities such as disease awareness campaigns, patient and caregiver educational initiatives, etc. Drive external alliance building and third‑party advocacy to secure faster patient access to key pipeline assets. Continuously identify and recruit payer, policymaker and patient advocacy partners; code‑design advocacy asks and multichannel campaigns; orchestrate stakeholder engagement and external communications; and translate stakeholder intelligence into targeted policy and reimbursement interventions.

• Oversee Oncology Solid Tumours and Precision Medicine Business & Leadership Communications: Oversee Thought Leadership activities to position J&J as a pharma leader in Oncology and Precision Medicine in alignment with the EMEA Business & Leadership Communications team and respective Oncology and Precision Medicine leaders.

• Oversee internal strategic communications to support critical business priorities, including major product regulatory milestones, HTA and clinical trial developments.

• Co‑lead EMEA execution of joint flagship campaigns in Oncology & Haematology: Partner with the Haematology CPA Lead to develop and execute comprehensive Oncology‑wide communication strategies (e.g. “In Front of Cancer” campaign) that resonate with the EMEA region while aligning with global campaign objectives. Identify and leverage storytelling opportunities that showcase our commitment to cancer care and treatment innovations, elevating our brand’s presence within the oncology community.

• Lead creation of compelling content across channels: Produce social media posts, press releases, internal communications ensuring messages are impactful and aligned with our campaign goals.

• Develop Oncology PCPA and PEA community in EMEA: Shape and co‑lead the EMEA Oncology Portfolio Communications & Public Affairs (PCPA) community to promote strategy consistency and effectiveness across markets and ensure markets’ needs are considered throughout.

• Lead research and insights: Generate and leverage key insights from audience research to continuously refine and improve impact of PCPA and PEA strategies. Monitor and analyze industry, reputational trends and competitive benchmarks to drive competitiveness. Implement and track standardized metrics (KPIs) aligned with global CPA and EMEA CPA measurement framework.

• Lead issues communications and crisis management: Provide strategic counsel and lead coordination of local or regional product‑related issues and crisis communications, ensuring timely responses to reputation risks in collaboration with EMEA reputation lead and global/local teams.

• Leadership responsibilities: Lead, coach and develop the EMEA Oncology solid tumours CPA/PEA team, manage direct reports, and facilitate cross‑functional collaboration within matrixed organizations. Serve as rotating co‑lead of the EMEA Oncology PCPA community (25‑30 people). Represent the CPA and PEA functions within key internal business groups and committees.

Key Requirements: Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in product and portfolio communications, public affairs, patient engagement, or a similar role within the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry.
• Proven success in launching innovative medicines in EMEA, including media relations, digital strategy, congresses and crisis management at a senior level.
• Experience in early market shaping is desirable.
• Strong leadership and excellent interpersonal skills capable of operating at senior level with high strategic thinking, creating and maintaining relationships with a variety of stakeholders and mobilizing teams around ambitious and innovative projects.
• Experience in leading, mentoring and developing direct reports preferred with expertise in managing cross‑functional collaboration within matrixed organizations.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking abilities with experience building relationships with senior stakeholders across multiple markets.
• Experience and/or interest in leading transformation and agile ways of working.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• In‑depth understanding of media, digital, social media and AI platforms.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑evolving, complex environment balancing multiple priorities while aligning with business goals.
• University degree in Sciences, Medical or Communications, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills in EMEA are a plus.

Additional Information : This role requires travel across the EMEA region as needed.

Employment Type : Full‑Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1