Associate Director Communications & Patient Engagement - SSA

Merck Gruppe - MSD Sharp & Dohme; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the pharmaceutical sector is seeking a Corporate Communications professional to drive external affairs and enhance stakeholder engagement across sub-Saharan Africa. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a proven track record in public relations, and the ability to navigate complex issues with innovative solutions. This role offers an opportunity to impact health systems and patient access through strategic messaging and collaboration.

Benefits

Flexible Work Arrangements

Employee Engagement Initiatives

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of related experience in corporate communications or public relations.
• Fluency in English; French is advantageous.
• Experience in a highly regulated industry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement external communications strategies.
• Manage media engagement and corporate responsibility initiatives.
• Coordinate communications materials for brand and reputation management.

Skills

Communication

Networking

Crisis Management

Analytical Skills

Presentation Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism or communications

Bachelor’s degree in business or marketing

Tools

Digital and Social Media

Content Creation Tools

Job description

Job Description

The External Affairs team is responsible for driving our company's environmental shaping efforts to promote health systems strengthening and improved patient access to innovative medicines and vaccines across sub-Saharan Africa. In keeping with our purpose to use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives, the ideal candidate should be passionate about innovation, and the role it can play in unlocking health outcomes, at both national and individual patient levels. Furthermore, they should exhibit a demonstrated track-record in tackling complex issues with innovative and creative solutions in the areas of social impact and external communications. Finally, we believe that what we do is important but how we do it also matters. As such, the ideal candidate must be committed to the highest levels of integrity, demonstrate a high level of self-awareness and mastery, and know how to play well in a team and matrix environment.

Major Responsibilities:

• Developing a corporate narrative which captures our company's value proposition in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Developing and implementing an external communications strategy and plans with a strong emphasis on use of traditional, digital and social media to position our company in the minds of key stakeholders.
• Developing and implementing external communications strategies to support environmental shaping priorities at the organisation-wide and brand level in support of commercial objectives.
• Ensuring executive readiness for media engagement
• Drive our company's Corporate Responsibility and Patient Engagement Initiatives across SSA.
• Crisis and Issues Management to protect our company's reputation.
• Proactively monitor media reports for information that may be commercially or business relevant, that may materially impact the markets in which our company operates in SSA and / or which may present risks to current or planned commercial strategies and co-ordinate responses thereto.
• Developing and implementing an internal communications strategy supportive of Human Resource and the Managing Director’s employee engagement approach, including leadership visibility.
• Working with media, PR and event vendors and strategic partners across sub-Saharan Africa as required.
• Leading our company's participation in identified working groups within relevant industry associations (e.g. IPASA)

Key Competencies & requirements:

• Be proficient at identifying and responding to reputation and brand opportunities in both the traditional media and social media spaces.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with advanced business presentation skills.
• Strong networking skills including strong relationships with the media and other key stakeholders.
• Design and deliver media events in support of commercial and organizational objectives.
• The incumbent is responsible for coordinating and managing the development and production of communications materials for all brand, company reputation and corporate social responsibility initiatives both in South Africa and in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.

Functional competencies

• Be able to build internal and external networks to facilitate message delivery, communicate effectively with all types of audiences, exhibit flexibility based on the immediate situation, and the courage to stand in the line of fire when the message is not a popular one.
• Ability to advise, coach and work well with senior leaders of the organisation.
• Ability to work in a highly regulated industry. Previous pharmaceutical sector experience would be advantageous.
• Highly ethical and professional approach to business and communications.
• Excellent speaking skills and a strong ability to write, edit and do research to develop media releases and business presentation. Ideal candidate must be a hands-on people’s person who is strong at negotiation, well presented, with excellent problem solving and conflict resolution skills and sound judgement
• Proficient in the development and execution of digital and social media strategies

Skills

• Excellent communication skills and must be fluent in English (verbal and written).
• Fluency in French would be advantageous
• Proficiency in scientific communications would be advantageous
• Attention to detail and an eye for quality, along with the ability to grasp and translate technical information.
• Strong organising and prioritising skills are critical.
• Advanced Computer literacy in Word, PowerPoint and relevant design software.
• Exceptional analytical and presentation skills
• Ability to operate in a global matrix environment
• Ability to influence without authority
• Disciplined self-starter; process-driven with highest ethical standards

Education

• Educational requirements include a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism or communications. A bachelor’s degree in business or marketing will also be considered.

Experience

• Minimum of five years of related experience in corporate communications or public relations.

Special requirements

• Code 8 Drivers license;
• Flexibility to travel;

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together.The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
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.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Advertising Communications, Communication Strategy Development, Content Creation, Employee Engagement Strategies, Public Relations (PR), Social Media, Social Responsibility, Special Event Planning, Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

06/2/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFOREthe listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:R350357