About the Role
The Director will lead and grow the Healthcare practice in Dubai, serving as a senior strategic adviser to private-sector healthcare clients across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC. This role combines government relations, healthcare policy, public affairs expertise, senior client leadership, team development, and business growth. The Director will support multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical-device, health insurer, and healthcare provider clients; facilitate engagement with public-sector stakeholders; shape integrated strategies; and strengthen senior client and government relationships.
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Responsibilities
- Build, maintain, and leverage senior relationships with health authorities and government stakeholders across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider GCC to support clients’ government relations and public affairs activities.
- Serve as lead relationship manager and senior advisor to a diverse healthcare client portfolio, including multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical-device, health insurer, and healthcare provider organizations.
- Advise clients on government relations, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
- Facilitate effective engagement and advocacy on behalf of private-sector healthcare clients while aligning with public-sector stakeholders’ health system objectives.
- Engage confidently with senior client staff and leadership, including leading client meetings.
- Build credibility with clients by offering knowledgeable observations, insights, and strategic thinking regarding public affairs activities, informed by prior experience and deep sector knowledge.
- Guide junior team members on health policy monitoring and analysis, global benchmarking, and the development of evidence-based policy advocacy strategies and stakeholder engagement plans.
- Oversee junior team members in producing high-quality, client-ready written deliverables, such as policy papers, stakeholder messaging toolkits, and advocacy communications, often under tight deadlines.
- Demonstrate success in organically growing client accounts and actively pursue new opportunities with prospects, including leading business development activities.
- Maintain a strong professional network with industry groups and associations.
- Actively engage in the development of team members; act as a leader and mentor.
- Lead and engage in annual business planning efforts.
Qualifications
- At least 10 years of experience in health; a combination of agency, in-house, and health insurance experience is preferred.
- Established senior relationships with health authorities and relevant government stakeholders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, supported by a strong network across the wider GCC (mandatory).
- Strong UAE, Saudi, and wider GCC experience, with a clear understanding of regional and local healthcare systems, policy environments, and stakeholder landscapes.
- Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, biotechnology, or another relevant scientific discipline.
- Advanced degree in public health, health sciences, pharmaceutical business, healthcare management, or another relevant scientific or business discipline.
- Experience in facilitating and moderating health policy discussions.
- Experience in healthcare policy analysis and translating implications to industry stakeholders.
- Strong experience in stakeholder engagement and management.
- Demonstrated public health expertise and the ability to translate scientific, clinical, and health-system considerations into clear strategic advice for healthcare business and policy audiences.
- Deep understanding of global and regional healthcare policy and pharmaceutical industry issues.
- Previous experience working within a pharmaceutical company is an advantage; experience advising multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical-device companies is strongly preferred.
- Exceptional presentation, writing, and analytical skills, including the ability to write strategically under tight deadlines.
- Highly detail-oriented, with strong project management skills and a deadline-driven approach.
- Experience managing a budget.
- Proven managerial experience, including leading teams, allocating work effectively, mentoring colleagues, and supporting their professional development.
- Arabic language capability is preferred.
