Director Government Affairs Spain and Portugal

Company: Abbott Laboratories
Location: Pleasanton
Posted on: April 24, 2025

Job Description:

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.Abbott is currently looking to recruit aDirector Government Affairs Spain and Portugal (m/f/d)Based in MadridKey Responsibilities:

• Bring Strengths in Advocacy, Business Knowledge, Judgement, Stakeholder Management and Process Management to successfully lead Government Affairs efforts for Abbott, both at national and regional levels.
• Protect and advance Abbott's interests and its business units before Legislative Bodies, Government Agencies/Ministries, Policymakers, Diplomats, Politicians, Trade/Business Associations, Patient/Practitioner Groups, Consumer Groups, and other Allies and Influencers (Suppliers, Political Media, NGOs, SMEs, Think Tanks, Employees, etc.). This involves identifying key targets, prioritizing resources, networking with office staffs and developing outreach and grassroots programs.
• Develop superior political, policy and advocacy networks for Abbott by coordinating the building of strong Government Affairs, General Managers, Functional, Staff and External Advisor networks to cover key targets. Ensure that Abbott team has skills needed to build and maintain effective networks.
• Build the reputation of Abbott Government Affairs as the preferred, go-to trusted partner, honest brokers who drive for constructive solutions.
• Stay apprised of business goals and strategies and consult with appropriate business and corporate personnel in assessing the dynamics of the external political, legislative and regulatory environment, providing recommendations for formulation of action plans.
• Increase the management and business unit understanding of, and participation in the policy-making and political process on behalf of Abbott. This involves collaboration with the business units for input on critical challenges and opportunities and involving appropriate executives to advance Abbott's positions with policymakers.
• Identify health care, economic, regulatory, trade and other policy developments in Government correlated with Abbott's business and operation. Proactively identify opportunities for Abbott to pursue favorable national / regional government policies and effectively drive efforts of Government Affairs team to positively address these policies.
• Develop proactive policy and strategic plans at national &/or regional level to advocate for both macro and business/product specific initiatives. When appropriate, develop and successfully implement action plans by working beyond the relevant business and corporate personnel involving outside allies, coalitions, and trade associations, positioning the right content (data), emotional understanding and political sensitivity.
• Deliver strong messaging in support of Abbott positions - combining the right substance, with a credible, trusted approach. Work collaboratively with Public Affairs, Market Access and other functions as necessary to ensure message consistency and delivery to key targets via appropriate channels.
• Participate in or lead projects to maximize team effectiveness i.e. Events, Programs, Community engagement, Shared Value/CSR, Communications, Social Media, Public Speaking, etc.Key Deliverables:
  • Target: Deep understanding of target policymakers, allies and influencers.
  • Coverage: The best network (strong, ongoing, trusted relationships) to reach key players directly, via allies and other key influencers
  • Analysis: Clear understanding of Abbott's priorities within and across businesses and compelling data and messaging to convey positions
  • Offer: Delivery of Abbott's desired outcomes by successfully communicating and negotiating with those developing policies (policymakers, allies, influencers)Profile requirements:
    • Education: Bachelor's degree required, a Master's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Health, or MBA is preferable. Legal degree a plus.
    • Fifteen year's minimum experience in positions of increasing responsibility and experience in government affairs, public affairs or public policy, with direct exposure to national & regional government stakeholders, in best-in-class health care/consumer products industry is strongly desired. Alternatively, Food & Agriculture, digital, circular economy, capital equipment, would be appropriate industry experiences.
    • Proven extensive contact network with members of Health Care, Business, Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy community at national & regional level.
    • Involvement, and success in providing advocacy on the development of national / regional government policies or legislation and strong knowledge of the processes. Key experience in regions such as Madrid, Catalunya, Andalusia, Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia, would be a plus.
    • Exceptional level of building, maintaining and managing relationships within and outside of Abbott to develop, implement, and coordinate strategic direction, action plans and tactics including alliance with associations, policy teams, Think tank organizations/coalitions. Strength in training others to build, maintain, manage, and utilize strong networks.
    • Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to transversally lead superior team in delivering successful/favorable policy and advocacy results.
    • Experience with Health Care, Business national/ regional Legislative and Executive Branch regulatory and administrative processes/rules/systems.
    • Strong skill in understanding the intent of legislation or proposed policies/guidelines/regulations and the ability to assess the extent to which such legislation or regulations support or conflict with Abbott positions or interests.
    • Thorough knowledge of major health care systems and government programs In Spain and Portugal as well as the economic market mechanisms - tax, currency, trade-that will impact Abbott.
    • Ability to work across government arenas impacting Abbott-Payment (reimbursement/utilization), Process (country FDA, Patents, etc.), Protection (Medical errors/patient safety, Clinical Trials, etc.) and Product-specific issues.
    • Understanding of health care market mechanisms-insurance, hospital/ other institutional providers and professionals/clinicians, key player strategies (i.e., pharmacies, employers, consumers, etc.)
    • Strong analytical and communication skills, both written and oral to dissect complex range of public issues and assess impact to Abbott.
    • High degree of strategic thinking, decision-making, and tactical skills to develop broad strategy and policy, options, and recommendations to address issues expeditiously.
    • Proven ability to coordinate internally at Abbott and externally with trade/business/ally organizations, to promote Abbott's position with urgency and tight deadlines.
    • Excellent oral / written skills in English. Portuguese would be a plus.
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Keywords: Abbott Laboratories, Merced , Director Government Affairs Spain and Portugal, Executive , Pleasanton, California