Director Market Access & Government Affairs

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader in patient-focused medical innovations for structural heart disease. Driven by a passion to help patients, the company collaborates with the world's leading clinicians and researchers to address unmet healthcare needs, working to improve patient outcomes and enhance lives.

The role is intended to elevate Edwards leadership in Public Affairs both externally and internally, broaden external engagement and develop partnerships, at national and Provincial levels. The role will lead the implementation in Canada of Market Access and Government Affairs programs to secure timely patient access and appropriate funding to the innovative technologies that Edwards brings to healthcare systems.
Through dialogues and interactions with institutions, decision-makers, payers, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agencies and medical societies, the Market Access & Government Affairs role engages with key stakeholders in Canada to define the best access pathways within the health care system to benefit patients, building an innovation-friendly environment with high ethical standards and in partnership with Authorities.
The role will implement Market Access & Government Affairs programs in alignment with the Business Units imperatives and Public Affairs EMEACLA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Canada, Latin-America) strategy to secure patients’ access to Edwards Lifesciences technologies.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Comprehensive understanding of the external access policy and decision-making environment which influence current and future access and funding landscape,

• Lead the identification, prioritization and management of market access and governmental strategic issues that matter to the business, in close collaboration and alignment with the Country Leadership Team,

• Establish, maintain and strengthen a network of contacts with policymakers, government officials and agencies, as well as payers, HTA bodies, patient groups and medical societies in Canada, both at Federal and Provincial levels,

• Define and implement Public Affairs strategy cross-business-unit aiming at the prioritization of patient access to Structural Heart Disease innovations,

• Work in close cooperation with Business Units in delivering Edwards differentiated value proposition with the engagement and the interaction with relevant clinical and non-clinical stakeholders,

• Design and execute Public Affairs actions aimed to elevate role and recognition of Edwards in the healthcare decision making arena,

• Formulate and deliver the optimal access strategy for each of Edwards Lifesciences current and pipeline technologies mainly in the structural heart,

• Coordinating the implementation of the Public Affairs access plans with the Canadian and Regional EMEACLA teams and resources,

• Engaging with authorities at Federal and Provincial levels to ensure successful implementation of market access strategies to ultimately allow for funding and access of Edwards innovations.

• Developing innovative access strategies, differentiated value tools and perform economic evaluations of new technologies,

• Performing constant monitoring about the changes in the funding and policy environment impacting Edwards Lifesciences current and future portfolio. Understand and anticipate trends in the external environment, assess their impact and the opportunities for the company, and navigate these complex realities to support business growth.

• Help craft policy on value-based procurement to ensure reward of Edwards breakthrough innovation.

• Ensure Edwards’s leadership and optimal representation in the industry organizations. Lead and manage a team of Market Access and Government Affairs professionals.

Critical for the role is the ability to engage with Edwards Canada Leadership Team to develop strategies and execute in order to make an impact to patient access to Edwards innovation.

He/She will be a member of the Edwards Canada Leadership Team, and of the EMEACLA Public Affairs Community.

What you’ll need:

• Bachelors degree with a postgraduate qualification, preferably a Master’s degree, in Political Science, Lifesciences, Law, Economics, or Business,

• Working knowledge of healthcare systems and policies in Canada,

• Knowledge and experience of health, economic and social issues and trends in Canada,

• Knowledge and experience in health economics and/or health outcomes,

• Strong network among government officials, policy makers, patient organizations, payers and an understanding of how things get done.

• Strong Business Acumen,

• To-do attitude and sense of urgency,

• Ability to craft and drive key messages support Edwards’s strategy.

• Ability to communicate, cooperate and align on priorities with business units and different functions and teams inside Edwards,

• Ability to relate and network with key stakeholders inside and outside the company and recommend internal as well as external business solutions,

• Strong communication skills, oral and written. Aptitude to influence senior individuals,

• Leverage EMEACLA resources in support of the Canadian Public Affairs strategy,

• Recognized as an expert in Public Affairs, Government Affairs and Market Access,

• Ability to lead successful projects and teams in a local as well as international, fast-paced matrix environment.

• Fluency in English (written and oral)

Required Experience:

8 to 10 years’ + experience in market access, government affairs, advocacy and external engagement in the Medical Technology and/or pharmaceutical industry in Canada.