Policy & Communications Lead, Turkiye
- Turkey - Istanbul
- Develop and manage strategic policy initiatives to support Pfizer's business in Turkiye.
- Develop and implement innovative policy strategic platforms to support Pfizer’s business, including but not limited to creation of broader industry coalitions and platforms to advance Pfizer’s objectives.
- Serve as thought partner to the Head of IPC EM and the Turkiye Country President in anticipating and assessing the impact of the external policy environment on business strategy.
- Develops and leads Policy, Comms and Patient Advocacy strategies across Turkiye to support key Pfizer and business unit priorities and serves as thought partner to commercial and cross-functional leaders and colleagues in managing patient advocacy and patient engagement opportunities.
- Executive support for Country President and local country level external communications programs, with the support of local IPC team, that drive business objectives and boost Pfizer’s reputation across Turkiye countries.
ROLE RESPONSIBILTIES
Strategic planning and implementation
- Proactively assesses trends, policies and identifies key opportunities and threats.
- Prepares informational materials for management, highlighting opportunities and potential threats and works in partnership with the Head of IPC EM to develop responsive strategies where such developments could impact business operations.
- Utilizes Pfizer corporate policy positions to develop targeted political strategies and action plans.
- Develops and implements a macro-level strategic policy plan that effectively shapes the environment to create a favorable operating environment for Pfizer.
- Leverages insights and knowledge to create a vision for the future and position Pfizer as a preferred partner.
- Prioritizes and drives both long-term and short-term opportunities.
- Works in partnership with the Head of IPC EM, Country President and local functional teams to develop innovative policy strategies that proactively shape the environment for launch of new assets.
- Adapt and implement TA-level policy strategies and tactics to support access to Pfizer products address the patient affordability challenge.
External Relations
- Participates in advocacy functions at trade and business associations at a local level, as required.
- Establishes, maintains and consistently leverages relationships with policy makers, think tanks, patient advocacy groups and other organizations to advance Pfizer’s strategic priorities and ensure Pfizer’s position is reflected in advocacy materials.
- Supports the development of briefing materials for external engagements.
- Appropriately and effectively tailors Pfizer International policy positions to local market dynamics.
- Maintains strict compliance with all applicable policies and laws, especially those related to interactions with government officials.
Patient Advocacy
- Develop and lead the implementation of country strategic, pro-active agenda with internal and external stakeholders
- Provide leadership and direction for all cross functional engagement with targeted key stakeholders, including current and future patients, and serve as a key relationship manager, leading and/or guiding relationships with patient and professional advocacy organizations as appropriate.
- Communicates on key topics such as IP, health reform, access to medicines, pricing, trade agreements, etc. through the development of briefing notes, position papers, talking points, as well as relevant correspondence, proposals and presentations.
- Provide strategic counsel and tactical communications support to the Country President, as well as country marketing teams and other functions in order to develop external communications country plans aligned with the business vision, mission and key priorities.
- Work collaboratively across functions in the business to manage proactive and reactive external communications.
- Partner with commercial teams in Saudi, ensuring alignment with global messaging and priorities and that local teams have the external communications support needed to execute on local business strategies.
- Provide strategic communications counsel and messaging support for country leadership with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and consistency with Pfizer corporate narratives and International policy messaging.
Leadership
- Serves as key thought partner to the Country President and Commercial Leads in assessing the impact of the external policy environment on business strategy. Provide strategic counsel in business planning decisions including but not limited to operating plan discussions and business reviews.
- Coordinates and prepares the LT for external engagements.
- Ensures that the local management team understand the impact of Policy & Comms activities and role in supporting the BU commercial goals.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
- Internal: H&V, Legal, Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, IPC regional and global team.
- External: Academics, trade associations, policy makers, patient advocacy groups, consultants, media and key influencers.
QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in public policy, strategy or consulting related to policy, government relations, and/or corporate affairs.
- Bachelor degree required. Advanced Degree in health/public policy, international affairs, political science, and/or law preferred
- Deep knowledge of healthcare policy and pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement issues. Excellent knowledge of the local healthcare system and its major players and decision-makers.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute effective, innovative and practical policy/public affairs and policy solutions and comprehensive plans that deliver results.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and deploy appropriate "public affairs and policy" tools (advocacy, lobbying, stakeholder engagement plans).
- Strong understanding of business strategy and key drivers of commercial success
- Highly skilled at anticipating, identifying, and addressing emerging issues and related risks that could impact Pfizer's business
- Strong ability to develop relationships with key stakeholders. Skilled at advocacy influence within internal/external matrix organizations. Skilled at navigating complex environments through range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong executive presence and interpersonal acumen, highly substantive and collaborative. Demonstrated ability to succinctly convey relevant information at the right time and with the proper context and seek input as needed.
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
- Excellent command of English language. Fluent in English and Turkish.
RESOURCES MANAGED
- Financial Accountability – Responsible for managing local Policy & Communications budgets.
- Supervision – Communication Senior Manager, Turkiye
Purpose
Breakthroughs that change patients' lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.
School of Leaders
We, as Pfizer Turkey, make a difference with our visionary and pioneering approaches ranging from our concept of raising leaders through rotations, providing international career opportunities to creating a flexible, enjoyable work environment. There are no limits to what we can accomplish to touch lives here!
Flexibility
We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!
Equal Employment Opportunity
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Public Affairs & CommunicationBreakthroughs that change patients’ lives
Research confirms what intuition tells us: that purpose-driven companies perform better, are more innovative, attract and retain the best people, and know how to unleash the power of those people. Pfizer’s purpose—Breakthroughs that change patients' lives—fuels everything we do and reflects our passion for building on our legacy as one of the greatest contributors of good to the world.
Each word in our purpose has meaning and reflects the value we strive to bring to patients and society:
“Breakthroughs” - These are the innovations, scientific and commercial, that we seek to deliver every day. All colleagues, regardless of role, level or location, strive for breakthroughs every day.
“Change” - We want to do more than simply improve patients’ medical conditions; we want to dramatically change their lives for the better.
“Patients’ lives” - We consider not only patients, but everyone they touch—including their families, caregivers, and friends—and everything they love to do. It’s an intentionally holistic view.
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Every decision we make and every action we take is done with the patient in mind—and to nurture an environment where breakthroughs can thrive.
Our Values
To fully realize Pfizer’s purpose, we have established a clear set of expectations regarding “what” we need to achieve for patients and “how” we will go about achieving those goals.
The “how” is represented by four simple, powerful values—courage, excellence, equity, and joy—that define our company and our culture.
Courage: Breakthroughs start by challenging convention, especially in the face of uncertainty or adversity. This happens when we think big, speak up, and are decisive.
Excellence: We can only change patients’ lives when we perform at our best together. This happens when we focus on what matters, agree who does what, and measure our outcomes.
Equity: We believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity, and reduce healthcare disparities.
Joy: We give ourselves to our work, but it also gives to us. We find joy when we take pride, recognize one another, and have fun.
Benefits at Pfizer
Pfizer offers competitive compensation and benefits programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our colleagues. Our Pay for Performance Philosophy and Practices reward colleagues based on the contributions they make to our business.
Our Competitive Benefits Programs help our colleagues by:
- Promoting Health and Wellness to help colleagues maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Pfizer offerings include health and disability insurance, preventative health programs, medical screenings, free or reduced-cost vaccinations, discounts on Pfizer products, mental health support, nutrition and fitness counseling and more.
- Strengthening Colleagues’ Financial Security by providing company contributions to retirement plans, life insurance and financial planning education to help colleagues achieve their financial goals.
- Providing Benefits and Time off for the Moments that Matter to ensure Pfizer colleagues have the time away from the office to recharge, recover and return to work as the best version of themselves. Vacation, Holiday time and Sick time are just the beginning, with a 12 week parental leave policy for both parents of a new born, 10 day of caregiver leave for those times when your family needs you whether it’s a child, spouse or parent, bereavement leave, and additional country-specific programs.
- And so much more, depending on your country and site, Pfizer offers childcare facilities or discount programs, on-site health and/or fitness centers, movement and mindfulness solutions, “Log in for your Day” work flexibility and so much more.
For U.S. based jobs, view an overview of Pfizer’s U.S. benefits program (opens in a new window)