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Ascendis Pharma, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on rare endocrine disease, seeks an Associate Director of Public Affairs for Europe. Based in Madrid, you will develop and execute the company's European public and government affairs strategy across priority markets, with a focus on influencing policy and stakeholder environments to support patient access to innovative therapies.
You will report to the Head of Commercial Europe and lead non-promotional engagement strategies related to disease policy, healthcare-system stakeholders, industry associations, and broader public affairs initiatives. Key responsibilities include developing integrated European public affairs and health policy strategies aligned with business objectives; conducting stakeholder mapping to identify key decision-makers, policy influencers, and clinical leaders; supporting affiliate-level governmental priorities with strategic direction and content; enabling HCP and society-linked policy initiatives in partnership with Medical Affairs while ensuring compliance and scientific independence; collaborating with Communications, Legal, and Compliance to ensure credible external positioning; working with Market Access and HEOR to shape the external environment around value assessment and HTA methodologies; representing Ascendis in external forums including industry associations and policy discussions; partnering with patient organizations and clinical societies to strengthen the rare disease ecosystem; shaping disease policy narratives and stakeholder positioning at European and national levels; and monitoring emerging health policy developments including EU HTA implementation and rare disease initiatives.
You bring 7+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech government affairs, public affairs, market access, healthcare policy, or closely related functions, ideally within rare disease or specialty care. You demonstrate strategic thinking, strong collaboration skills, and the ability to operate effectively in complex, matrixed environments. You have proven experience operating at regional or global level, supporting affiliate-level execution across multiple markets, and translating healthcare-system and policy dynamics into actionable plans. Fluency in English is essential; additional European language skills are valued. You hold a relevant academic degree and possess deep knowledge of European healthcare systems, pharmaceutical policy, and HTA frameworks.
