Sr Government Affairs Manager- Saudi

Role Overview

Senior Government Affairs Manager, Johnson & Johnson, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This role leads the development and execution of country-level public policy and government affairs strategy for the medical technology sector.

Company Overview

Johnson & Johnson is a healthcare innovation company with strength in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions. The company is guided by its Credo and is committed to an inclusive work environment that respects the diversity and dignity of employees.

Role Purpose

The Sr Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager shapes a favorable policy and healthcare environment that supports patient access to medical technologies, innovation, sustainability, and system resilience. The role acts as a trusted senior advisor to internal leadership and credible counterpart to policymakers, authorities, and external stakeholders, ensuring full alignment with regional and European policy priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Public Policy Leadership

• Define and lead the country public policy and government affairs strategy in alignment with sector priorities and long-term healthcare system objectives.
• Monitor and analyze legislative and political developments relevant to the operating environment, anticipating and shaping national healthcare, industrial, and procurement policies impacting medical technologies.
• Translate complex policy developments into strategic insights, risks, and opportunities for senior leadership.
• Provide thought leadership on key topics including healthcare system reform, value-based healthcare, sustainability, digital health, data governance, and healthcare modernization.

Government and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary senior interface with national and regional policymakers, government officials, and public institutions.
• Build and maintain long-term, trusted relationships with policymakers and other relevant external stakeholders.
• Represent the sector in high-impact policy debates and negotiations.

Trade Associations and External Leadership

• Lead country engagement with national and regional trade associations, coalitions, and multi-stakeholder platforms.
• Influence the development of industry positions, advocacy strategies, and policy narratives.
• Hold leadership or governance roles within associations or external forums where relevant.

Internal Strategic Advisory and Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as a strategic advisor to country and regional leadership on public policy and institutional matters.
• Drive strong cross-functional collaboration with Regulatory Affairs, Market Access, Medical Affairs, Communications, Legal, and Commercial teams.
• Ensure alignment between public policy priorities and broader business, access, and innovation strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10 years of government affairs or relevant experience and a minimum of 15 years of total work experience.
• In-depth knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes and political environment across Saudi Arabia.
• Ability to engage and develop relationships with government stakeholders.
• Good understanding of Saudi policymaking, international policy, and Saudi trade relationships.
• Experience understanding and influencing policy matters within MedTech and/or pharmaceutical/healthcare industries.
• Solid and in-depth knowledge of Saudi trade requirements such as RHQ, Economic Participation, SFDA, National Procurement, and Regulatory Bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to understand business goals and work collaboratively with business leaders to support and advance those goals.
• Track record of effectively engaging with business executives, policymakers, multi-lateral organizations, and other internal and external constituencies to deliver meaningful, results-driven policy outcomes.
• Saudi National status is mandatory.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong presentation style with excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Arabic and English.
• Ability to quickly earn the trust and engender confidence with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Self-motivated leader who thrives in challenging, fast-paced environments.
• Ability to drive complex projects and provide strategic direction.
• Desire and willingness to continually evolve best practices.
• Highly organized and adaptable; able to independently prioritize and deliver under tight deadlines.
• Creative thinking when situations are fluid and solutions unclear.
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach to work.
• Proactive and compliant use of AI-enabled tools to strengthen policy intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and strategic foresight.
• Talent for strategic thinking while willing to execute on tactical tasks.
• Organizational savvy; ability to navigate a large organization to produce results while remaining a hands-on self-starter in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects, deal with ambiguity, and manage relationships at senior levels.
• Creative problem-solving with flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Agility, Commercial Awareness, Competitive Landscape Analysis, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer Intelligence, Global Market understanding, Go-to-Market Strategies, Health Economics, Health Intelligence, Market Knowledge, Market Opportunity Assessment, Mentorship, Organizing, Pricing Strategies, Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Change, and Tactical Planning.

Additional Information

• Engagement and inspiration by Johnson & Johnson values, Credo, and the important work done for patients and users of products and services.
• Exceptional leadership characterized by first-class collaboration, partnership, humility, and delivery on leadership commitments.
• Self-motivated and passionate about building relationships and delivering quality results across the organization.