Head of Corporate Affairs UK&I

Join Ipsen – Leadership Opportunities in Corporate Affairs & External Policy

Location: London Global Hub – Hybrid

Travel Requirement: Up to 40%

Reporting Line: Senior Director Corporate Affairs & Market Access UK/I

Ipsen is seeking a visionary leader to join our Corporate Affairs and Market Access team. This role is pivotal in shaping Ipsen’s public image, influencing policy, and driving strategic communications across the UK and Ireland. You will collaborate with global colleagues and represent Ipsen at high-profile industry, government, and healthcare events.

Role Responsibilities

About the role,

Public & External Affairs

• Represent Ipsen with government bodies, NHS, foreign embassies, and industry partners.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships to support Ipsen’s initiatives.
• Monitor and interpret health policy developments, validating insights through professional networks.
• Lead Ipsen’s engagement with trade associations and contribute to policy development.
• Advise senior leadership on geopolitical and healthcare policy trends.
  
  

Communications & Messaging

• Develop and implement communication strategies aligned with corporate and brand goals.
• Lead internal communication channels and social media strategy.
• Coordinate change communications and foster a culture of transparency and engagement.
  
  

Strategy & Governance

• Shape Ipsen’s policy messaging framework and lead consultation responses (e.g., NICE, NHSE, OLS).
• Align programmes of work with corporate goals and prepare executive briefings.
• Act as a liaison between Corporate Affairs and internal departments.
  
  

About You

You operate at the intersection of policy, communication, and healthcare, actively shaping change through strategic insight and stakeholder engagement. With a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, or a related field, you bring a strong analytical foundation that enables you to understand complex systems and influence them effectively.

You have a proven track record of building trusted relationships with government bodies, the NHS, foreign embassies, and industry partners, supporting long-term organisational goals. You monitor and interpret UK health policy developments, validate insights through professional networks, and translate them into actionable strategies.

Internally, you’ve led corporate communications and social media, coordinated messaging during change initiatives, and fostered a culture of transparency and engagement. Your policy expertise includes shaping messaging frameworks, leading consultation responses (e.g., NICE, NHSE, OLS), and preparing executive briefings for senior leadership.

You’re a confident cross-functional collaborator, bridging Corporate Affairs with other departments to ensure alignment. Fluent in English, you ideally bring additional language skills, have experience in the life sciences or pharmaceutical sector, and are comfortable working within global-local matrix structures.

Basic Requirements,

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, Communications, Journalism, Business Administration, or related field.
• Proven ability to build relationships with government and key stakeholders.
• Strong communication and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience in public policy and internal communications.
• Deep understanding of UK health policy and system delivery.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Proficiency in English.
  
  

Preferred Requirements,

• Advanced degree in a related field.
• Experience in life sciences or pharmaceutical sector.
• Familiarity with global-local matrix structures.
• Additional language skills are a plus.
  
  

Why Ipsen?

At Ipsen, we are committed to creating real impact every day for patients and society. We offer a collaborative, inclusive environment where your leadership can shape the future of healthcare.