Director, Government Affairs&Industry, Mississauga

Role Overview: The Director, Government Affairs&Industry is a senior leader and key member of the Corporate Affairs Leadership Team. This role is accountable for designing, shaping, and driving AstraZeneca Canada’s national government relations strategy. The Director drives a coordinated, enterprise-wide engagement approach across federal, provincial, and municipal levels, aligned to a clear vision and business strategy. The Director is an expert communicator and planner, engaging both internally and externally to ensure stakeholder understanding.

Working cross-functionally, the Director leads and develops a diverse team of field experts—building a unified, high-impact team with a shared vision and strong collaboration. The Director is a trusted internal advisor who informs business strategy and regularly briefs Canadian and global AstraZeneca executives on policy developments relevant to our priorities. They clearly convey priorities and regularly measure and articulate the impact of their team’s effort and outcomes.

The role also leads AstraZeneca’s strategy and operational plan within Innovative Medicines Canada, ensuring effective cross-functional participation, CEO-level engagement and alignment, and advocacy for policy positions that foster innovation and expand patient access. This role will also support AZ’s position as Board Chairat IMC.

This role calls for a politically astute, results-driven and high-values leader who thrives at building&driving strategy, advocacy, and influence, to advance AstraZeneca’s reputation, policy priorities, and societal impact across Canada.

Key Responsibilities:

National Government Affairs Strategic Plans and Execution:

Designing, communicating and completing a cohesive GR strategy that focusses on the biggest opportunities to unlock the power of AstraZeneca’s science for Canadians. Build plans and achieve buy‑in across Corporate Affairs, Market Access and others, to drive success of core policy priorities across provincial and federal governments.

Economic&Societal Impact Strategy and Execution:

Develop compelling strategies that measure and communicate the economic and societal contributions of AstraZeneca’s Canadian head office, key partnerships and clinical investments. Leverage these to drive policy priorities, supporting external advocacy and internal decision‑making. Enable the identification&development of critical evidence necessary for policy priority advancement.

Critical Policy Execution and Impact:

Advance strategic initiatives aligned to Corporate Affairs policy priorities, including accelerating access to medicines, and improving sector competitiveness via economic policy change.

External Stakeholder Engagement:

Lead the coordination and execution of AstraZeneca’s proactive engagement with federal, provincial, and municipal government partners. Support, and lead where appropriate, engagement with other key life sciences and health care partners. Build and execute strategies to raise our corporate profile with key decision makers and advance our policy priorities. Build trusting relationships aligned to our values.

Internal Stakeholder Engagement:

Act as a convenor of key internal cross‑functional roles, including Alexion, ensuring GR input into core business and TA strategy, and regularly and proactively providing timely, high‑quality briefings to Canadian and global executives on key GR issues and advancements.

Trade Association&Industry Leadership:

Lead our strategic and operational engagement within Innovative Medicines Canada, including CEO briefings, industry coalitions, industry team representation and advocacy efforts. Support AZ’s role as Board Chair’s in all IMC matters.

Head Office Footprint Expansion and Impact:

Guide and deliver government engagement at all levels supporting the growth and prominence of AstraZeneca’s Ontario operations.

Team Leadership&Cohesion:

Unify and coach a group of regionally‑focused government affairs experts, fostering collaboration, shared purpose, and consistent guidelines across Ontario, Quebec, and Canada.

Required Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:

Leadership Experience:

Strong track record leading multidisciplinary teams and integrating cross‑functional government affairs initiatives. At least 10+ years in government affairs, policy development, corporate affairs or related fields.

Political&Government Affairs Expertise:

Deep knowledge of Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal policy environments, with established relationships in Canada, Ontario and Quebec; experience delivering government affairs strategies in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or life sciences sectors.

Impact Analysis Skills:

Capability to communicate economic and societal impact assessments relating to industry presence and investment.

Strategic Acumen&Stakeholder Management:

Ability to align policy strategy with business objectives, provide impactful executive briefings, and influence internal/external partners.

Trade Association Leadership:

Involvement in industry groups with strategic representation responsibilities, ideally at a national leadership level.

Communication:

Superior written and verbal communication with both internal and external partners. Bilingual English‑French proficiency an asset.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced qualification in public policy, political science, economics, law, or a related field preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing .

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