Senior Governmental Affairs Director - Europe & International

At Ascendis, we are dedicated to making a meaningful impact on the lives of patients worldwide. Are you ready to take the lead in shaping governmental affairs and disease policy initiatives? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your expertise can drive real change? In this role, you will contribute to our mission of addressing critical healthcare challenges and building lasting collaborations.

Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, United States and Commercial offices in Munich, Madrid, Milan, London and Paris.

We are applying our TransCon® technology to build a leading, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of patients, science, and passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Today, we have a growing pipeline of product therapies in development, each designed to be a best-in-class therapy.

The role

In this role, you will lead Ascendis' Europe & International governmental affairs and drive the implementation of disease policy positioning within European and international policy and industry associations or organizations. You will support Ascendis affiliates in their national disease policy initiatives with governments and healthcare authorities, ensuring alignment and impact. As the accountable person for Ascendis’ disease policy positioning across therapy areas, you will foster academic collaboration to highlight the societal cost burden of rare endocrine disease areas. Additionally, you will represent Market Access & Pricing, Europe & International in various cross-functional and affiliate teams, preparing policy positioning papers, organizing seminars, and overseeing lobbying activities. This is an opportunity to become a leading authority within Ascendis on all pharmaceutical and biotech governmental affairs topics.

You should be based in one of the countries and cities where we operate in Europe—Copenhagen, Munich, Madrid, Milan, London, or Paris—while reporting to the VP and Head of Market Access & Pricing, Europe & International.

Your key responsibilities will be

• Own and build European & International markets disease policy positioning papers
• Work with selected countries to articulate and plan policy initiatives
• Peer-lead cross-functional efforts into validating scientifically and clinically meaningful Ascendis positioning towards policy makers
• Work closely with communication teams to align Ascendis’ external positioning and core values, including ensuring alignment with individual brand strategies and commercial ambitions

Qualifications and skills

• A minimum of 10 years of specific global/regional pharmaceutical governmental/public affairs experience within rare or high-specialty disease areas, coupled with years of experience in either pharmaceutical marketing or market access
• Ideally a scientific, communication or economic educational background combined with years of hands-on both affiliate and/or regional/global market access experience incl. proven success stories in articulating global/regional policy positioning papers, networking activities for implementation

Key competencies

You should bring a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively, showcasing exceptional analytical skills and a strategic communication mindset. The role requires a dynamic and resilient approach, with a high level of energy and determination to build and nurture networks with policymakers. Your ability to establish impactful collaborations with governments, healthcare systems, and internal stakeholders at Ascendis will be key to driving success in this position.

Apply now

Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible. Please note that we only accept applications submitted through our online application system. Applications sent via email will not be considered

If you are passionate about contributing to the field of rare diseases and eager to make a difference at Ascendis Pharma, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join us in our mission to advance therapeutic innovations and improve patient lives worldwide.