Vice President Public Affairs & Strategic Advocacy

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

Vice President Public Affairs & Strategic Advocacy 

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of this role, Vice President, Public Affairs & Strategic Advocacy are to: 

We are seeking a visionary and highly experienced Vice President, Public Affairs & Strategic Advocacy to lead policy engagement efforts that protect and advance the company’s interests and communications efforts in support of these initiatives. This role is responsible for driving integrated campaigns that shape public opinion, support regulatory and legislative goals, and elevate corporate reputation in an increasingly complex policy and political landscape. Lead the development of messaging and integrated communications campaigns across paid, earned, and owned channels to shape and support policy advocacy and stakeholder engagement;

• Work closely with the communications and government affairs teams to develop messaging and media strategies that amplify advocacy efforts;
• In close coordination with the NA Media Relations Team, build new and leverage long-term relationships with traditional and digital paid media outlets to support advocacy and reputational objectives;
• Develop engagement strategy and execute activations to inspire stakeholder audiences;
• Partner with internal communicators across Bayer to inform and engage employees on critical advocacy and policy topics;
• Oversee budgets with full accountability for resource allocation, vendor management, and campaign ROI;
• Guide external agencies in creating high-impact content that translates complex public policy issues into clear, actionable strategic communications;
• Collaborate with research and insights teams to shape messaging frameworks based on key audiences and opinion tracking;
• Partner with internal stakeholders across communications, government affairs, legal, and executive leadership teams to ensure that advocacy efforts are aligned with company priorities and messaging;
• Monitor the political and reputational landscape to proactively identify opportunities and risks;
• Advise leadership on public policy positioning, political risk, and communications strategy.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, Communications, Journalism, Public Affairs, Law, or a related field;
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and negotiation skills;
• Proven success leading multi-channel campaigns that achieve business, policy, or advocacy goals at scale;
• Deep understanding of business, legislative and regulatory processes, public policy development, and reputation dynamics in complex industries;
• Skilled in budget management, cross-functional leadership, and working in dynamic, rapidly evolving environments;
• Demonstrated success in building relationships with key internal and external stakeholders;
• Experience working in highly regulated industries;
• Excellent oral presentation and influence skills;
• Strong writer who can take complex information and produce clear, compelling, and motivating communications quickly for various stakeholders;
• A record of success and experience in advising and influencing executive-level leaders;
• Thinks strategically and executes at a high level to support our fast-moving and nimble organization and people-focused culture;
• A pleasure to work with, highly collaborative, inventive and a self-starter;
• Results focused and regularly considers measurement to drive comms effectiveness;
• Manages ambiguity well, viewing it as an opportunity vs a challenge;
• Flexible with the ability to shift gears quickly and seamlessly as business and stakeholder needs require;
• Proactive, out-of-the-box thinker; technologically savvy;
• Comfortable with medical and science-based content.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prefer 15 years of progressive experience in public affairs, government relations, or strategic communications, ideally within a corporate, consultancy, or high-stakes political environment.

This posting will be available for application until at least 6/24/2025.