Director, Healthcare

About the role

APCO is looking for a Director to lead and grow its Healthcare practice in Dubai. The Director acts as a senior strategic adviser to private-sector healthcare clients across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, combining government relations, healthcare policy and public affairs expertise with senior client leadership, team development and business growth.

Key responsibilities

• Build and maintain senior relationships with health authorities and government stakeholders across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC to support clients' government relations and public affairs activities.
• Serve as lead relationship manager and senior advisor to a diverse healthcare client portfolio, including multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical-device, health insurer and healthcare provider organisations.
• Advise clients on government relations, policy advocacy and strategic partnerships, and engage with senior client staff and leadership, including leading client meetings.
• Guide junior team members on health policy monitoring and analysis, global benchmarking, evidence-based advocacy strategies and stakeholder engagement plans, and help them produce client-ready deliverables such as policy papers, stakeholder messaging toolkits and advocacy communications.
• Grow client accounts organically and pursue new business, including leading business development activities.
• Maintain a strong network with industry groups and associations, lead annual business planning, and act as a mentor to team members.

Required profile

• At least 10 years of experience in health; a mix of agency, in-house and health insurance experience is preferred.
• Established senior relationships with health authorities and government stakeholders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, backed by a strong network across the wider GCC.
• Bachelor's degree in pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, biotechnology or another relevant scientific discipline; advanced degree in public health, health sciences, pharmaceutical business, healthcare management or a related field.
• Experience in health policy discussion facilitation, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and management, and translating scientific and health-system considerations into strategic advice.
• Deep understanding of global and regional healthcare policy and pharmaceutical industry issues; previous experience in a pharmaceutical company is an advantage, and advising multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical-device companies is strongly preferred.
• Proven managerial experience, including leading teams, allocating work, mentoring colleagues and managing a budget; Arabic is preferred.