Background information about the job or company (e.g., role context, company overview)

Novonesis is looking for an experienced Senior Specialist – Public Affairs & Communications, Sub-Saharan Africa to help in creating an enabling environment for Novonesis business, facilitate a continuous interaction and collaboration on policy, regulatory and partnership ecosystems, combining policy making and, government relations, public relations, issue management, securing market access. This role also aims to influence public policy, build and maintain a strong reputation and find common ground with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will blend expertise in government affairs, public realations and find strategic partnerships to enable new market opportunities aligned with Novonesis business priorities.

This is a strategic leadership role, reporting directly to the head of public affairs & communications with scope across Sub-Saharan Africa. The role would involve an active collaboration with the country managers, Directors of Business units, Marketing teams and with the Public Affairs team.

Responsibilities or duties

Business Enablement

• Work with stakeholders towards Biolsolutions policy advocacy,
• Identify and develop new business opportunities across key industry sectors in Africa
• Identify and address barriers to market entry and scale for Novonesis’ products and technologies in Africa.
• Provide strategic insights to commercial teams on status and progress of key Government programs and potential business opportunities
• Business development and issues management. Monitoring and mapping of public policy and regulatory issues of relevance to Novonesis businesses in Africa; in coordination with business leaders prioritizing issues based on a value-at-stake approach; monitoring and reporting on developments.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Novonesis leadership; in Africa, regionally and globally.
• Track emerging trends, competition, and customer needs to shape commercial strategy.
• Represent Novonesis at key industry events, conferences, and trade missions.

Government Affairs

• Collaborates with Public Affairs (PA) and Regulatory colleagues to develop material towards market access policy inputs and policy advocacy
• Liaison with key influencers and aid agencies towards technology adoption of Biosolution across Africa.
• Supports the team by coordinating on ongoing research projects with external entities and drafting in-depth analysis reports on key, business-impacting policy issues
• Supports key programming activities, including issue-specific roundtables and periodic government engagements,
• Support the information requirements of regional and global teams on policy and regulatory developments in Africa.
• Attends select conferences and external meetings, providing concise analysis and readouts on key engagements to relevant internal teams
• Manages engagement with select government offices
• Coordinates the submission of written materials and company input required for government and regulatory bodies
• Internal enablement of business teams on policy developments.

Public Relations

• Develop a PR strategy for focus countries with the objective of positioning biosolutions and Novonesis
• Works on media outreach with relevant media in the region to amplify Novonesis’ visibility
• Have a good understanding of the media landscape in target markets and experience working with media in the region

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

Experience needed

• 10 years+ experience in the public sector or international corporate government relations

Educational qualifications

• A master’s degree in Public Administration/public Affairs/ Business Administration, or related field.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of Sub-Saharan African market dynamics, business culture, and regulatory environments.
• Ability to work well with internal and external stakeholders
• Highly effective written, and interpersonal communications skills; demonstrated ability to effectively interact with senior corporate and political stakeholders
• A deep working understanding of the policymaking process and government relations
• Ability to communicate complex information and interpret legislative/regulatory language to diverse audiences
• Experience / exposure to Public Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Ability to grasp and translate complex issues into a language suitable for concerned audiences in a fast paced and dynamic work environment.
• High ethical standards, confidentiality and strong professional reputation
• Ensures compliance with company policies and procedures and supports the company purpose, values, and standards of ethics and integrity
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster effective relationships and professional networks

• Work with stakeholders towards Biolsolutions policy advocacy,
• Identify and develop new business opportunities across key industry sectors in Africa
• Identify and address barriers to market entry and scale for Novonesis’ products and technologies in Africa.
• Provide strategic insights to commercial teams on status and progress of key Government programs and potential business opportunities
• Business development and issues management. Monitoring and mapping of public policy and regulatory issues of relevance to Novonesis businesses in Africa; in coordination with business leaders prioritizing issues based on a value-at-stake approach; monitoring and reporting on developments.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Novonesis leadership; in Africa, regionally and globally.
• Track emerging trends, competition, and customer needs to shape commercial strategy.
• Represent Novonesis at key industry events, conferences, and trade missions.
• Collaborates with Public Affairs (PA) and Regulatory colleagues to develop material towards market access policy inputs and policy advocacy
• Liaison with key influencers and aid agencies towards technology adoption of Biosolution across Africa.
• Supports the team by coordinating on ongoing research projects with external entities and drafting in-depth analysis reports on key, business-impacting policy issues
• Supports key programming activities, including issue-specific roundtables and periodic government engagements,
• Support the information requirements of regional and global teams on policy and regulatory developments in Africa.
• Attends select conferences and external meetings, providing concise analysis and readouts on key engagements to relevant internal teams
• Manages engagement with select government offices
• Coordinates the submission of written materials and company input required for government and regulatory bodies
• Internal enablement of business teams on policy developments.
• Develop a PR strategy for focus countries with the objective of positioning biosolutions and Novonesis
• Works on media outreach with relevant media in the region to amplify Novonesis’ visibility
• Have a good understanding of the media landscape in target markets and experience working with media in the region

• Strong understanding of Sub-Saharan African market dynamics, business culture, and regulatory environments.
• Ability to work well with internal and external stakeholders
• Highly effective written, and interpersonal communications skills; demonstrated ability to effectively interact with senior corporate and political stakeholders
• A deep working understanding of the policymaking process and government relations
• Ability to communicate complex information and interpret legislative/regulatory language to diverse audiences
• Experience / exposure to Public Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Ability to grasp and translate complex issues into a language suitable for concerned audiences in a fast paced and dynamic work environment.
• High ethical standards, confidentiality and strong professional reputation
• Ensures compliance with company policies and procedures and supports the company purpose, values, and standards of ethics and integrity
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster effective relationships and professional networks

• A master’s degree in Public Administration/public Affairs/ Business Administration, or related field.