Director, Government Affairs & Industry

At AstraZeneca, we pride ourselves on crafting a collaborative culture that champions knowledge-sharing, ambitious thinking and innovation – ultimately providing employees with the opportunity to work across teams, functions and even the globe.
Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week.
Our dedication to sustainability is also central to our culture and part of what makes AstraZeneca a great place to work. We know the health of people, the planet and our business are interconnected which is why we’re taking bold action to address some of the biggest challenges of our time, from climate change to access to healthcare and disease prevention.
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 advises on 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 Chair at 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.
This is a head office based role with approximately 30% travel required within Canada.
Key Responsibilities:
National Government Affairs Strategic Plans and Execution: Designing, communicating, and completing a cohesive GR strategy focuses on the biggest opportunities. It unlocks the power behind AstraZeneca’s scientific advancements for Canadians. Build plans and achieve consensus 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 vital for policy priority advancement.
Critical Policy Execution and Impact: Advance pivotal initiatives aligned to Corporate Affairs policy priorities, including accelerating access to medicines, and improving sector competitiveness via economic policy change.
External Collaborator Engagement: Own the coordination and implementation of AstraZeneca’s proactive engagement with national, regional, and local government partners. Support, and lead where appropriate, engagement with other key life sciences and health care partners. Build and implement strategies to raise our corporate profile with key decision makers and advance our policy priorities. Build trusting relationships aligned to our values.
Internal Team Member Engagement: Coordinate key internal cross-functional roles, including Alexion, to incorporate GR input into core business and TA strategy. Consistently and proactively deliver timely, high-quality briefings to executives across Canada and abroad on significant GR issues and progress.
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 mentor a group of regionally-focused government affairs experts, encouraging collaboration, shared purpose, and consistent guidelines across Ontario, Quebec, and Canada.
Required Experience, Skills, and Qualifications:
Leadership Experience: Consistent 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.
Why This Role Matters:
In this role, you will directly shape the future of healthcare in Canada by advancing policies that expand patient access and drive innovation. Your leadership will influence key decision makers, elevate AstraZeneca’s profile in Canada and Globally, and make a measurable difference in the lives of Canadians. Join us to lead real change at the intersection of health, policy, and industry.
Great People want to Work with us! Find out why:
GTAA Top Employer Award for 12 years
Top 100 Employers Award
Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture
Learn more about working with us in Canada
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Are you interested in working at AZ, apply today!
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 AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com.
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Annual base salary for this position ranges from 150,594.40 to 197,655.15.
AstraZeneca is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities to all colleagues. Our compensation policies and practices have been designed to allow colleagues to progress through the salary range over time as they progress in their role. The range provided in this posting represents an offer pay range used in a majority of situations. The base pay offered will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including the candidate's skills and experience, job-related knowledge, and other specific business and organizational needs. In some cases, offers outside the range may also be considered to address unique circumstances.
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