Senior Manager Government & Public Affairs

Company Description

At Intuitive, we are united behind our mission: we believe that minimally invasive care is life-enhancing care. Through ingenuity and intelligent technology, we expand the potential of physicians to heal without constraints.

As a pioneer and leading company in the field of robotic-assisted surgery, we strive to foster an inclusive and diverse team, committed to making a difference. For more than 25 years, we have worked with hospitals and care teams around the world to help solve some of healthcare’s hardest challenges and advance what is possible.

Intuitive has been built by the efforts of great people from diverse backgrounds. We believe great ideas can come from anywhere—we strive to foster an inclusive culture built around diversity of thought and mutual respect. We lead with inclusion and empower our team members to do their best work as their most authentic selves.

Passionate people who want to make a difference drive our culture—our team members are grounded in integrity, have a strong capacity to learn, the energy to get things done, and bring diverse, real-world experiences to help us think in new ways. We actively invest in our team members to support their long-term growth so they can continue to advance our mission and achieve their highest potential. 

Join a team committed to taking big leaps forward for a global community of healthcare professionals and their patients. Together, let’s advance the world of minimally invasive care.

Job Description

Primary Function of Position:

This position is responsible for the full scope of public affairs responsibilities in Italy, developing and executing a clear, compelling and high-impact government affairs, advocacy and media relations strategy, aligned with our business goals and priorities.

This includes a dialogue with Members of Parliament, government officials and other key stakeholders within and across the political and healthcare systems of Italy. You also develop and implement short and long-term in-country government affairs strategies that support business and public policy-oriented objectives; promote the company’s government affairs and business positions to relevant policymakers and policymaking bodies; provide counsel to key internal audiences; and liaise with external stakeholders.

In addition, your role is developing and executing a strategic media relations program for our business in Italy. This includes monitoring media with regards to Intuitive, robotic-assisted surgery, health politics etc., developing key communications and other materials, and engaging with media and other external audiences. The role will finally be responsible for supporting other public affairs activities including but not limited to: thought-leadership opportunities, conference participation and 3rd-party advocacy.

This position will work closely with cross-functional colleagues, including regional and in-country leaders and functions including Sales and Marketing, Clinical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Global Access Value Economics (GAVE), Training, and Legal. And this role will work closely with Global Public Affairs colleagues within and across Europe and the US.

Roles and Responsibilities:

This position will support the advancement of Intuitive in Italy, which includes the following responsibilities:

Government Affairs

• Be the corporate expert for the Italian political systems with experience in political party and/or campaign work; or significant experience in a similar role.
• Advise senior leadership on key interactions with relevant stakeholders in this field regarding policy development.
• Develop, implement and execute Government & Public Affairs strategies and relevant campaigns, projects and tactics. Manage specialized consultants.
• Contribute to/represent Intuitive at key industry organizations to advance company’s policy and advocacy goals and interests.
• Work across third party organizations (trade associations, surgical societies, advocacy groups) to develop policy champions and allies.
• Ensure organizational clarity, assuring that the department’s activities, messages, and materials support the achievement of broader public affairs, country-specific, and company-wide goals and policy objectives.
• Understand, clearly synthesize, and integrate complex issues in presentations, messaging documents and other communication(s) with key senior level internal and external audiences.
• Attend meetings, events and conferences to represent the company from a Government Affairs perspective.
• Manage external government affairs/public affairs firms to support strategy and activity, as needed.

Media Relations

• Serve as company media contact in Italy; triage day-to-day media inquiries and respond accordingly.
• Draft talking points, media statements, press releases and other press materials and manage the internal approval process with internal cross-functional teams.
• Ensure consistency of corporate messaging and positioning in Italy, while tailoring responses as appropriate to address cultural and country-specific nuances.
• Work closely with media relations counterparts around the world to proactively share best practices and reactively manage crisis communications, as needed.
• Attend surgical/medical/thought-leadership conferences as required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in Public Affairs, Media Relations or similar field.
• Must have relevant government, political and/or campaign experience, demonstrated track record of strong advocacy and communications skills.
• Strong preference for healthcare experience, including previous experience working with the relevant governmental decision-making.
• University degree required.
• Fluent in Italian, good command of English.
• Ability to travel throughout Italy, to Europe-based meetings and to Intuitive’s Sunnyvale headquarters, up to 30% of the time.
• Ability to effectively analyze, write and deliver information, and explain, advocate and negotiate positions and issues to a broad spectrum of individuals.
• Excellent organizational skills, especially ability to monitor and manage multiple campaigns and tracks of work in multiple countries simultaneously, while ensuring all are consistent with the company’s overarching goals, approach, and brand.
• Ability to work independently while also working in coordination with – and across – teams in multiple countries.
• Responsive and focused on executing in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in a global corporate environment.
• Willing to contribute to projects that fall outside of core responsibilities, as needed.

Additional Information

Intuitive is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, genetic information or any other status protected under federal, state, or local applicable laws.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.