Job Opportunities API

Are you passionate about building trusted partnerships with healthcare stakeholders and public decision-makers across key markets in Europe? Do you thrive in a strategic, cross-functional role where you can help create the conditions for sustainable patient access while ensuring high standards of compliance, credibility, and external engagement? If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our Associate Director, Public Affairs, Europe. Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we are applying our innovative TransCon® technology platform to develop therapies with best-in-class potential to address significant unmet medical needs. At our headquarters in Hellerup, Denmark, research facilities in Heidelberg, Germany, and additional offices across Europe and the United States, we are advancing a pipeline within Endocrinology Rare Disease. Across additional geographies, we also work closely with global partners to bring innovative therapies to patients worldwide. We are seeking a strategic, externally oriented Associate Director, Public Affairs, Europe to join our growing organization. You will be responsible for shaping and executing Ascendis' European public and government affairs strategy across priority markets, with a particular focus on influencing the broader stakeholder environment and policy that supports timely access for people living with rare endocrine disease. The role will lead non-promotional engagement strategies related to disease policy, healthcare-system stakeholders, industry associations, and broader public affairs initiatives across Europe. You will report directly to the Head of Commercial Europe and be based in one of our European offices. Given the nature of the role, close collaboration with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Legal, Compliance, Corporate Affairs/Communications, and affiliate leadership will be essential. This is a visible role requiring strong collaboration skills and the ability to operate effectively in a complex, matrixed, and entrepreneurial environment Your key responsibilities will be: Lead development and execution of an integrated European Public Affairs and health policy strategy designed to advance patient access across priority markets. Define priorities based on business objectives amidst evolving healthcare system dynamics. Contribute to stakeholder mapping across priority markets, identifying key decision makers, policy influencers, clinical leaders, HTA stakeholders and healthcare-system partners who can improve patient outcomes and access, and enable progress on healthcare policy. Support affiliate-level governmental and public affairs priorities by providing strategic direction, content support, partnership models, and real-world examples of disease policy engagement at national level. May include collaboration with government ministries, industry associations, and broader healthcare-system stakeholders when appropriate. Enable HCP- and society-linked policy initiatives in close partnership with Medical Affairs, such as reference-center mapping, burden-of-disease symposia, and clinician-authored materials—while ensuring scientific independence, appropriate governance, and compliance. Work closely with Communications / Corporate Affairs to ensure consistent and credible external positioning, and with Legal and Compliance to ensure all engagement approaches are appropriate, non-promotional, and aligned with governing policies and local requirements. Collaborate closely with Market Access and HEOR to help shape the external environment around value assessment, evidence expectations, rare disease policy frameworks, and evolving HTA methodologies at European and national levels. Represent Ascendis in selected external forums, including industry associations, rare disease initiatives, and relevant policy discu