Health Affairs Lead - Professional Engagement

Job Description

Job Description:

To advance Royal Canin’s (RC) purpose of “A Better World for Pets,” we are building a forward-looking Corporate Affairs function that bridges science, education, and industry influence. This role is pivotal in shaping and leading our ecosystem influence strategy, driving engagement with key opinion leaders, industry associations, and academic institutions to strengthen Royal Canin’s thought leadership and translate professional credibility into business value.

This role will lead RC China KOL engagement and development strategy, manage national KOL and professional association relationships and expand and deepen strategic partnership with top Universities. lead high-impact professional events—ensuring our corporate reputation and influence support sustainable business growth.

What will be your key responsibilities?

Eco-system Thought Leadership

1.Develop and deploy KOL management strategy, including engagement strategy, relationship building, and build professional CRM to enhance Royal Canin’s professional network and scientific credibility.

2.Lead collaboration with industrial and academic associations, form and manage nutrition expert committees, and drive clinical trial partnerships.

3.Plan and oversee national professional events (e.g., RC Vet Summit, WESAVC, BJSAVC) to elevate Royal Canin’s thought leadership and industry presence.

4.Design and manage University programs such as Dandelion and NGKOL to nurture future KOL and strengthen academic partnerships.

5.Map internal and external ecosystem education resource; build connection and leverage that resource to build professional influence.

6.Support regulatory affairs in pet nutrition standard-setting and facilitate ecosystem collaboration with Mars Veterinary Health and other internal partners.

7.Monitor and report on the effectiveness of education and engagement initiatives, ensuring alignment with business objectives and market needs.

Team Management & Talent Development

1.Build effective and engaging Ecosystem Education team, setting clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations.

2.Coach and develop team members to expand their expertise in stakeholder management, project leadership, and strategic partnership development.

3.Foster a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and high engagement within the team and across functions.

4.Identify talent needs, support succession planning, and contribute to building a sustainable pipeline of Corporate Affairs capabilities.

What are we looking for?

1.Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, Communications, or related area.

2.10+ years of experience in industrial marketing, B2B strategic partnerships, or experience related to ecosystem development—preferably in healthcare, pharmaceutical, veterinary, or B2B sectors.

3.Minimum 3 years of experience in people leadership, with a demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and develop high-performing teams.

4.Proven tracked record in designing and executing stakeholder engagement strategies, managing high-level partnerships, and leading complex projects.

5.Strong business acumen and ability to translate market insights into actionable education and influence strategies.

6.Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills; fluent in English and Mandarin.

7.Experience in a multinational matrix organization is highly desirable.