International Public Affairs Lead

Zoetis Zaventem is currently looking for an International Public Affairs Lead.

The International Public Affairs Lead is a critical role within Zoetis' Corporate Affairs team, responsible for executing the company’s global public affairs strategy. This position focuses on strategic stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and shaping policy environments that support innovation, market access, and commercial growth. Based in Brussels, the role prioritizes the European Union while supporting initiatives across key international commercial markets.

The role advances business priorities by strengthening Zoetis’ policy credibility and reputation among policymakers, regulators, and political stakeholders. It ensures alignment with global objectives and encourages collaboration across internal and external partners. Working closely with Commercial Leaders, Communications, Global Policy, Regulatory, and Global Manufacturing & Supply, the position supports efforts to influence policy outcomes, enable market access, and promote an operating environment that drives both innovation and revenue generation.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership (40%)

Develop and Execute Strategy
Implement the International Public Affairs strategy with a focus on stakeholder engagement, innovation, risk mitigation, and creating policy conditions that enable commercial success and revenue growth across Zoetis’ key markets.

Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain high-impact relationships with policymakers, industry associations, coalitions, and NGOs to influence policy outcomes and advance Zoetis’ public affairs priorities.

Global Coordination
Lead and coordinate content development for global updates, training, and market-specific public affairs support to ensure alignment and capability building across international markets.

Reputation Management
Drive initiatives that strengthen Zoetis’ policy credibility and reputation with policymakers, regulators, and political stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and expectations.

Advocacy and Innovation (30%)

Amplify Innovation Story
Collaborate with Communications and regional markets to shape and promote Zoetis’ innovation narrative, reinforcing the company’s leadership and credibility within the policy and political ecosystem.

Policy and Market Access
Advance advocacy efforts to influence policy frameworks that support innovation, improve market access, and enable commercial growth through engagement with industry associations, coalitions, and Zoetis-led initiatives.

Issue Management
Monitor and prioritize emerging opportunities and risks across international markets, leveraging cross-functional expertise to drive coordinated responses that support both risk mitigation and business expansion.

Collaboration and Integration (20%)

Global One Zoetis Environment
Foster collaboration among U.S. and International Public Affairs teams, Commercial leaders, and cross-functional partners to ensure cohesive and aligned public affairs strategies globally.

Cross-Functional Partnerships
Work closely with Global Policy, Communications, Regulatory, and Commercial Operations to integrate public affairs work with broader business objectives and market needs.

Regional Engagement
Advance regional public affairs priorities in APAC/Africa, CLAR, and Europe/Middle East through targeted engagement with policymakers and stakeholders to support advocacy opportunities, market access, and revenue growth.

Operational Excellence (10%)

Metrics and Reporting
Track and report on public affairs performance, including stakeholder engagement, issue management progress, and training effectiveness.

Compliance and Budget Management
Ensure full compliance with Zoetis’ policies and legal obligations while overseeing budgets, timelines, and deliverables for public affairs projects, including agency management and coordination of regional agency work.

Training and Development
Design and deliver training programs to enhance public affairs capabilities across key commercial markets.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Internal: Head of International Public Affairs, Global Policy Lead, U.S. Public Affairs Lead, Zoetis global industry representative colleagues, Commercial leaders, Communications, Regulatory Affairs, GMS Site Leadership and other organizational functions.

External: Policymakers, industry associations, coalitions, NGOs, and other key stakeholders.

RESOURCES MANAGED

Financial Accountability: Manage individual budget as well as Agency project budget details for public affairs initiatives.

Supervision: No direct reports but will lead cross-functional project teams.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Affairs, Political Science, International Relations, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10 years+ of experience in public affairs, government relations, or policy advocacy, with a focus on international and/or EU markets.
• Proven track record in stakeholder engagement, issue management, and advocacy for innovation.
• Experience working in a large, global corporation or industry association is highly desirable.

TECHNICAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• Strong understanding of European Union legislative and regulatory processes.
• Expertise in stakeholder mapping, policy analysis, and advocacy campaign development.
• Proficiency in digital tools for communication and collaboration.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex issues into actionable strategies.
• Personal Skills and Competencies:
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate and respond to emerging issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and influence across diverse stakeholders.
• Highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative team player with a proactive and results-driven mindset.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work across different time zones and political systems.

PHYSICAL POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Ability to travel as needed (up to 30% of the time) to European markets and key stakeholder meetings.

Flexibility to work across multiple time zones.

Alignment with Business Initiatives

Strengthening Policy Reputation and Business Growth
Enhancing Zoetis’ credibility among policymakers and advancing public-policy initiatives that support market access, revenue growth, and commercial priorities in Zoetis’ Top 8 Commercial Markets (Z8).

Advancing Innovation
Promoting Zoetis’ leadership in shaping policy environments that encourage innovation, support regulatory and market access pathways, and enable commercial adoption of new products and technologies.

Fostering Collaboration
Building a collaborative Global One Zoetis environment that integrates public affairs efforts with commercial, communications, regulatory, and other internal functions to ensure cohesive and business-aligned advocacy strategies.

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.