About Cochlear

Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a life full of hearing. We aim to give people the best lifelong hearing experience and access to innovative future technologies. We collaborate with the industry’s best clinical, research and support networks. That’s why more people choose Cochlear than any other hearing implant company. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to hear and experience life’s opportunities.

Our Japan operations (NCC) is one of Asia Pacific’s longest established operations, with the Tokyo office opening in 1989.  Japan is an ageing country, and the ageing population is growing, leading to a higher incidence of hearing loss in over 65-year-olds. Hearing loss among the elderly is a huge opportunity. Our work in Japan focuses on raising awareness among the elderly whilst increasing better access and service to the Pediatric Market.

The Opportunity

We are currently seeking an experience Government Affairs professional to join us in this newly created senior leadership position.

As a member of Cochlear Japan’s Leadership Team reporting to the General Manager, Japan, the Director, Government Affairs, is responsible for the development and implementation of Cochlear’s Government Affairs strategy in Japan.  The role will focus on delivering expanded access to existing and new Cochlear implantable hearing solutions in Japan through external market development activities including, but not limited to, affordability. 

The role will also raise external awareness of hearing health and reduce barriers to customer access by influencing hearing health policy at all relevant levels; educating stakeholders influencing access decisions; and driving optimal current and future advances in access for Cochlear implantable devices (both cochlear implants and the acoustics portfolio).

Expanded access will be achieved by defining and building strong, trusted relationships and partnering with key external political and professional stakeholders in close collaboration with Cochlear General Manager (GM) Japan and the Japan Leadership Team (LT), Market Access and Government Affairs (MA&GA) APAC, and other Cochlear Regional and Global functions.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Define and Build our Stakeholder engagement strategy
• Develop and Execute Hearing Health Strategies to Expand Access
• Develop and Execute Hearing Health Strategies to Expand Access
• Collaborate on Access Considerations for Future Cochlear Technologies

About You. As we grow our operations, we are looking for people who share our passion for delivering quality hearing solutions to our customers. To add value to Cochlear in this role, you'll be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree (Life Sciences, Public Policy, Economics, Law, Business or a related field)
• 10+ years’ experience in relevant industry
• Strong understanding of Japan’s Healthcare Access and Policy environment, with an established healthcare policy stakeholder network
• Excellent interpersonal communication and advanced presentation and writing skills
• Aptitude to engage successfully with senior individuals
• Ability to lead successfully projects and teams in a matrix environment
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to inspire and motivate an organisation to focus on mid to long-term business growth
• Ability to effectively work with multifunctional teams in a multicultural environment
• Ability to develop concepts into plans and take the plan through implementation processes
• Japanese and English spoken and written language skills (fluent)

Ideal:

• Advanced Degree (Masters) in Medical Science, Public Health/Health Policy (or related field)
• Experience with early product insights and developing access strategies for optimal new medical device or other health care technology introduction in Japan.
• Knowledge of hearing health in Japan.

In turn, you will have the unique opportunity to engage in the delivery of life changing technology to people in Japan and work with a growing company that is constantly offering new technologies and solutions to the lives of the hearing impaired. As a global organization, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with regional and global stakeholders and enjoy recognition for delivering on outcomes. The role offers a high-level of job satisfaction and ample opportunities for career progression.

How we recognise your contribution

We want Cochlear to be a place where our people enjoy coming to work. Through our internal programs and employee benefits we aim to create an environment where our people will feel valued and supported.  Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.

For more information about Life at Cochlear, visit www.cochlearcareers.com

How to apply.

If you are excited about what you have read and would like to be considered for this role, then please submit your resumes (English and Japanese) and a covering letter detailing your suitability for this role.

At Cochlear we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential. We offer flexible working arrangements, and we understand flexibility is not the same for everyone. We're open to a conversation about what flexibility means for you.