Overview
Join to apply for the External Affairs Manager role at BAT.
British American Tobacco Austria has an exciting opportunity for an External Affairs Manager in Vienna. The environment for the tobacco and nicotine industry is highly regulated. We need to be informed about political decisions impacting us and how they will affect our business. Our priority is to inform political decision makers about our positions, consider the impact on the country’s economy, and ensure they are taken into account. The acceptance of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) is crucial for the future of the nicotine business as well as regulation – Harm Reduction for smokers who can’t or don’t want to quit nicotine. These challenges affect the nicotine industry, consumers, scientists and health care professionals. A favorable regulatory home for Modern Oral and unlocking the Tobacco Heating Products (THP) space through a simplified authorization process will be vital for BAT’s business in Austria.
Your Key Responsibilities Will Include
* Actively monitor and engage with all regulatory developments impacting the industry, particularly in areas such as product and excise law
* Serve as the public face of the company in Austria, representing the entity in interactions with key external partners including tobacconists, political representatives, and consultants, as well as at relevant business events
* Act as the trusted advisor and right hand to the Austrian Country Manager, supporting all external engagement activities and shaping the company’s public affairs strategy
* Development, alignment and execution of regulatory strategies for engagement with political collaborators based on BAT’s positions (e.g. Ministries, MPs, authorities)
* Steering of Public Affairs Consultants to align BAT’s positions with them, provide BAT narrative and supervise execution
* Cross-industry cooperation in the Chamber of Commerce
* Excise engagement
* THR campaigning and third-party engagement to land the THR narratives and understanding
* Managing trustful Public Health Advocate (PHA) relations
* Manage BAT Austria External Communications, ensure all reactive requests are answered on time and in full, and ensure all BAT standards are met (including BAT Austria website and reactive crisis communication package)
* Contextualize potential impact of political decisions with relevant business functions, design scenarios and guide implementation of political decisions
* Reporting to and collaborating with international BAT functions (Global, Area, EU), timely sharing of information, handling critical issues, and coordinating updates
* Representation of BAT Austria at German-speaking events (e.g., panels, presentations)
* Internal & external stakeholder management, be the point of contact for Area and EU Office on all Austrian relevant topics
* Budget management
What are we looking for?
* Minimum 3-5 years of experience in political engagement
* Knowledge of Austrian political landscape
* Strong own stakeholder network
* Experience with media engagement (classical and/or social media)
* Curiosity about nicotine products and THR
* Strategic and commercial thinking
* Willingness to work in a highly regulated and complex environment with multiple contacts at different levels; talent for stakeholder management
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively
* Proven leadership experience
* Excellent project management skills with the ability to prioritise multiple tasks
* Mobility: frequent business trips
* Excellent command of both German and English, exceptional writing and presentation skills
What we offer you?
* Market-leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility)
* Benefits vary by country and include health plans, work-life balance initiatives, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives
* Opportunities for internal advancement; BAT supports your career progression and development
* Access to online learning platforms and leadership growth programs
* Continuous improvement within a transformative environment
Why join BAT?
We’re one of the few companies named Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute, certified for excellent employee conditions. We value collaboration, inclusion and partnership, and we are committed to supporting every individual to thrive. We recognize career breaks as opportunities and support professionals returning to work through programs like The Global Returners program.
If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please notify us. We are committed to enabling you to demonstrate your full potential.
Seniority level
* Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Business Development and Sales
* Industries: Manufacturing and Tobacco Manufacturing
#J-18808-Ljbffr