Director Government Affairs EU

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.Job OverviewBASIC SUMMARY:The Director, European Public Affairs will lead Charles River’s public affairs strategy across Europe, managing the company’s regional public policy agenda and day‑to‑day relationships with external agencies and stakeholders. This role is responsible for building and advancing engagement plans that support the organization’s business priorities, reputation, and policy position within key European markets. The Director will serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, helping navigate the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape and strengthening Charles River’s influence across the region.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Duty% of Time Spent (no less than 10%)Lead the development and execution of Charles River’s European public affairs strategy in alignment with global policy priorities, including:Develop and implement stakeholder engagement plans targeting policymakers, industry associations, NGOs, and other influential groupsMonitor and analyze EU and national legislative and regulatory developments to assess potential business impacts and advise senior leadership40%Manage day‑to‑day relationships with public affairs agencies, consultants, and key external partners across European markets; including overseeing budgets, scopes, and performance20%Prepare strategic materials including policy briefs, position papers, talking points, and executive updates; coordinating cross‑functional input to ensure that public affairs priorities are aligned with business objectives across the region20%Provide strategic counsel to senior executives on emerging public policy risks and opportunities in the European landscape10%Represent Charles River in relevant forums, working groups, and industry coalitions as appropriate10%SCOPE/COMPLEXITY:StakeholderReason for interactionChief Communications OfficerSupporting and aligning with overall communications goalsBusiness LeadershipSupporting and aligning with overall business goalsJob QualificationsMinimum 5+ years of experience in public affairs, government relations, policy advocacy, or a related fieldDemonstrated experience managing public affairs programs across multiple European marketsProven ability to develop and execute stakeholder engagement strategiesStrong relationship‑management skills with agencies, consultants, and external stakeholdersDeep understanding of the European legislative and regulatory landscapeExceptional written and verbal communication skills, including policy messaging and briefing materialsAbility to synthesize complex issues and advise senior leadersStrong project management and organizational capabilitiesAbility to work effectively across cultures and time zonesPREFERRED SKILLS:Experience in the life sciences, biopharmaceutical, or research services sectorEstablished network within relevant European institutions, government bodies, or industry associationsExperience managing agency partners and overseeing external budgetsPrior work in a multinational or matrixed environmentFamiliarity with issues related to research policy, regulatory affairs, or alternatives to animal researchWORK ENVIRONMENT:Ability to work remotely, with sufficient equipment and space to productively conduct workAbout Corporate FunctionsThe Corporate Functions provide operational support across Charles River in areas such as Human Resources, Finance, IT, Legal, Sales, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Corporate Development. They partner with their colleagues across the company to develop and drive strategies and to set global standards. The functions are essential to providing a bridge between strategic vision and operational readiness, to ensure ongoing functional innovation and capability improvement. About Charles RiverCharles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 80% of the drugs approved by the FDA in the last five years.At Charles River Laboratories, we recognize and recruit all talent. We are a company committed to fostering a sense of belonging and work daily in this direction.237198Job ID: 237198_en_USEmployment Type: ExemptJob Area: LegalPosted Date: 29/10/2026