Head of Government Affairs

We are Reckitt

Home to the world’s best loved and trusted hygiene, health, and nutrition brands. Our purpose defines why we exist: to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We are a global team united by this purpose. Join us in our fight to make access to the highest quality hygiene, wellness, and nourishment a right and not a privilege.

​Corporate Communications & External Affairs​

Our communications and external affairs team are at the very heart of Reckitt’s brand, purpose and products, bringing them to life around the globe for our employees, consumers, investors, governments and our suppliers. It’s a rewarding task, growing and protecting Reckitt’s image and brand. Every day, we design public relations and communication strategies that build awareness, trust and relationships, while steering us away from reputational risk. We do this by gathering and maintaining knowledge of our policies, principles, and business strategies, while keeping up-to-date with relevant developments right across our business units and trusted brands. From digital, media and events to employee experience, strategic relationships, and community partners, we identify opportunities to deliver on our business and sustainability agenda, while proactively identifying storylines and opportunities to advance our narrative.

About the role

Step into the world of our Corporate Communications & External Affairs function and prepare to be challenged and stretched with a combination of impact, innovation, and excellence.

As the head of Government Affairs in Brussels, you’ll be responsible for Reckitt’s engagement with key corporate stakeholders, policymakers, parliamentarians, and the local government.

 

Join us, and you’ll be collaborating towards shared goals, solving complex challenges, and leaving an enduring legacy.

Your responsibilities

• Lead and maintain strategic relationships with the European institutions, permanent representations and embassies to the EU, trade associations, and relevant public bodies. Regularly engage with key stakeholders to build trust, mitigate risks, and advocate for Reckitt’s priorities in the market.
• Shape and execute Reckitt’s public policy and advocacy strategy in Brussels, ensuring close alignment with the company’s commercial goals and social responsibility objectives.
• Help advance the public policy and advocacy strategy for the company, working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure alignment between business objectives, policy and stakeholder outreach goals.
• Collaborate closely with government affairs colleagues in London and Washington for policy, media and operations.
• Represent Reckitt in relevant stakeholder forums, advocating for positions that support business sustainability and societal impact.
• Work with key stakeholders within Reckitt such as R&D, supply, procurement regulatory and legal.
• Build intelligence and understanding of business-critical issues by tracking, monitoring and advising on important changes in regulatory or legislative matters affecting Reckitt’s operations in the EU.
• Track and interpret relevant legislation, government consultations, parliamentary activity and regulatory changes, briefing senior leadership accordingly.
• Monitor emerging EU policies, regulatory changes, legal frameworks and government initiatives that could impact our business, evaluating them effectively and providing actionable recommendations to senior leaders.
• Cultivate and nurture strong, long-term relationships with the Brussels institutions and key industry bodies to grow our reputation within the sector and position us as a thought and knowledge partner.

The experience we’re looking for

• Political Acumen & Institutional Knowledge: Deep understanding of EU institutions, legislative processes, and geopolitical context. Proven ability to conduct stakeholder mapping and navigate Brussels institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council).
• Relevant Experience: Government affairs or related roles, with strong understanding of EU and global regulatory environments. Experience in a European institution or Member State government is a strong plus.
• Strategic Engagement: Track record of shaping and executing government relations strategies through direct policymaker engagement and industry associations.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex policy into actionable business advice.
• Stakeholder Relationships: Demonstrated success in building trusted relationships with policymakers, diplomats, and senior stakeholders across sectors.
• Languages & Team Experience: Fluent in English; additional European language (especially French, German, or Dutch) is a plus. Experience managing or contributing to teams of 8-10 FTEs.

The skills for success

Emotional intelligence, Cohesion and clarity, Listening skills, Writing skills, Presentation skills, Interpersonal skills, Digital skills, Research skills, Time management skills, Adaptability, Stakeholder engagement and influence, Strategic thinking, Risk management, Business Accumen, Leadership, Brand Strategy, Relationship management.

What we offer

With inclusion at the heart of everything we do, working alongside our four global Employee Resource Groups, we support our people at every step of their career journey, helping them to succeed in their own individual way. We invest in the wellbeing of our people through parental benefits, an Employee Assistance Program to promote mental health, and life insurance for all employees globally. We have a range of other benefits in line with the local market. Through our global share plans we offer the opportunity to save and share in Reckitt’s potential future successes. For eligible roles, we also offer short-term incentives to recognise, appreciate and reward your work for delivering outstanding results. You will be rewarded in line with Reckitt’s pay for performance philosophy.

Equality

We recognise that in real life, great people don’t always ‘tick all the boxes’. That’s why we hire for potential as well as experience. Even if you don’t meet every point on the job description, if this role and our company feels like a good fit for you, we still want to hear from you. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability or medical condition; colour, ethnicity, race, citizenship, and national origin; religion, faith; pregnancy, family status and caring responsibilities; sexual orientation; sex, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity; protected veteran status; size or any other basis protected by appropriate law.