Associate Director, Strategic Planning & Operations, Rare Disease

The Associate Director, Rare Disease Strategic Planning Lead will support the assets of varying lifecycle stages in the Rare Disease portfolio. This role is crucial in driving operational excellence and innovation within our Global Medical Affairs organization, with a specific focus on Rare Disease programs. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping and implementing best practices and ensuring efficient medical affairs processes are in place. This position reports directly into the Director, Strategic Planning Lead, who in turn reports into the Medical Excellence & Operations Lead.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Develop and implement strategic plans in partnership with Medical Strategy leadership to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness within the GMA organization for the Rare Disease portfolio
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align global medical operations with overall business objectives and therapeutic area strategies
• Act as point lead (in collaboration with commercial) to coordinate annual medical/brand plans for Rare Disease portfolio
• Drive long-term planning for the Rare Disease portfolio by managing a 1 to 3-year roadmap that supports strategic decision-making and cross-functional collaboration
• Oversee end-to-end program management processes, including planning, tracking, and reporting across key initiatives

Operational Efficiency and Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and lead initiatives to streamline GMA operations worldwide
• Implement and optimize systems and tools to enhance productivity and data management within GMA
• Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of global medical operations
• Consider technology and AI to support workflow improvement

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Foster strong partnerships with Global Clinical Development, Global R&D Evidence, Commercial teams, & finance to ensure alignment and efficiency in medical activities
• Collaborate with IT and digital teams to implement and optimize technology solutions for global medical operations
• Serve as a liaison between Global Medical Affairs and other departments to facilitate smooth operations and communication across regions

Budget Management

• Develop and manage day to day aspects of budgets for global medical operations initiatives
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement of fiscal stewardship within the global team
• Serve as a strategic thought partner who confidently challenges investment decisions, ensuring alignment with broader organizational strategy and long-term value creation
• Ensure cost-effective utilization of resources while maintaining high-quality outputs across all regions

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree required, advanced degree in life sciences, pharmacy, or related field (Ph.D., PharmD) a plus
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in Global Medical Affairs within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with at least 3 years in operational roles
• Proven track record in implementing process improvements and driving operational excellence on a global scale
• Rare disease experience required and relevant therapeutic area knowledge is preferred

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of Global Medical Affairs functions and their interconnections with other departments
• Technical knowledge in Veeva CRM, Veeva Vault, KOL Mapping Systems, etc.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple global initiatives simultaneously
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence without direct authority across global teams
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment
• Innovative mindset with the ability to identify and implement creative solutions for global challenges

Competencies

Accountability for Results - Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving - Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.

Patient & Customer Centricity - Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.

Impactful Communication - Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.

Respectful Collaboration - Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.

Empowered Development - Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.

Minimum $169,222.00 - Maximum $253,000.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.

Application Deadline : This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.

Company benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits.

Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; .

Otsuka is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request ( ) .

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