Director, Portfolio Strategy and Asset Management

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Baton Rouge (LA); Remote; USD 186,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) match

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Job summary

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. seeks a Senior Program Manager within PS&AM to drive asset strategy and program planning across the drug development lifecycle. You will partner with R&D and Commercial teams to ensure alignment of plans, budgets, and resources, and lead cross-functional governance for global assets.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, coaching of PM staff, and timely reporting to senior management to optimize portfolio performance.

Qualifications

• Extensive drug development experience across multiple stages.
• Strong ability to manage budgets and forecast resource needs.
• Proven cross-functional leadership across R&D and commercial teams.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at all levels.
• Detail-oriented with ability to balance strategic and operational work.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional asset strategy and program planning from IND to launch.
• Oversee portfolio-level metrics, forecasts, and resource planning.
• Lead reviews with Senior Management and ensure follow-through on actions.
• Coach and develop PM staff and align teams to strategic goals.
• Coordinate global contributions and governance across affiliates.

Skills

Drug development knowledge

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Job description

Princeton, NJ

Remote

Full time

R12795

Job Summary

• Partners with team leads to drive cross-functional asset strategy development & progression throughout the product life cycle. May be responsible for 2 or more complex, high priority assets and/or initiatives.

• Contributes to due diligence activities to support business development.

• Facilitates the review of development project proposals with Senior Management, makes recommendations for action and ensures appropriate follow through to achieve approved program/project objectives.

• Functions as a development SME with alliance partners and affiliates.

• Provides portfolio-level information and oversight as needed.

• Prepares and communicates program level and/or portfolio level information to senior management and the wider global organization to enable strategic decision-making.

• Serves as supervisor for PM staff and provides development and coaching for program managers.

• Contributes to department-level forecasting and budget tracking.

• Manages PM resources and program assignments; attends to HR-related items.

• Serves as PM or development subject matter expert for organizational and cross-alliance initiatives; drives specialty/ fit-for-purpose teams.

• Drives the PS&AM function and the broader R&D organization through cross functional leadership focused on creating or strengthening business processes that enable development staff to advance the value of corporate assets.

• The role utilizes two major toolsets: Design thinking process methods to reframe business problems after conducting user research in order to ideate, visualize, and prototype solutions for implementation; and project management methods to implement processes or solutions that enable the business.

• Otsuka is a collaborative business so this role may be within the department as a standalone activity, within the broader R&D organization, or between the R&D organization and any of its collaborative partners. The role includes both a strategic and operational dimension.

• Support data driven approach to help shape cross functional strategy decision making and drive asset development.

• Enables R&D functions to provide a data driven approach and ability to report across key milestones and goals related to the Otsuka OPDC sponsored clinical studies and regulatory submissions.

• Improves capabilities of Asset Managers to consistently apply standard business rules, guidance and oversight in helping to develop asset strategies and provide clear actionable guidance to Teams through the use of project plan tools, templates and systems for OPDC sponsored clinical studies and global regulatory submissions and by managing the progression of Assets through the Action Points product life cycle.

• May develop and maintain tools and systems in collaboration with IT and DTAS to support planning and reporting of Otsuka Assets in the Portfolio

Job Description

• Drive cross-functional asset strategy development, program planning & execution in partnership with R&D and Commercial teams with the aim of developing differentiated, reimbursable products that improve patient lives globally.

• Partners with asset team leader to ensure alignment between development plan, budget, and resource needs. Responsible for ensuring smooth transitions between stage gates and align team priorities/objectives to the requirements for Action Point progression of drug development from initiating IND through product launch and full life cycle management.

• Align team priorities/objectives to the requirements for Action Point progression.

• Works with PDC and strategic teams to develop key deliverables for each asset, including annual goals, PTRS, TPP, NPV, Development and Commercialization Plan.

• Highlights the need to reassess strategy or pivot based on external market factors, evidence, etc.

• Coordinates global contribution from Affiliates to Development and Commercialization Plans.

• Manages and tracks progress against plans/goals and maintains single source of truth for asset-specific performance metrics. As appropriate, informs Senior management and ensures timely resolution.

• Stays on the pulse of asset team progress to identify and address emerging risks or issues that could impact the program and guides asset teams through scenario planning including identification of risks and development of mitigation plans.

• Fosters development of cohesive asset teams that think globally.

• Navigates teams through governance touchpoints, stage gates and preparation of asset reviews and ensures pull through.

• Supports the onboarding of new team members regarding asset strategy, historical decisions, team norms and expectations and provides coaching to develop junior asset managers.

• Supports department activities

• Contributes to department goal setting and serves as Lead for departmental initiatives.

• Contributes to department-level forecasting and budget tracking and effective use of resources.

• Utilizing institutional knowledge generates value within PS&AM function.

• Provide guidance to newer PS&AM staff members on Otsuka processes; global collaboration challenges learned from GPV or GQM; alliance partnering learned from Lundbeck, GW Pharma, Acucela. or Science 37.

• Determine when to enter/exit another workstream in a manner that is quick and ‘fit for purpose’ to refine and help to navigate to a quick solution to get a team moving forward.

• Cover other PS&AM staff in times of temporary resource gaps or conflicts.

• Listen to PS&AM discussions to proactively identify any potential gaps and/or opportunities that could strengthen the business tory prior to external presentation.

• Coach newer staff in alliance key success factors learned from prior alliance mgt experience.

• Responsible for the preparation of the PS&AM functional business case review.

• Develops and maintains standard practices, systems and tools to own the “single source of truth” for major milestones and metrics to drive performance excellence.

• Supports technical subject matter experts in use of Asset Management tools and systems.

• Builds consistent knowledge base across PS&AM and train staff on business rules, definitions, standards and systems with continuous improvement in the oversight of the knowledge base.

• Establishes and monitors OPDC Key Performance Indicators.

• May manage various project management, asset management and project coordinator roles to support PS&AM department.

• May be responsible to manage all or aspects of PS&AM budget, PS&AM headcount- FTE, CW indirect expense and budget.

Qualifications/ Required

Knowledge/ Experience and Skills:

Required:

• Extensive experience of drug development process and the interdependencies of individual development activities.

• 3 years of managerial or supervision experience supporting R&D, preferably in drug development is preferred

• Has a strong working knowledge and understanding of the science, therapeutic area and commercial landscape of assigned programs.

• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision, as well as in a team and cross-functional environment.

• Demonstrated ability to foster positive relationships with internal and external business partners with proven ability to influence others to get things done without formal authority.

• Ability to communicate well at all levels of the organization.

• Meticulous attention to details with the ability to view larger picture at strategic level.

• Strong decision making and problem solving/issue resolution skills.

• Strong meeting facilitation skills.

• Experience with budget management.

Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher with 10 years of cross functional Program Management in pharmaceutical or biotech, specifically drug or product development; including managerial experience.

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 $186,489.00 - Maximum $278,875.00, 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

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

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 [e-mail] .

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., and Otsuka Precision Health, Inc. (“Otsuka”) does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any Otsuka employee directly or through Otsuka’s application portal without a valid written search agreement in place for the position will be considered Otsuka’s sole property. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired by Otsuka as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” In the U.S., Otsuka is comprised of two companies, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc., and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., that share a deep commitment to the development and commercialization of innovative products in the spaces of neuroscience, nephrology, and digital medicine.

Driven by our purpose to defy limitation, so that others can too, we have an unwavering belief in doing more and transcending expectations. In going above and beyond—under any circumstances—for patients, families, providers, and for each other. It’s this deep-rooted dedication that drives us to uncover answers to complex, underserved medical needs, so that patients can push past the limitations of their disease and achieve more than they thought was possible each and every day.

OPDC and OAPI are indirect subsidiaries of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 34,400 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 14.2 billion in 2023.

We invite you to explore our open positions for an opportunity to join our 2,200 colleagues in the U.S. whose passion for our mission and pride in our company has earned us certification as a Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute.