New Product Planning Associate Director - Biopharma

Sumitomo Pharma; Raleigh (NC); Remote; USD 163,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Sumitomo Pharma is seeking a New Product Planning Associate Director to shape commercial strategy for CNS programs in the U.S. You will align R&D with Commercial to optimize asset development, pricing, and market access, focusing on early and mid-stage assets across modalities.

The role emphasizes strategic forecasting, portfolio prioritization, and working across Clinical, Regulatory, Medical, HEOR, and Finance to inform investment decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 8 years in biotech/pharma.
• 3–5 years in commercial planning or related strategic roles in biotech/pharma.
• Experience in CNS/Neurology preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial strategy for CNS pipeline programs.
• Develop market landscapes, patient segments, competitive pipelines.
• Create commercial forecasts and scenario analyses for valuation and investments.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Financial forecasting

Market landscape analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Storytelling/presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

US-Remote

Full time

R01520

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is a global pharmaceutical company based in Japan with operations in the U.S. (Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.), focused on addressing patient needs in oncology, urology, women's health, rare diseases, cell & gene therapies and CNS. With several marketed products and a diverse pipeline of early- to late-stage investigational assets, we aim to accelerate discovery, research, and development to bring novel therapies to patients sooner. For more information on SMPA, visit our website https://www.us.sumitomo-pharma.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

Job Overview:

The New Product Planning (NPP) Associate Director - Biopharma reports to the Executive Director, R&D Strategy and New Product Planning, and plays a critical strategic role at the interface of R&D and Commercial. This role provides forward-looking strategies, market positioning, and strategic commercial guidance to shape the development of early-stage and mid-stage assets, with a particular focus on U.S. markets. Biopharma assets include programs in multiple therapeutic areas (with an initial focus on CNS/Neurology) and across multiple modalities. The role ensures pipeline programs are positioned for clinical, regulatory, and commercial success, while helping the organization make informed investment and portfolio decisions.

Essential Functions Required for Job:

• Lead commercial strategy for all CNS pipeline programs, partnering closely with R&D to shape Target Product Profiles and development plans.
• Develop and assess market landscapes, including patient segments, treatment paradigms, and competitive pipelines, to inform asset and portfolio decisions.
• Develop commercial forecasts and scenario analysis to support valuation, prioritization, and investment cases.
• Provide strategic input on clinical trial design, evidence generation, and regulatory strategy to optimize future market access and differentiation.
• Generate insights from proactive monitoring of competitive landscape and market developments to guide strategic recommendations.
• Support annual portfolio prioritization process by providing an objective commercial perspective on global R&D CNS programs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally across Clinical, Regulatory, Medical, HEOR, and Finance to integrate commercial perspectives into drug development.
• Support early brand development, including value propositions, positioning concepts, and go-to-market considerations.
• Contribute to business development assessments with commercial evaluations of external assets.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (general & technical):

• Deep understanding of CNS/Neurology, with working knowledge of other therapeutic areas, clinical development pathways, and payer/reimbursement considerations.
• Demonstrated expertise developing detailed financial forecasts, TPPs and market opportunity assessments.
• Ability to develop relationships in the organization, active listening and influencing are strongly preferred.
• Ability to work across multiple geographies.
• Strong strategic thinking and structured problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to translate data and scientific insights into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and storytelling abilities.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity, fast paced environments, and matrixed organizations.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree, with a minimum 8 years of relevant experience in biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
• 3 -5 years of experience in commercial planning, new product planning, or related strategic roles within biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies and/or consulting.
• Therapeutic Area: Experience in CNS/Neurology (Parkinson’s Disease, rare epilepsies such as PME or DEE, narcolepsy, retinitis pigmentosa) is strongly preferred.

Travel Requirements:

Primarily remote role with periodic on-site meetings in office. Must be able to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Mental/Physical Requirements:

Fast-paced environment handling multiple demands is involved. Must be able to exercise appropriate judgment as necessary. Requires a high level of initiative and independence. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Requires ability to use a personal computer for extended periods of time.

This is an individual contributor role and does not have direct reports or formal people‑management responsibilities.

Travel Requirements:

Primarily remote role with periodic on-site meetings in office. Must be able to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Mental/Physical Requirements:

Fast-paced environment handling multiple demands is involved. Must be able to exercise appropriate judgment as necessary. Requires a high level of initiative and independence. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Requires ability to use a personal computer for extended periods of time.

The base salary range for this role is

$162,700.00 - $203,400.00

Base salary is part of our total rewards package which also includes the opportunity for merit-based salary increases, short incentive plan participation, eligibility for our 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances and leaves provided in line with your work state. Our robust time-off policy includes flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays plus additional time off for a shut-down period during the last week of December, 80 hours of paid sick time upon hire and each year thereafter. Total compensation, including base salary to be offered, will depend on elements unique to each candidate, including candidate experience, skills, education and other factors permitted by law.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Confidential Data:

All information (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) that an employee encounters is considered confidential, in accordance with applicable law.

Compliance:

Achieve and maintain Compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and operational rules and procedures, by ensuring that all plans and activities for and on behalf of Sumit