Senior Director, Global Clinical Development – Nephrology & Immunology

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Trenton (NJ); Remote; USD 250,000 - 388,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc. seeks a Senior Director, Global Clinical Development with immunology expertise to lead global clinical strategy across programs and oversee OPDC product development under GCP.

You will steer cross‑functional study teams, contribute to regulatory filings, and shape publication plans while mentoring junior staff and collaborating with regulatory affairs. This role requires deep drug development knowledge, leadership across therapeutic areas, and global launch

Qualifications

• A clinician (MD/DO) with immunology/rheumatology/dermatology background and management experience.
• Minimum five years in clinical research, pharmaceutical industry, or translational research.
• Thorough knowledge of clinical medicine, pharmacology, biostatistics, data management, medical writing.
• Strong understanding of global regulatory requirements and drug development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical development strategy and execution from proof-of-concept through late-stage trials.
• Provide medical leadership to cross-functional study teams and ensure high-quality trial design and data interpretation.
• Serve as medical lead for assigned indications and oversee regulatory document development.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs for global health authority interactions.
• Oversee vendor and CRO governance and contribute to publication planning.
• Mentor junior team members and support business development due diligence.

Skills

Immunology expertise

Clinical leadership

Regulatory strategy

Cross-functional team leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

MD/DO (immunology/rheumatology/dermatology preferred)

PhD, MPH or MBA a plus

Tools

MS Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Remote

Full time

R11948

Otsuka is seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Director, Global Clinical Development (GCD), with experience in immunology, who will serve as a clinical leader responsible global clinical development strategy across multiple programs. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the clinical strategy, leading cross‑functional study teams, and ensuring the highest standards of scientific and medical integrity. The incumbent will be responsible for the design and oversight of clinical research programs and protocols for OPDC products under good clinical practices (GCP).

The Senior Director, GCD works in a multidisciplinary matrix environment and supports the further development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, for global launches. This position requires deep understanding of all aspects of the drug development process from early clinical stages to post commercialization, with emphasis on the large global clinical trials and regulatory filing activities.

The Senior Director, GCD is responsible for all the clinical development activities for the projects assigned and for the successful implementation and completion of trials leading to NDA, BLA, and/or Global filings.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Lead the clinical development strategy and execution for assigned programs after proof of concept through late-stage trials and regulatory submissions.
• Provide medical and scientific leadership to cross‑functional study teams and ensure high‑quality clinical trial design, conduct, and data interpretation.
• Serve as the medical lead and subject matter expert for assigned indications.
• Partner with cross‑functional team to ensure trials are conducted in compliance with GCP, regulatory requirements, and internal processes.
• Lead and contribute to development of clinical sections of regulatory documents, including INDs, IBs, clinical study reports, and NDAs/BLAs.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs on interactions with global health authorities.
• Provides strategic and medical oversight to vendor and CRO relationships and provides clinical input into their governance committees.
• Lead clinical discussions with KOLs and advisory boards.
• Develop clinical documents including medical monitoring plans, asset development plans
• Contribute to development of publication plans and review scientific manuscripts for publications.
• Mentor and provide leadership to junior team members within the organization.
• Support business development activities through medical due diligence and evaluation of external opportunities.
• Contributes to corporate initiatives by participating in continuous process improvement to meet company

Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, Education, and Experience

Required:

• A clinician (M.D., or D.O.) preferably with an immunology, rheumatology, or dermatology background including management experience (direct or indirect). Supplementary degrees (e.g., Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.) are a plus. In exceptional circumstances, highly qualified candidates with other clinical/scientific doctorates (e.g. D.M.D., D.D.S., Pharm.D., Psy.D., D.V.M., or Ph.D. may be considered if complemented by a team or consulting clinician.
• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry, clinical practice experience and/o academic translational clinical research experience (as a general guideline minimum of five years of clinical research experience, post academia).
• Requires thorough knowledge of clinical medicine and/or clinical pharmacology and associated disciplines (e.g. biostatistics, data management, medical writing).
• An advanced understanding of clinical medicine and science.
• Advanced understanding of drug development principles and clinical trial implementation and management.
• Complete understanding of the global regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge of marketing and commercialization.
• Complete understanding of overall corporate goals with a fundamental grasp of basic principles to work in a business setting.
• Demonstrated experience in all developmental phases including evaluation of pre‑clinical or in licensing candidates’ potential for meeting an unmet medical need, establishing early clinical safety and proof of concept, conduct of global trials for registration, and implementation of late stage life‑cycle management strategies,
• Demonstrated experience in successfully leading clinical aspects of regulatory interactions; experience with a successful regulatory filing is a plus.
• Ability to work across different therapeutic areas and different stages of clinical development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate clinical team members (e.g., internal staff and external investigators/consultants).
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Strong computer skills with demonstrated experience in working with the Microsoft suite of programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Knows how/when to apply organizational policy or procedures to a variety of situations.
• An advanced understanding of drug development principles and clinical trial implementation, management and reporting are essential and will be further developed, including:

• Flexibility in working across different therapeutic areas and experience in different stages of clinical development.
• Working knowledge of associated disciplines, including immunology, biostatistics, clinical pharmacology, formulation science, data management, and medical writing.
• Complete understanding of the global regulatory requirements. Demonstrated experience in successful regulatory filings, while not essential, is an advantage.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Travel (~30-35%)
• See document Physical Demands and Work Environment for further requirements.

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 $249,973.00 - Maximum $388,125.00, 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 have earned us certification as a Great Place to Work by the Great Place to Work Institute.