Senior Director, Translational Biology

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 231,000 - 345,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid holidays

Job summary

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd leads translational biology strategy across drug discovery and development, translating biological insights into clinical hypotheses and biomarker strategies. The Senior Director will integrate preclinical and clinical data to inform go/no-go decisions and precision medicine approaches, guiding senior teams and external collaborations.

The role requires substantial leadership of cross-functional teams, experience with CNS/neurology programs, and a strong track

Qualifications

• MD, PhD, or MD/PhD with subspecialty training Translational Biology strongly preferred.
• 10–15+ years of Translational Biology experience with single-cell & spatial biology.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams in a global matrixed environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee translational biology strategy from target validation to clinical development.
• Lead disease biomarker discovery, validation, and translation to clinical endpoints.
• Provide scientific guidance to cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

Skills

Translational Biology

Single-cell technologies

Spatial biology

AI-enabled translational research

Team leadership

Education

MD/PhD

Job description

Job Summary The Senior Director of Translational Biology will lead the development and execution of translational biology research strategies across the drug discovery and development pipeline. This individual will serve as a key scientific leader responsible for translating biological insights into clinical hypotheses, biomarker strategies, patient selection approaches, and proof-of-mechanism frameworks that support successful advancement of therapeutic programs. Working closely with Discovery Research, Clinical Development, Bioinformatics, Biomarker Sciences, Quantitative Sciences, and Regulatory teams, the successful candidate will integrate preclinical and clinical data to drive data-informed decisions and enable precision medicine strategies and development of disease biomarkers enabling early go no go decisions. As an industry-leading expert and trusted advisor to senior leadership, this leader directs complex, cross-functional initiatives with enterprise impact, and helps define the operating model and culture of discovery groups as well as OPDC.

Key Responsibilities

• Translational Research Strategy: Develop and implement translational biology strategies from target validation through clinical development in collaboration with discovery groups. Establish mechanistic understanding of disease biology and therapeutic interventions to support program progression and development of disease biomarkers across portfolio of assets. Support discovery groups as well as early development organization with translational endpoints, biomarkers, and pharmacodynamic measures that inform decision-making. Integrate multi-omics, biomarker, and clinical data to generate actionable insights in collaboration with biomarkers and discovery groups. Lead development of patient stratification and precision medicine approaches.
• Biomarker and Clinical Translation: Design and oversee disease biomarker discovery, validation, and implementation in discovery and development organizations. Partner with Clinical Development teams to support first-in-human and proof-of-concept studies. Support definition of pharmacodynamic, predictive, prognostic, and response biomarkers. Support clinical data interpretation and translational analyses.
• Scientific Leadership: Serve as translational biology lead for one or more therapeutic programs. Provide scientific guidance to cross-functional project teams and senior leadership. Identify emerging technologies and scientific opportunities that enhance translational capabilities. Represent the company at scientific conferences, investigator meetings, and external collaborations. Build and maintain relationships with academic investigators, CROs, and strategic partners.
• Team Leadership and Management: Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing translational scientists. Foster a collaborative and innovative scientific culture. Manage departmental resources, budgets, and external partnerships. Establish operational processes and best practices for translational research activities.

Qualifications

• Required MD, PhD, or MD/PhD with subspecialty training Translational Biology, Physiology and Translational Medicine strongly preferred. 10–15+ years of Translational Biology, single-cell technologies, spatial biology, and AI-enabled translational research approaches. Recognized thought leader with scientific contributions (publications, presentations); expert understanding of industry best practices and adjacent functional areas. Proven success leading complex, cross-functional teams in a matrixed, global environment; exceptional strategic thinking and decision-making under uncertainty. Outstanding communication skills with the ability to synthesize complex data and influence executive stakeholders.
• Preferred Deep expertise in CNS, neurology, neuroimmunology, psychiatry, neurodegenerative disease, and neuroinflammation. Experience implementing clinical study plans to drive decision-making. Experience with external collaborations, including collaborative animal model experiments, key opinion leader interactions and advisory boards. Prior experience building or scaling early development operating models and ways of working.

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 $230,720.00 - Maximum $345,000.00, 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.

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
• paid leave programs
• other company provided benefits

Otsuka 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.