Senior Director, Translational Biology

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.); Boston (MA); On-site; USD 231,000 - 345,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid holidays and leave

Job summary

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.) is seeking a Senior Director of Translational Biology to lead strategy across drug discovery and development. You will translate biological insights into clinical hypotheses, biomarker strategies, and patient selection approaches that guide program progression.

You will collaborate with discovery research, clinical development, and regulatory teams to integrate preclinical and clinical data, enabling precision medicine and early go/no-go decisions while

Qualifications

• MD, PhD, or MD/PhD with translational biology specialization preferred.
• 10–15+ years in translational biology and related technologies.
• Proven leadership of cross-functional teams in global settings.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making under uncertainty.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication with executive stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead translational biology strategy from target validation to clinical development.
• Define disease biomarkers and pharmacodynamic measures for decision-making.
• Integrate multi-omics, biomarker, and clinical data to drive insights.
• Oversee biomarker discovery, validation, and implementation.
• Partner with clinical development for first-in-human and POc studies.
• Represent translational biology in leadership forums and external collaborations.
• Build and mentor high-performing translational scientists.

Skills

Leadership in Translational Biology

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Data-informed decision making

Education

MD, PhD, or MD/PhD with Translational Biology specialization

Tools

Single-cell technologies

Spatial biology

AI-enabled translational research

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. 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.

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 EEAccommodations@otsuka‑us.com.

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.