Company Overview
Otsuka is a global healthcare company driven by our purpose: "to defy limitation, so that others can too." Patients are at the center of everything we do-from how we design our development programs to how we engage the scientific community and translate innovation into meaningful outcomes for people living with serious disease. We are committed to discovering and delivering medicines that make a real difference in patients' lives.
Position Summary
The Senior Medical Director, Global Medical Strategy - Pipeline Lead is a highly visible leadership role responsible for shaping and executing medical strategy across the Nephrology & Immunology pipeline. Reporting to the Executive Director, Global Medical Affairs, this role operates at the intersection of science, strategy, and patient impact, influencing key development and portfolio decisions.
This role is ideal for a scientifically credible leader who thrives in direct engagement with external experts, brings agility and strong judgment to complex scientific discussions, and can translate insight into clear, actionable strategy with business impact. Building trusted relationships with the external medical community and ensuring the patient perspective is embedded into medical strategy are central to success in this position.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Medical Leadership
Develop and drive integrated, end-to-end medical strategy for assigned pipeline assets, grounded in patient unmet needs, scientific differentiation, and future standards of care.
Serve as a key medical partner to therapeutic and portfolio strategy development, ensuring medical insight meaningfully informs decision-making.
Lead the development of medical strategic plans, medical value propositions, and Target Reimbursable Product Profiles (TRPPs) for assets in development.
Represent Global Medical Affairs at appropriate US and Global governance forums, providing clear, patient-focused and scientifically sound recommendations.
External Engagement & Scientific Influence
Plan, organize, and lead high-impact advisory boards and expert forums that shape development and evidence strategy.
Conduct strategic 1:1 engagements with KOLs, investigators, and scientific leaders to inform clinical strategy, evidence generation, and lifecycle planning.
Act as a credible scientific ambassador for Otsuka, building long-term, trusted relationships with external experts and ensuring patient needs remain central to scientific exchange.
Engage with global stakeholders including guideline committees, medical societies, payers, and advocacy organizations regarding emerging science and patient benefit.
Franchise & Team Leadership
Lead and mentor assigned Medical Strategy team members, fostering scientific rigor, strategic thinking, and a patient-first mindset.
Ensure appropriate resourcing across assigned assets and serve as an escalation point for strategy, prioritization, and risk assessment.
Oversee the development and execution of US and Global medical plans aligned with overall TA strategy and patient outcomes.
Support lifecycle planning as assets advance, ensuring continuity of medical strategy across development stages.
Scientific Expertise & Strategic Translation
Maintain deep expertise in the US and global healthcare landscape, including regulatory, access, and treatment pathway considerations.
Stay at the forefront of scientific advances and Medical Affairs best practices, translating data into strategies that improve both patient outcomes and business value.
Serve as a trusted internal subject-matter expert who connects science, clinical relevance, and enterprise decision-making.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Collaborate closely with Clinical Development, Translational Medicine, Commercial, Market Access, Global Value & Real-World Evidence, and Regulatory teams.
Provide consistent, authoritative medical input into cross-functional leadership discussions and planning across the asset lifecycle.
Qualifications
MD, PhD, or PharmD with deep scientific expertise in the therapeutic area.
Significant US and Global Medical Affairs experience, including strategic pipeline leadership.
Proven track record of external scientific engagement, including advisory boards and senior-level KOL interactions.
Strong ability to translate complex science into actionable strategy with business impact.
Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing teams.
Experience with early development, translational medicine, lifecycle management, and product launches (US launch experience preferred).
Minimum of 10+ years pharmaceutical industry experience, including at least 3 years in a senior medical strategy leadership role.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment with sound judgment and agility.
Why Join Otsuka
This is an opportunity to shape the future of the pipeline while keeping patients at the core of medical decision-making. In this role, you will influence how science is translated into meaningful clinical and real-world outcomes and help ensure innovations reach the patients who need them most.
Travel: Approximately 40%
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.
Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka .
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.
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