Associate Director, Launch Lifecycle Project Management (Hybrid)

at  Otsuka Pharmaceutical

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.
This position reports to the Launch Excellence, Project Management lead in Otsuka’s Marketing Operations organization. Marketing Operations provides US launch lifecycle project management and enablement for the commercial organization, from pre-launch to Loss of Exclusivity (LoE), including brand teams and other key functional areas. The Associate Director, Launch Lifecycle Project Management will play a crucial role in leading launch lifecycle team PMs support including all phases from late development (L-48) through LoE.
The individual selected for this position will be primarily responsible for providing launch project management and operational support to commercial teams, coaching and managing direct report(s) also providing this support. This position will be responsible for planning and executing priority commercial initiatives, primarily in preparation for new asset or indication launches, as well as associated brand planning and day to day functional operations. This individual will have responsibility for managing multiple initiatives simultaneously, including project leadership, material development and process stewardship. This is a people management role with responsibility for direct report(s), so prior positive managerial experience is a must.
This role involves a significant amount of cross-functional leadership, partnering with major functional areas including Brand Teams, Field Teams, Business Analytics/ Market Research, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Sales Training, Finance, Regulatory, Legal, Promotional Compliance, and others. This position also requires coordination with Otsuka’s alliance partners and vendors when applicable by project.
In addition, the successful candidate must have prior change management experience including driving the development and implementation of a comprehensive change management strategy that is aligned with the organization goals. The successful candidate will assist with developing change management activities across multiple business matrix areas with focus on implementation and delivery of long-term strategies, solutions, and process advancements, accounting for and including stakeholder analysis and engagement.
The candidate must have experience presenting and engaging with C-Suite executives both orally and in written formats. This includes slide/content development, pre-meeting preparations, and post-meeting follow up and pull throughs.
The right candidate for this position will not only have strong people management and project management skills, but also the ability to think strategically adding value to launch teams and brand teams beyond basic operations. Examples include managing complexity and ambiguity, launch subject matter expertise, effective communication, change management, cross functional influence, problem solving, anticipating challenges, process improvement/ stewardship, and structuring presentations and making process improvement recommendations.
This position is based in Princeton, New Jersey. Otsuka maintains a hybrid work policy and travel is expected up to 15% of the time based on business needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Commercial Project Management

Product Launch:

• Partner with launch leadership to champion and manage launch excellence operational structure, including governance and cross-functional preparation/ execution
• Own overall launch/execution readiness, creating and maintaining project plans, timelines and driving launch to major milestones across functions
• Lead launch readiness process, including reporting and decision-making
• Partner with key alliance personnel as necessary per launch
• Facilitate decision-making, risk assessments, mitigation & timely issue resolution
• Determine and champion project management methodology and processes

Governance/ Major Meeting Materials:

• Partner with brand/ launch leadership to prepare presentations internally and with cross-functional and alliance partners
• Gather/ synthesize relevant content
• Provide input into brand-led content and storylines
• Present and facilitate to achieve meeting objectives

Business Planning:

• Partner with brand/ launch leadership and enterprise leadership to take ownership of planning framework and approach to annual business planning
• Facilitate and contribute to planning deliverables, including strategic planning and brand planning
• Drive process to gain alignment across functions, meet milestones and deadlines

Change Management:

• Assist in the strategic planning, development, and execution of change management strategies for organizational initiatives
• Identify and engage key stakeholders at various levels of the organization to understand their needs, concerns, and expectations related to change, and build support for change initiatives
• Establish and maintain effective communication channels with stakeholders

People Management

• Manage direct report(s) to execute on the above and accomplish (launch) team goals
• Take responsibility for direct report(s)’ workloads, performance, and continuous improvement
• Guide direct report(s) in their development and career progression

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree
• Experience successfully managing all or significant portions of a US commercial pharmaceutical launch
• Experience partnering directly with brand teams, brand leadership, and cross-functional leadership
• Experience in managing simultaneous, multiple high priority deliverables
• Experience with Change Management plan development, delivery and impact measurements
• Minimum 7 years of pharmaceutical industry and/or marketing operations experience
• Minimum 5 years project management experience

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High standards for accuracy and clarity in written and verbal communication
• Strong interpersonal, communication, relationship building and influencing skills
• Strong planning, organizational, and prioritization skills - ability to effectively organize and prioritize tasks to achieve established deadlines
• Strong people management skills, experience successfully managing direct reports
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical industry and major functional areas
• Strong managerial, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to function effectively under conditions of uncertainty and ambiguity, and ability to navigate competing demands
• Ability to effectively utilize project management tools and software
• Advanced PowerPoint and deck creation skills
• Results and self-driven with a high sense of urgency and accountability: ability to meet business objectives, deliverables, and timely completion of initiatives with minimal supervision
• Expertise in independently managing complex projects and leading processes with cross-functional workstreams
• Strategic planning experience within marketing and launch management
• 5+ years direct people management experience
• Experience creating senior leadership presentations
• Experience with Global launch teams
• Knowledge of working across strategic alliances
• Strong Excel, Microsoft Project skills and Monday.com
• Advanced degree in relevant field
• PMP training or other relevant Project Management-related certification
• Change Management Certification
• Consulting experience a plus

Our Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Company provided Basic Life, AD&D, Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) match
• PTO allotment each calendar year, 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 Accommodation Request .

Please refer the Job description for details