[Hiring] Associate Director, Channel Strategy & Fulfillment @Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Role Description

As Otsuka faces increasing complexity in both in-line brand stewardship and upcoming product launches, the Associate Director, Channel Strategy & Fulfillment will serve as a key strategic and operational leader within the team. This role is responsible for proactively designing and optimizing cross-functional programs to ensure seamless access, distribution, and affordability—balancing near-term execution with long-term scalability. With increasing external pressures (e.g., 340B, patient leakage) and internal shifts (e.g., LOE management, innovative distribution models), this role will be critical in anticipating challenges, optimizing performance, and building infrastructure for future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactive Program Optimization: Own the end-to-end performance management process for affordability and channel programs across in-line brands and launches. Develop clear metrics and feedback loops that allow the team to identify gaps, propose enhancements, and deliver continuous improvement—before the market demands it.
• Launch and LOE Readiness: Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to build readiness frameworks for new launches and LOE transitions, ensuring business continuity while tailoring strategies for unique brand needs (e.g., future launches – Centa, JNT517, Uli - may require non-traditional distribution requirements).
• Risk Mitigation & Prioritization: Lead structured prioritization efforts across the portfolio, ensuring limited resources are allocated to the highest-impact opportunities. Prevent execution breakdowns by proactively flagging gaps and designing contingency plans—especially as market complexity increases.
• Strategic Program Design: Architect operational frameworks that scale across multiple products and stages in the lifecycle—from pre-launch to post-LOE. Streamline communication and accountability mechanisms across Channel Ops, Market Access, and Field teams to ensure alignment on business goals.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as a strategic resource across internal market access functions, surfacing upstream needs, driving clarity on interdependencies, and ensuring channel strategies are integrated across core business areas.
• Market Intelligence Integration: Monitor external forces (e.g., 340B, policy changes, competitor access models) and translate implications into tactical and strategic adjustments that maintain patient access and minimize revenue risk.
• People Development & Future Planning: Build team capacity and bench strength to ensure long-term success. This role will directly contribute to succession planning and talent development for critical positions within the Channel Strategy organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5-7 years of experience in pharmaceutical or healthcare industries, with experience in payer and/or channel functions required
• Performance tracking and quarterly business review development experience
• Experience working in matrix management structure with project management, coordination and people management in a team environment
• Proven track record in program management and cross-functional team leadership
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data-driven decision making
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel and PowerPoint

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
• Other company provided benefits