Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.) brings together pharmaceutical businesses focused on advancing healthcare through product commercialization and clinical development. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. commercializes Otsuka-discovered and in-licensed medicines in North America, while Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. leads clinical development and global registration of innovative healthcare products, with particular expertise in neuroscience. Together, these organizations operate across pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and biotechnology with a focus on developing solutions that support better health.
Associate Director, Neurology Rare Disease Thought Leader Liaison (Remote - United States)
Lead regional thought-leader engagement for Otsuka’s neurology rare-disease portfolio, supporting planning and launch readiness. Build compliant relationships across clinicians, referral networks, and patient-advocacy organizations.
Description
- Create and deliver regional plans that support national strategy and launch priorities
- Identify priority institutions, thought leaders, and referral relationships throughout the region
- Set engagement priorities, address cross-account barriers, and support Account Manager planning and execution
- Coordinate with Medical Science Liaisons on shared experts, scientific requirements, and joint engagements
- Build and sustain compliant relationships with national and regional experts, center leaders, and neuromuscular practices
- Plan and deliver approved national and regional peer-to-peer education initiatives
- Identify qualified advisors and approved promotional faculty candidates
- Collect and synthesize aggregate field insights without patient-specific information
- Apply regional insights to business plans and recommend appropriate follow-up actions
- Maintain current knowledge of the disease, treatments, clinical evidence, and competitive environment
- Act as the regional relationship lead for approved interactions with local and regional advocacy groups
- Find appropriate ways to leverage advocacy resources, programs, and professional networks
- Contribute regional perspective on prospective partnerships and sponsorships
- Direct commercial thought-leader engagement planning for national and regional congresses and professional-society meetings
- Collaborate with Marketing on launch planning, disease education, peer-to-peer initiatives, congresses, and faculty strategy
- Convert regional insights into coordinated initiatives with Account Managers and cross-functional partners
- Align scientific, access, patient-support, and implementation requirements with the appropriate internal teams
- Submit safety information and product complaints through required company procedures
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree is required
- At least eight years of relevant biopharmaceutical experience
- Recent experience in rare or ultra-rare disease, neurology, neuromuscular disease, genetics, or diagnostics is strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience supporting both pre-launch and launch activities
- Ability to work independently and compliantly in a field position without established franchise infrastructure
- Strong clinical and scientific knowledge for credible disease-state conversations with senior specialist audiences
- Leadership ability, strategic perspective, sound judgment, and skill in turning ambiguity into an actionable field plan
- Exceptional relationship-building capability and executive presence
- Sound judgment in maintaining commercial and medical role boundaries and complying with pre- and post-approval engagement requirements
- Strong analytical skills for mapping influence networks, diagnostic and referral workflows, and regional opportunities
- Excellent writing, communication, facilitation, and presentation skills
- Experience with advisory boards and with the execution and quality oversight of disease-state and branded speaker programs
- Proficiency with CRM, insight-management, virtual-engagement, and standard business software
- Commitment to high-quality documentation, privacy, and company policies
- Willingness and ability to travel more than 50% of the time, including frequent overnight and occasional weekend travel
- Ability to participate in priority national and regional congresses, advisory boards, and evening programs
- Valid driver’s license and ability to satisfy company fleet, driving, and travel requirements
- Residence in the assigned region with practical access to a major hub airport, unless efficient coverage of the full territory can be demonstrated
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
- Company-provided basic life insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Student loan assistance
- Generous 401(k) matching
- Flexible paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Paid leave programs
- Additional company-provided benefits
- Incentive opportunity