JOB POSITION PURPOSE
Acts as a line manager leading a team of MAS. Shapes the local strategy and ensures the delivery of scientific-medical expertise and exchange with KOLs in the assigned therapeutic area, with a particular focus on the designated products, through a team of MAS.
Lead the Pfizer Japan medical scientific point of contact for HCPs, medical societies, regulators, academia and other external stakeholders.
Play a central role as a scientific and medical leader who can identify unmet medical needs, drive the building and executing medical plans and oversee establishment of clinical evidence.
MAIN REPONSIBILITIES:
Demonstrate medical and scientific leadership and expertise
Ensure and oversee the highest scientific standards during in / external activities to provide deep medical and scientific expertise.
Lead development of local medical plans aligned with global medical plans to address local unmet medical needs and fill data gaps, and manage implementation of local medical strategies and life cycle strategies including pipeline, pre-launch and LOE phases for inline and pipeline medicines / vaccines.
Direct and supervise providing and exchanging medical/scientific information for/from medical facilities in the assigned area and external stakeholders and make strategic decisions on medical strategies for assigned products, to ensure safe, proper, and effective uses of assigned products. These activities contribute to patients and healthcare professionals from medical, pharmaceutical, and clinical study’s perspective.
Drive and monitor heightened understanding of the burden of disease in the assigned therapeutic area and medical attributes of our products to enhance the safe and efficacious use.
Lead achievement of department/team goals, and/or manage cross-organizational projects, providing guidance and accountability for results.
Develop and Execute Medical Plan aligned with medical strategy to meet unmet medical needs in the assigned product(s) and therapeutic area(s)
Oversee identification of unmet medical needs and healthcare disparities in the assigned asset(s) and therapeutic area(s), and manage execution of customer facing medical activities including unbiased medical and scientific communication with HCPs and other relevant individuals and organizations, medical advisory board meetings, educational seminars, and data generation initiatives, medical materials creation and necessary scientific input.
Approve and guide medical activity plans to address unmet needs and data gaps in accordance with the strategy of the therapeutic area(s).
Lead creation of Customer Facing part of Medical Plan in the therapeutic area(s) and asset(s), and ensure
strategic alignment with stakeholders.
Provide subject matter expertise and high-quality scientific exchange, bringing insights (formally and informally) into the organization to shape strategy.
Collaborate with medical stakeholders as a scientific expert for HCPs, medical societies, academia, etc.
Lead establishment of strong collaborative scientific relationship through non-promotional activities such as scientific exchanges (e.g., discussion using the latest research papers and follow-up of contents of academic
conference presentations) with relevant stakeholders in the assigned area.
Direct maintenance of a comprehensive stakeholder map to identify relevant HCPs, medical societies, and other relevant external stakeholders and ensure effective communication strategies.
Data communication and customer insights
Oversee provision of accurate, high-quality, and unbiased medical information to HCPs and external experts, including managing unsolicited medical requests (UMRs).
Provide scientific insight and support to field- and head office based commercial colleagues.
Collaborate with the cross functional team in-country and above-country to develop impactful and compliant promotional and non-promotional materials of value to customers.
Lead collection and strategic use of insights from HCPs and stakeholders to inform medical strategy and business opportunities.
Oversea local advisory boards to gain customer insights.
If media-trained, present the scientific perspective on selected topics during media-briefings.
Observe the code of conduct, company’s regulations, and compliance, make communication with related departments, and exercise leadership in POJ.
Exercise leadership in ensuring compliance with code of contact for Medical Affairs
(guidance for external medical interactions) andobserve it. Give promotional or non-promotional explanations depending on the related departments.
Conduct activities in compliance with the MHLW Guidelines for Prescription Drug Sales Information Activities.
Ensure activities and communications are conducted in compliance with all policies, guidelines, and regulations.
Ensure team awareness and adherence to safety reporting obligations.
For all Pfizer products, observe applicable laws/regulations and the Pfizer policy, and “Gather and report safety information.” At an appropriate timing, attend training programs on obligation of assigned safety reporting.
Financial Accountability
Supports the preparation and management of the medical budget for indication-related activities in accordance with compliance and financial requirements, as part of the local and IDM overall budget. Budget responsibility and planning are carried out in coordination with the CMD and other internal departments. The budget size depends on the current overall medical budget, which is aligned with the TA’s strategic plan.
Trains a team of MAS on budget accountability to ensure the budget is executed in accordance with operation plan.
People management Accountability
Demonstrates strong leadership to foster team growth and collaboration, ensuring a positive and inclusive work environment.
Supports career development through coaching, guidance, and constructive feedback, while empowering members to take ownership.
Effectively manages resources and team dynamics to optimize performance and achieve goals. Applies problem-solving skills to address challenges and maintain high engagement and motivation.
Leads a team of MAS as a direct supervisor. Holds matrix responsibility to coordinate the team’s activities within Medical Affairs at both national and global levels, as well as with other internal departments such as Marketing, Sales, Legal, Compliance, and Finance. Leadership responsibilities may also include overseeing Medical Trainees and/or temporary staff and assistants.
Confident and competent to speak in small (1:1) or large settings; demonstrated ability to navigate complex conversations with differing opinions in broader teams (e.g. promoting a speak-up culture, conflict management).
AS NEEDED:
Lead contribution to Business Development in the assigned area(s): In collaboration with Japan Medical Lead, Japan Medical Product Lead, Global MA members and other members from relevant functions, identify unmet medical needs and candidate therapies for potential medical interventions in the assigned therapeutic area(s) in Japan through medical activities such as advisory boards and consultations with medical experts while keeping confidentiality.
Direct rapid response to critical supply issues from the medical perspective (e.g., rapid communications with academic societies and regulatory authorities)
REQUIRED SKILL SET
Education:
Minimum requirement
4-year university undergraduate degree AND master’s degree in life science, or Pharmacists
Ø 4-year university graduates with pharmacist license and
master’s degree or equivalent life science research experience, or
Ø 6–year university graduates with pharmacist license, or
Nurses with a master’s degree, or
Veterinarians, or
Dentists, or
MDs
Preferred
In addition to those who meet the minimum requirements above, the qualifications below are preferred.
MD (clinical experience, board certification preferred), or
PhD in Life Science
Experience in the pharmaceutical industry, preferably as a Medical/Scientific Advisor, MSL, team lead, and/or clinical experience with direct patient care and/or professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry in relevant areas
General Management Skills:
Strategic Thinking: Ability to consider the direction of Medical from a mid-to-long-term perspective and formulate strategies as a manager at Pfizer.
Communication Skills: Ability to conduct clear and efficient communication, including with other departments, and convey information accurately and logically.
Decision-Making Ability: Ability and responsibility to make quick and effective decisions even in situations where there is no clear answer.
Leadership: Ability to influence teams and departments and drive them towards achieving organizational goals.
Financial Skills: Ability to manage budgets and execute actions reliably and on schedule.
Compliance: Appropriate ethical standards to act in compliance with SOPs and industry rules.
People Management Skills:
Coaching Skills: Ability to support the growth of subordinates and members and draw out their abilities through activities such as CF.
Teamwork: Ability to cooperate smoothly with team members and other departments, raise team motivation, and achieve goals.
Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to derive solutions based on experience, knowledge, and investigation when consulting with team members.
Resource Management: Ability to efficiently manage the team as a whole, including attendance and resource management, and optimize resource utilization.
Advanced Scientific/Medical Expertise and Industry Knowledge:
Practical Experience and Expertise in the Relevant Field: Ability to manage KOLs with practical experience and specialized knowledge in the relevant field.
Medical Strategy Development: Ability to construct and guide specific medical strategies, such as creating medical plans including pipeline, pre-launch and LOE phases for inline and pipeline medicines / vaccines.
Scientific Paper Writing: Ability to write and guide the creation of scientific papers, with experience as a first author on multiple papers.
Broad Knowledge and Experience from Drug Development to Post-Marketing: Comprehensive understanding and experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
Compliance and SOP Understanding: Thorough understanding and guidance of Pfizer's compliance, SOPs, and related regulations.
Experience:
MA/DJ experience and / or research experience preferred.
Scientific publication experience preferred.
Experience in people management role
Language:
Able to understand written and spoken English and Japanese in assigned therapeutic disease area, and scientific interactions.
Minimum TOEIC score of 730
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