Senior Director, Research & Tech Ops Strategy
Astellas

Job Info

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About Astellas Gene Therapies

Astellas Gene Therapies is an Astellas Center of Excellence developing genetic medicines for patients with rare, life-threatening diseases. Based on our innovative approach to developing genetic medicines, as well as our industry-leading internal manufacturing capability and expertise, we have become the Astellas Center of Excellence for their newly-created Genetic Regulation Focus Area. We are currently exploring three gene therapy modalities: gene replacement, exon skipping gene therapy, and vectorized RNA knockdown, with plans to expand our focus and geographic reach under Astellas. We are based in San Francisco, with manufacturing and laboratory facilities in South San Francisco and Sanford, North Carolina. For more information, please visit our website: www.astellasgenetherapies.com



About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.



Our Values:


* Be BOLD (Find a Way)


* Care Deeply -- for our patients, each other and our work
* #GSD (Get Stuff Done)



What is the catalyst for you in your professional career? Are you ready to be a part of a bold, innovative company, to make a change and to make a difference? Listed below is a current opening for a smart, driven, experienced, and just plain nice individual who wants to join us and be a part of our journey.

Purpose:

Reporting to the SVP and Division Head of the Astellas Gene Therapy (AGT). The Senior Director, Strategy & Program Management holds primary responsibility to ensure streamlined activities within the Astellas Gene Therapy organization, based on the priorities of the Division Head and Astellas CSP in support of the development and delivery of a transformative portfolio of AAV-based genetic medicines for serious, rare and common diseases. This position will lead and develop a new business enablement team to support Astellas Gene Therapy. The Senior Director, Strategy & Program Management will collaborate with the SVP and Division Head to define and articulate the overall strategy of the unit. They will develop and oversee the execution of an internal and external communication strategy (through building out and managing a new comms team), ensuring the engagement of all key stakeholders (through building out an engagement role and business operations role). This role manages a team of Research Project Managers, responsible for driving execution of early-stage programs (both internal and external), research operations and initiatives, as individuals responsible for communications and alliance management. In addition, the role will build out and oversee engagement, Business operations, contracting and vendor management. The Senior Director, Strategy & Program Management will have a key role in supporting both central and cross-functional activities within the Astellas Gene Therapy Center of Excellence (CoE) (GT Astellas portfolio), working closing with Program Management, M&D, and Commercial (as well as Astellas Research counterparts post-integration), and other business partners as needed to ensure alignment of activities across early research and clinical development. They will oversee and execute on implementation workstreams and initiatives post-integration as all while maintaining operations of AGT to deliver on the business.





Essential Job Responsibilities:


* Be an active member of the Astellas Gene Therapy Leadership Team with shared responsibility for developing and implementing the early drug development strategy for the company's gene therapy pipeline
* Drive execution (record, manage, refine, and communicate out) and performance of key strategic priorities and objectives within Astellas Gene Therapy Division, emphasizing innovation and resource optimization
* Act with a high degree of independence and authority on behalf of the Head of Astellas Gene Therapy to facilitate productive interactions across the company (all G&A functions, M&D, Commercial) and affiliates and other business units
* Condense large amounts of complex scientific information into simplified actionable insights
* Oversee and manage the research governance forum enabling nimble cross functional data-driven decisions on our early portfolio
* Direct and oversee the creation of business presentations to be used both externally and internally by the SVP and Division Head of Astellas Gene Therapy (and developing a new process with legal, corporate comms, research comms and align across Astellas)
* Identify overlapping initiatives and if needed, align/stop activities to ensure efficient use of Astellas Gene Therapy resources
* Assess inquiries directed to the SVP and Division Head of Astellas Gene Therapy, determine the proper course of action and delegate to the appropriate individual to manage
* Ensure SVP and Division Head of Astellas Gene Therapy has a broad view of key considerations, and elevate issues as necessary
* Track and monitor priority initiatives to ensure adequate resourcing and timely execution
* Facilitate decision-making, collaboration, and problem-solving with people at all levels of the organization to accomplish shared program goals
* Provide business management support for ad hoc priority assignments in partnership with the SVP and Division Head of Astellas Gene Therapy
* Effectively manage multiple projects and responsibilities concurrently as needed
* Effectively manage, coach, and lead teams, people, and direct reports



Quantitative Dimensions:


* Improve operations across the business: building data infrastructure to generate insights and enable decision-making, refresh financial forecast process, improve program stage gating to inform resourcing needs, increase people engagement, increase business awareness of division goals and translate down to team





Qualifications:

Required:


* BA/BS degree with 10+ years of relevant experience in the Biotech/Pharmaceutical industry, including holding applicable roles in portfolio management, communications, research, and/or clinical operations
* Ability to translate high volumes of ambiguous or conflicting information into crisp and actionable insights
* Demonstrated ability to build relationships across functions and at all levels, including senior management
* Understanding of drug development at all stages (pre-IND to commercialization)
* Track record of delivering in a fast-paced, innovative, dynamic environment while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient
* Reputation for innovative problem-solving with an integrated view of business and scientific issues
* Outstanding influencing skills with leaders at all levels
* Demonstrated successful track record of leading and managing productive scientific teams and investing in the personal development of direct reports
* Excellent verbal and written communication and facilitation skills; able to distil complex, dynamic problems into clear thoughts and actions
* Systemic thinker; anticipates and develops multiple, creative strategic solutions
* Models our Core Values: Be Bold: Find a Way, Care Deeply, Get Stuff Done - is experienced as someone who exemplifies the culture we want to create; operates with transparency; is trusted





Preferred:


* Advanced degree in an applicable discipline such as an MS, PhD or MBA
* Experience with biologics and gene-based therapies





Benefits:


* Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
* Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
* 401(k) match and annual company contribution
* Company paid life insurance
* Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
* Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
* Referral bonus program





#LI-KW1



Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

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