**Position Summary:** As Otsuka faces increasing complexity in both in-line brand stewardship and upcoming product launches, the Associate Director, Channel Strategy and Patient Affordability 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/ Required** Knowledge/ Experience, Skills and Educational Qualifications: **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 .ppt **Why This Role Now:** As Otsuka shifts from a steady-state brand model to a pipeline-driven growth strategy, this position enables the team to evolve from reactive problem-solving to proactive strategy execution. The added headcount ensures: + Deeper, sustained focus on **performance optimization** for existing brands + Sufficient leadership capacity to support **complex product launches and new distribution models** **Competencies** **Accountability for Results -** Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change. **Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving -** Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business. **Patient & Customer Centricity -** Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders. **Impactful Communication -** Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka. **Respectful Collaboration -** Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals. **Empowered Development -** Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative. Minimum $164,530.00 - Maximum $245,985.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting salary for candidates hired to perform the work. Other elements may be used to determine actual salary such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws. **Company 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 as well as other company provided benefits. Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka . **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 (EEAccommodations@otsuka-us.com) . **Statement Regarding Job Recruiting Fraud Scams** At Otsuka we take security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please be aware individuals may approach you and falsely present themselves as our employees or representatives. They may use this false pretense to try to gain access to your personal information or acquire money from you by offering fictitious employment opportunities purportedly on our behalf. Please understand, Otsuka will **never** ask for financial information of any kind or for payment of money during the job application process. We do not require any financial, credit card or bank account information and/or any payment of any kind to be considered for employment. We will also not offer you money to buy equipment, software, or for any other purpose during the job application process. If you are being asked to pay or offered money for equipment fees or some other application processing fee, even if claimed you will be reimbursed, this is not Otsuka. These claims are fraudulent and you are strongly advised to exercise caution when you receive such an offer of employment. Otsuka will also never ask you to download a third-party application in order to communicate about a legitimate job opportunity. Scammers may also send offers or claims from a fake email address or from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc, and not from an official Otsuka email address. Please take extra caution while examining such an email address, as the scammers may misspell an official Otsuka email address and use a slightly modified version duplicating letters. To ensure that you are communicating about a legitimate job opportunity at Otsuka, please only deal directly with Otsuka through its official Otsuka Career website https://vhr-otsuka.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External . Otsuka will not be held liable or responsible for any claims, losses, damages or expenses resulting from job recruiting scams. If you suspect a position is fraudulent, please contact Otsuka’s call center at: 800-363-5670. If you believe you are the victim of fraud resulting from a job recruiting scam, please contact the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at: https://www.ic3.gov , or your local authorities. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., and Otsuka Precision Health, Inc. (“Otsuka”) does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any Otsuka employee directly or through Otsuka’s application portal without a valid written search agreement in place for the position will be considered Otsuka’s sole property. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired by Otsuka as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.