What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Global Medical Publications, Rare Disease position at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Companies (U.S.)?
Job Summary
The Director, Publications Lead is responsible for leading the planning, development, and execution of the global medical publication strategy and publication deliverables for the relevant therapeutic area across multiple assets in development. This role ensures the timely, accurate, and compliant communication of scientific and clinical data through congress abstracts, posters, manuscripts, and other peer-reviewed outputs.
Serving as the functional lead for publication operations within the Medical Communications team across global congresses, the Director partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including Clinical Development, Global Integrated Evidence & Innovation (GIE&I), Medical Strategy, Core Content, and external vendors, ensuring excellence and consistency in scientific communication across the portfolio. This role will also be responsible for managing bi-directional publication strategy alignment and review with alliance partners involved in asset development as needed.
The position reports to the Medical Communications Lead and plays a key leadership role in advancing Otsuka’s mission to deliver impactful, evidence-based science that improves patient outcomes.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Publications Strategy and Execution
Skills and Competencies:
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 receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status, or any protected status.
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 $186,489.00 - Maximum $278,875.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.
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.
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.
The Director, Publications Lead is responsible for leading the planning, development, and execution of the global medical publication strategy and publication deliverables for the relevant therapeutic area across multiple assets in development. This role ensures the timely, accurate, and compliant communication of scientific and clinical data through congress abstracts, posters, manuscripts, and other peer-reviewed outputs.
Serving as the functional lead for publication operations within the Medical Communications team across global congresses, the Director partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders, including Clinical Development, Global Integrated Evidence & Innovation (GIE&I), Medical Strategy, Core Content, and external vendors, ensuring excellence and consistency in scientific communication across the portfolio. This role will also be responsible for managing bi-directional publication strategy alignment and review with alliance partners involved in asset development as needed.
The position reports to the Medical Communications Lead and plays a key leadership role in advancing Otsuka’s mission to deliver impactful, evidence-based science that improves patient outcomes.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Publications Strategy and Execution
- Lead execution of the publication plans for relevant therapeutic area assets, ensuring strategic alignment with global medical and communication objectives, data dissemination priorities, and the product lifecycle
- Management of alliance partnerships for publication strategy and review across global congresses and journals
- Partner with Medical Communications and cross-functional teams to define publication timelines, data priorities, and congress/journal strategies in collaboration with study teams and medical leaders
- Oversee the end-to-end development of publication deliverables, including abstracts, posters, and manuscripts to ensure scientific accuracy, quality, and adherence to Good Publication Practices (GPP), ICMJE, and company SOPs
- Support the integration of publication insights into broader scientific communication platforms (SCPs), ensuring consistency across core content, field materials, and other medical channels
- Future potential to manage other direct reports or a team
- Manage publication vendors and medical writing partners to ensure timely delivery, cost-effectiveness
- Oversee operational management of external publication agencies, providing clear direction, review, and feedback to ensure alignment with scientific and compliance standards
- Manage assigned publication budgets, including forecasting, tracking, and reconciliation
- Ensure efficient resource utilization and drive continuous process improvement across publication workflows, including considering managing in-house development of some publication content
- Collaborate closely with Clinical Development, Global Integrated Evidence & Innovation, Medical Strategy, and Core Content teams to ensure data readiness, accurate interpretation, and timely publication of key clinical results
- Serve as a publications subject matter expert within the Medical Communications function, providing strategic and operational guidance and support to internal stakeholders and vendors
- Partner with Field Medical and Medical Core content leads to ensure consistency of published data messaging across medical channels and external communications
- Contribute to integrated medical communication planning, ensuring that publications effectively support data dissemination goals and launch readiness activities
- Consider technology and AI to support workflow improvement
- Ensure all publication activities are conducted in accordance with internal SOPs, GPP, ICMJE, and regional/global regulatory requirements
- Partner with Legal, Regulatory, and Compliance teams to uphold publication governance, authorship transparency, and ethical data sharing standards
- Contribute to audit readiness and documentation best practices for publication records and approvals
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong leadership presence and ability to present to executive leadership team
- Demonstrated ability to lead publication strategy execution across global and regional teams
- Engagement experience with alliance partners in asset development
- Exceptional project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent publication deliverables
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with meticulous attention to scientific accuracy and compliance
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and align internal and external partners
- Proven leadership in vendor management, process optimization, and publication operations
- Financial acumen and experience managing publication budgets
- Strategic thinker with operational excellence mindset and the ability to translate complex data into clear, evidence-based scientific narratives
- Proven experience leading a team a plus
- Advanced scientific or medical degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, or equivalent) required
- 10 years of experience in Medical Affairs, Medical Communications, or Publications within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
- Minimum 3–5 years of experience leading publication planning and execution for global or regional programs, preferably in Rare Disease or related therapeutic areas
- Proven experience managing vendors and external medical writers, including budget oversight and performance evaluation
- Strong understanding of Good Publication Practices (GPP), ICMJE guidelines, and industry standards for scientific and medical communication
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 receive consideration for employment without regard to their protected veteran or disabled status, or any protected status.
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 $186,489.00 - Maximum $278,875.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.
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.
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.