About this role
Description: Senior Director, Project & Portfolio Management Division (PPM), is a key leadership position and is accountable for driving R&D strategic planning at all levels (product, therapeutic area and portfolio) that guides decision making in R&D Japan. Accountable for providing cross-functional project management, portfolio management and process governance expertise to optimize drug development in R&D Japan. Senior Director, PPM, is a key member of the R&D Japan leadership team led by VP & Head of R&D Japan.
Key Accountabilities / Responsibilities: Lead, manage and provide strategic direction to staff in PPM. Establish and lead an effective, high performing organization. Champion the use of highly effective project management skills, leadership skills and behaviours and provide direction to ensure project managers drive to discuss and define robust Japan strategies and development options in Japan development team (JPT), within the context of global strategy, supportive for effective investment decisions at appropriate governance body and value maximization.
Ensure delivery to plan of all R&D Japan development projects via robust project and risk management. Ensure to keep JPT Operating Model updated to optimize cross functional working at project level. Ensure to lead process governance to promote the efficient way of working based on an ownership of all R&D Japan staffs.
Support portfolio-based decisions in R&D Japan that promote transparent choices and trade-offs that balance value, cost and risk. Accountable for Japan R&D portfolio reporting activities, providing R&D Japan leadership team, JLT and others with decision making information. Co-lead business planning cycles with R&D Japan Finance.
Ensure the division delivers the required business contribution within agreed functional budget. Drive cross-functional capacity planning and management with R&D Japan functions. Drive R&D Japan functional scorecard planning and management.
Drive R&D Japan functional risk management including BCP. Set strategic direction and ensure effective execution of the AI-enabled transformation agenda across Japan R&D, maintaining alignment with R&D priorities, compliance requirements, and measurable business outcomes. Set strategic direction and ensure progress of Business Process Reengineering across Japan R&D, with functional heads leading end-to-end process redesign in collaboration with GBS.
Requirements: Education Graduate or post Graduate degree; with >6years direct relevant experience Required Experience In-depth knowledge of global drug development Demonstrated experience in R&D portfolio management, including portfolio analysis, scenario planning, prioritization, investment trade-offs, resource allocation, and the integration of value, cost, risk, and strategic fit into senior governance decisions. At least 3 years of managerial experience and/or leadership experience leading teams, projects, Programmes. Proven ability to deliver capability uplift across skills groups and within functions Successful leadership and project management experience in complex, multi-disciplinary drug development environment Successful leadership and project management of significant cross-functional deliverables (eg. regulatory submission, clinical development program, etc.) Experience of working on or closely with a global product team Proven ability to transition between roles effectively and learn rapidly in a new environment Preferred Experience Successful line management experience in an R&D function Leadership of significant cross-functional change Programme /initiatives Skills and Capabilities Project management capabilities with good knowledge of PM tools and techniques Experience of leading cross-functional, multi-cultural teams in a matrix environment.
Leading global team experience is a plus, Results focused; foresees and removes obstacles to achieve key outcomes Communication and assertiveness; strong interpersonal, verbal and written skills Strategic influencing; able to influence key decisions Culturally awareness; demonstrated success working in a multicultural environment Builds relationships and gains commitment within teams and across the organization Conceptual thinking; taking long term and global perspective into consideration Analytical thinking Coaches and mentors others Fluent English in speaking and writing Location Osaka or Tokyo Date Posted 24-8月-2026 Closing Date AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.
We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.