Oncology Early Development Center Program Lead

Join a Legacy of Innovation 110 Years and Counting!

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical therapies to improve standards of care and address diversified, unmet medical needs of people globally by leveraging our world-class science and technology. With more than 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 16,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. Under the Group’s 2025 Vision to become a “Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology,” Daiichi Sankyo is primarily focused on providing novel therapies in oncology, as well as other research areas centered around rare diseases and immune disorders.

Summary

The Oncology Early Development Center (OEDC) Program Lead, who directly reports to the Head of the OEDC, supports the OEDC and its leadership triad: 1) Head of OEDC and KEE Chair, 2) Scientific Committee Chair, and 3) Infrastructure Committee Chair. This position is critical in transforming Daiichi Sankyo (DS) Oncology Early Development Center (OEDC) so as to be regarded as one of the world's most innovative, trustworthy, and experienced oncology early development focused centers. This role will help the OEDC Leadership Team (OLT) to accomplish its vision to promote innovative, science-driven portfolios with an equally robust and agile infrastructure. The Program Lead plays a central role in supporting OEDC to drive strategy and to manage and facilitate key global DS oncology early development initiatives. The Program Lead will have direct accountability for administrative deliverables, will interact regularly with senior leadership and will play a role to integrate OEDC with internal scientific and functional line areas as well as externally with OEDC stakeholders, both internal and external. This role will assist the OLT with assessing portfolios, preparing documents and communications, and conducting a final review of materials prior to OLT submission. This position acts as a "change agent" within DS to ensure compliance and alignment with DS highest standards. This position interfaces with senior Scientific and Infrastructure Committee members on key scientific and infrastructure issues to facilitate OEDC's role in defining oncology early development strategy and execution for DS. This position provides direct oversight of the internal OEDC staff necessary for meeting the daily operations as well as the strategic objectives of the center. This individual will represent OEDC both internally and externally as identified by OEDC top leadership.

Responsibilities

- The OEDC Program Lead reports to the Head of OEDC and assists in implementing OEDC strategic initiatives.

Working with the OEDC leadership triad: 1) Head of OEDC and KEE Chair, 2) Scientific Committee Chair, and 3) Infrastructure Committee Chair, the Program Lead will ensure a smooth operating environment. Through regular interactions with OEDC internal and external stakeholders, will provide a central point of contact to OEDC. Will provide regular communication to all stakeholders with respect to OEDC.

WIll manage the day-to-day operation of OEDC. Attends and participates in all Committee meetings, specifically the Scientific, Infrastructure, and KEE committees and all other meetings as necessary.

Delivers routine, concise updates on project statuses and next steps and supports thorough preparation of the Scientific, Infrastructure and KEE committees for upcoming discussions, commitments, meetings and governance forums; act as representative for OEDC in appropriate meetings to gather information, provide input and facilitate efficient decision making.

Will assist the OEDC Network Lead in maintaining and managing the DS FIH Site Network.

Will work with the OEDC Administrative Coordinator in the fulfillment of their duties. This includes review and editing of OEDC communication, including the website, FAQ site, and regular OEDC newsletter.

Interacts regularly with senior leadership and assists in integrating OEDC with internal scientific and functional line areas and with internal and external OEDC stakeholders.

Reviews and edits all OEDC documents and communications, including meeting notes from the Scientific Infrastructure, and KEE committees.

Assists the OLT with assessing portfolios, preparing documents and communications, and conducting a final review of materials prior to dissemination.

Assists OEDC leadership with timely submission and compliance of all required DS documentation for quality control/assurance, legal, finance, operational and educational requirements.

Operates at a strategic level with minimal oversight.

Provides oversight of all OEDC activities and direct oversight of internal OEDC staff necessary for meeting the daily operations as well as the strategic objectives of the center. Is directly accountable for administrative deliverables.

Represents OEDC internally and externally as needed by OEDC leadership team. This includes liaising with senior executives in global RD, GCO, and other functional areas.

Coordinates all OEDC leadership activities and deliverables.

Promotes Oncology Early Development knowledge through oversight of the OEDC fellowship program through partnerships with academic institutions, content development for the OEDC website, and participation in the OEDC lecture series.

Tracks and provides operational and finance oversight updates to OEDC leadership.

Uses data-driven decisions to improve responses to OEDC stakeholders (GPTs, functional lines, KEEs, DS leadership), identifies issues with service responsiveness, performs root cause analysis, identifies improvements, and measures success.

- The OEDC Program Lead is also responsible for harmonizing, aligning, and translating OEDC and G-PAD decisions and communications to enhance cross-functional collaboration.

Coordinates with OEDC leadership and stakeholders globally to ensure effective communication, effective decision making and consensus building where required.

Identifies risks and develops and implements risk mitigation plans.

Interfaces with senior Scientific and Infrastructure Committee members on key scientific and infrastructure issues to facilitate the OEDC’s role in defining oncology early development strategy and execution for DS.

Monitors OEDC metrics (i.e. KPIs, KQIs, and other speed and quality metrics) through the use of dashboards.

Coordinates communication of OEDC (i.e. through the OEDC monthly newsletter and other centralized communications) across all aspects of DS.

Collaborates with the OEDC Network Lead to provide updates from the DS FIH Site Network and the KEEs to the OEDC monthly newsletter. Reviews all drafts of committee communications and responses.

- The OEDC Program Lead leads an agile team in a rapid growth environment and conducts all other duties as assigned.

Plans, assigns and directs work for successful OEDC operations; sets direction and manages competing priorities as appropriate.

Proactively identifies root causes of problems, identifies gaps and, working with others evaluates and implements potential solutions.

Acts as a change agent within DS to ensure compliance and alignment with DS highest standards. Uses quality improvement techniques to increase the quality of all OEDC work.

Engages in regular meetings with Corporate Communications.

Anticipates when conflict may arise and uses judgment and experience to determine when to engage for conflict resolution.

Develops and implements plans in collaboration with global and local teams to raise the profile of OEDC.
 

Qualifications: Successful candidates will be able to meet the qualifications below with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Education Qualifications (from an accredited college or university)

- Bachelor's Degree Evidence of high performance at all levels of education required
- Master's Degree Life Sciences preferred
- PhD Life Sciences preferred
- MD preferred

Experience Qualifications

- 10 or More Years Experience in pharmaceutical scientific research and operations methods and processes in industry setting required
- Experience with phase 1 oncology trials in either a pharmaceutical or academic organization preferred
- Experience Leading cross- functional teams preferred
- Professional writing and communication preferred
- Familiarity to a Japan-based organization preferred

Travel

Ability to travel up to 30%. In-house Office position that may require occasional travel (domestic and global).

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.