📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Associate Director, HCP Marketing – Rare Renal (Hybrid)
🔹 Company: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
🔹 Location: Princeton, New Jersey, United States
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time
🔹 Category: Pharmaceuticals
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-05-09
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (30% travel)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Leading HCP omnichannel strategy and execution for a new product launch
- Collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders to drive launch success
- Overseeing congress strategy, planning, and execution
- Ensuring all activities meet state, federal, and industry corporate compliance standards
- Becoming an expert on clinical trial data, marketplace, and HCP customers
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the nephrology and rare disease markets, as well as experience in launching competitive therapeutic brands.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Lead HCP omnichannel strategy and execution for a new product launch, including media strategy, website development, analytics, and reporting
✅ Lead non-personal promotion strategy and execution, analytics, and reporting
✅ Oversee congress strategy, planning, and execution, cross-functional collaboration, and overall campaign and messaging materials development
✅ Support other launch activities, such as field-facing tactics development
✅ Lead agency team members to drive project completion through project request change (PRC) on-time and on-budget
✅ Ensure all activities meet state, federal, and industry corporate compliance standards
✅ Develop strong partnerships with cross-functional team members
✅ Become an expert on clinical trial data, marketplace, and HCP customers
✅ Contribute and generate ideas and strategies based on external insight gathering
ASSUMPTION: This role requires strong cross-functional leadership, communication, and project management skills to ensure successful execution of launch strategies.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree (BA/BS)
Experience: 5+ years of healthcare marketing experience, preferably in nephrology or rare disease brands
Required Skills:
- Proven track record in nephrology and/or rare disease brands within HCP marketing
- Strong influencing without authority and emotional intelligence skills
- Advanced analytical skills, project management, and financial acumen
- Strong teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to lead and drive external agencies and vendors
- Experience in launching brands or highly competitive therapeutic rare disease areas
- Previous experience in leading digital marketing & media projects
- Experience working on a product with a specialty pharmacy distribution
Preferred Skills:
- Sales and/or sales training experience or market access experience
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with a strong background in healthcare marketing, particularly in nephrology and rare disease areas, will be best suited for this role.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 (based on industry standards for a 5-10 year experienced candidate in the pharmaceutical industry and New Jersey location)
Benefits:
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
- Company-provided basic life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- 401(k) match
- PTO allotment each calendar year, paid holidays, and paid leave programs
Working Hours: Full-time, with 30% travel required
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a candidate with 5-10 years of experience in healthcare marketing and the New Jersey location. Actual salary may vary based on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Pharmaceutical manufacturing, with a focus on neuroscience and rare diseases
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees (global), with a hybrid work policy
Founded: 1921 (global), with U.S. operations established in 1984
Company Description:
- Otsuka is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: "Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide."
- The company researches, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.
- Otsuka's U.S. operations include Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC).
Company Specialties:
- Neuroscience
- Rare diseases
- Innovative healthcare products
Company Website: http://www.otsuka-us.com
ASSUMPTION: Otsuka is a well-established pharmaceutical company with a strong focus on innovation and improving patient health. The company's size and global presence offer opportunities for career growth and development.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level to senior-level management
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Director of HCP Marketing
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with 30% travel required
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential career advancement within the marketing department or other areas of the business
- Opportunities to work on multiple brands and therapeutic areas
- possibility to gain experience in rare disease marketing and launch strategies
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within a large, global pharmaceutical company.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (Princeton, NJ office with remote work options)
Office Location(s): 508 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540, US
Geographic Context:
- Princeton, NJ is located in central New Jersey, approximately 45 miles south of New York City and 60 miles northeast of Philadelphia.
- The area offers a mix of urban and suburban living, with a high quality of life and access to cultural attractions, outdoor recreation, and educational opportunities.
- New Jersey is home to a significant number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, providing ample networking and career advancement opportunities.
Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible hours and the option to work remotely
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement and central New Jersey location offer a balance between work and personal life, with easy access to major metropolitan areas and cultural attractions.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR department
- In-depth behavioral and technical interviews with the hiring manager and cross-functional team members
- Final interview with the Director of HCP Marketing
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Marketing strategy and execution skills
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Problem-solving and analytical skills
- Cultural fit and alignment with Otsuka's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- Research Otsuka's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit with the organization
- Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the nephrology and rare disease markets, as well as launch strategies
ATS Keywords: HCP marketing, rare disease, nephrology, launch strategy, cross-functional collaboration, project management, analytical skills, digital marketing, media strategy, compliance
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's marketing strategy and execution skills, as well as their ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Veeva)
- Marketing automation tools (e.g., Marketo, Pardot)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello)
- Analytics and reporting tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Tableau)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with relevant marketing, project management, and analytics tools is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Patient-centricity: Putting patients first in all aspects of our work
- Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in all our actions
- Collaboration: Working together to achieve common goals and drive innovation
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic, with a focus on execution and results
- Cross-functional and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on teamwork
- Data-driven and analytical, with a focus on continuous improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you ensure that patient needs are at the forefront of your marketing strategies?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you had to collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve a common goal?
- How do you approach data analysis and interpretation to drive marketing decisions?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who demonstrate a strong fit with Otsuka's values and work style will be most successful in this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Navigating a large, matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders
- Working with external agencies and vendors to drive project completion on-time and on-budget
- Adapting to changes in launch timelines, strategies, or market dynamics
- Balancing work and personal life in a hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: This role may present challenges related to time management, stakeholder communication, and adaptability to change.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other HCP marketing roles, this position focuses more on rare disease and nephrology therapeutic areas, with a strong emphasis on launch strategies
- Otsuka's global presence and size offer more opportunities for career growth and development compared to smaller pharmaceutical companies
- This role may require more travel and flexibility compared to other hybrid or remote positions
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should consider the unique aspects of this role, such as the therapeutic focus, global presence, and work arrangement, when comparing it to other HCP marketing positions.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and executing a comprehensive launch plan for a new rare renal product, including media strategy, website development, and analytics
- Leading a cross-functional team to develop and execute a successful non-personal promotion strategy for a nephrology brand
- Managing the planning and execution of a national congress strategy, including speaker selection, agenda development, and logistics
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse and complex nature of the responsibilities in this role, requiring strong leadership, communication, and project management skills.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the current marketing strategies for Otsuka's rare renal products, and how this role would contribute to their evolution?
- How does Otsuka support the professional development and growth of its marketing team members?
- Can you provide an example of a time when Otsuka's marketing team had to pivot or adapt to a significant market change, and how they approached it?
- How does Otsuka foster a culture of collaboration and innovation within its marketing department?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 90 days, and how would the successful candidate approach them?
ASSUMPTION: Asking thoughtful and insightful questions demonstrates your interest in the role and organization, and provides valuable information to help you make an informed decision.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interview questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- Research Otsuka's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit with the organization
- Be prepared to discuss your understanding of the nephrology and rare disease markets, as well as launch strategies
- Follow up with the HR department one week after submitting your application to confirm receipt and inquire about the next steps in the interview process
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
