SVP, Primary Focus Lead, Targeted Protein Degradation at Astellas in Northbrook, Illinois

Job Description:

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas' Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose and Scope:

The Primary Focus Lead (PFL) provides leadership and strategic direction for research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of the Primary Focus pipeline globally. PFL manages complex portfolio of including 20+ research and development stage projects and 4+ modality platforms. PFL determines extension of PF, resource allocation and pipeline priorities, leads execution and accountable for related budget. PFL chairs PF TPD LT and collaborates with the relevant Divisions to achieve PF goals.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Create and revise PF Strategy to define the direction, capability and resource need of the diverse PF modalities and pipeline (EC)


• Create the PF Roadmap to define execution plan and consolidated PF budget


• Update strategy and roadmap driven by the rapidly changing scientific and competitive environment


• Chairs PF TPD LT, lead representatives of relevant functions to develop PF Strategy and implement the Roadmap, and guide Asset Teams and Research functions


• Motivates and creates unique culture to drive high performance


• Drives continuous investment into the PF, on order to evolve it and maximize its value


• Monitors and reports progress of projects in each PF per Roadmap


• Define the PF Business Development strategy to evolve Primary Focus. Collaborates with BD and CS to evaluate external assets and drives decision in Corporate Governance


• Endorse project team's proposal at KC


• Creates PF budget and accountable for budget spending through Functional Units


• Represents Astellas in committees and external scientific/ industry forums


• Estimated Operating Budget: 222.0 oku yen R&D budget, PFL is accountable for planning and execution


• Future revenue impact is significant


• Global scope, impacts several divisions and /broad pipeline in multiple research and development stages


• Other: strategy and milestone decisions impact overall value of Astellas pipeline and valuation


• Core member of KC (portfolio governance). Chair of the PF TPD LT. Chair of Joint Steering Committees of external research collaborations


• Reports to CRDO


• Executive Committee and other Governance Committee members


• Head of Oncology Research, Head of Oncology Development, Head of Early Dev, Head of Regulatory/PV, BD, CS, Finance, Commercial, Market Access


• CEO/CBO/CSO of partner biotech (Cytomx, Kalivir, Kelonia, etc.), other PFLs


• Leaders of external companies related to BD and research activities


• Key External Experts, Scientific Advisory Board Members


• Represents Astellas TPD in investor, business, scientific community