Chief of Staff

Shionogi•Florham Park, NJ

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief of Staff serves as a partner and operational right hand to the US President & CEO, enabling effective leadership across the organization and ensuring seamless alignment with the Japan parent company. This role is central to driving governance excellence, organizational rhythm, and cross-functional execution across all functions of the US business. The ideal candidate brings a blend of commercial pharmaceutical experience, exceptional organizational and project management skills, and a deep appreciation for Japanese business culture — ideally with direct experience working in or with Japanese organizations, or proficiency in the Japanese language.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
12+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical industry
Strong project management skills with experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives
Exceptional PowerPoint and executive presentation skills — able to synthesize complex information into clear, compelling narratives
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
High degree of organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Proven ability to work effectively with senior executives and across all levels of an organization
Strong work ethic, personal accountability, and a bias toward action
Demonstrated commercial background (sales, marketing, market access, or business development)

Nice To Haves

Leverage Japanese language proficiency to support direct engagement with Japan-based stakeholders
Proficiency in Japanese (business-level or higher strongly preferred)
Familiarity with Japanese business culture, governance norms, and reporting expectations
Experience implementing or managing digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Smartsheet, AI Tools, or similar)
Experience in a Chief of Staff, Strategy, or Business Operations role

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end planning, preparation, and follow-up for all key governance forums, including the Executive Committee, Extended Leadership Team, Board meetings, and ad hoc leadership sessions
Develop structured agendas in partnership with the CEO, ensuring alignment on priorities, pre-reads, and clear decision frameworks
Drive rigorous follow-up on action items, decisions, and commitments arising from all governance meetings
Serve as the connective tissue across leadership to ensure accountability and momentum
Coordinate and manage monthly reporting cycles to Japan headquarters, ensuring high-quality, timely, and accurate submissions
Create clear traceability of key content and decisions made in the US governance for parent organization
Act as a key liaison between the US affiliate and Japan HQ, facilitating clear communication, culturally sensitive messaging, and aligned expectations
Navigate organizational and cultural nuances between the US and Japan to foster productive cross-border relationships
Support the CEO in translating strategic priorities into actionable plans with clear owners, milestones, and metrics
Track progress against the US affiliate’s corporate, strategic and operational objectives; surface risks and opportunities proactively
Lead or co-lead special projects and initiatives as directed by the CEO or Executive committee, often spanning multiple functions
Apply rigorous project management methodologies to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery
Architect and maintain a digital platform (e.g., SharePoint, Teams, or equivalent) to centralize governance materials, project tracking, reporting, and leadership communications
Drive adoption of digital tools across the leadership team to improve transparency, efficiency, and collaboration
Design dashboards and reporting frameworks that give the CEO and leadership team real-time visibility into business performance and priorities
Partner closely with Finance, Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, HR, and other functions to synthesize inputs, resolve roadblocks, and coordinate integrated planning
Prepare high-quality executive communications, including PowerPoint presentations, briefing documents, and memos for internal and external audiences
Support CEO communications — town halls, leadership updates, and external stakeholder messaging — ensuring clarity, consistency, and impact
Represent the CEO’s office with professionalism and sound judgment across all interactions