Director, Specialty Operations

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. • Princeton, NJ

4d • $186,489 - $278,875

About The Position

This position will be responsible for Specialty Operations at OAPI. The position will report to the Executive Director, Channel Strategy and Fulfillment. We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Director of Specialty Operations to lead and oversee the operations for the launch of a new, ultra-orphan, specialty product. This role will be pivotal in building, optimizing, and managing all aspects of a highly integrated specialty operations model, while ensuring alignment with the product’s brand strategy. The Director will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Brand Marketing and Access Strategy, Data & Analytics, Sales, Patient Access, Key Account Management, Medical Affairs, and Regulatory, to integrate pharmacy operations seamlessly into the broader product launch strategy.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's or Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree required.
• Experience: 5-7 years of experience in specialty model development/operations, preferably having launched a product and managing direct reports.
• Proven experience in managing cross-functional teams, including Brand Marketing and Access Strategy, product management, and patient services.
• Deep knowledge of specialty operating models, medical benefit reimbursement, specialty distribution, specialty pharmacy, HUB services, buy-and-bill economics, and site-of-care delivery models, including operational considerations across outpatient and institutional settings.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare regulations, and patient-centric programs.
• Proven track record of driving operational improvements and delivering results.

Nice To Haves

• Pharmacy Degree preferred
• Experience supporting ultra-rare, specialty, or medical benefit therapies with complex reimbursement and longitudinal patient management requirements
• MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of operational governance across multiple external vendors and institutional stakeholders preferred

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of operational strategies for the launch of a new specialty product which will include specialty distribution, hub capabilities and pharmacy services, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and product goals.
• Develop a comprehensive specialty operations strategy, including processes for product distribution, buy-n-bill, dispensing, patient support programs, reimbursement, and logistics, to ensure a successful product launch.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all specialty model considerations during the launch phase, providing guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support site-of-care coordination strategies that enable scalable therapy delivery, reimbursement readiness, and efficient operational execution.
• Lead operational planning related to medical benefit reimbursement, coding transitions, provider reimbursement readiness, and long-term reimbursement sustainability across institutional settings.
• Develop operational strategies that support longitudinal patient continuity as patients transition across payer types, care settings, and increasing disease complexity over time.
• Establish governance structures and escalation pathways across specialty pharmacy, specialty distribution, HUB services, institutional providers, and internal stakeholders to ensure aligned operational execution and patient visibility.
• Partner closely with Brand Marketing and Access Strategy to align marketing initiatives with specialty model considerations/operations, ensuring that the distributor/pharmacy component supports and enhances the overall product positioning and launch plans.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Patient Access teams to drive customer-centric programs and initiatives, such as educational materials, patient support, and engagement strategies.
• Work with Sales, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Account Management teams to ensure smooth integration of pharmacy operations into product launch activities and delivery workflows.
• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, Compliance, Government Pricing, Finance, and Market Access to ensure operational support models align with applicable reimbursement, pricing, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with institutional providers and Centers of Excellence to support operational readiness, procurement coordination, reimbursement workflows, and treatment continuity across varying site-of-care models.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the specialty distribution network, ensuring compliance with regulations, industry standards, and best practices.
• Implement effective workflows for order processing, patient enrollment, care coordination, patient services and drug distribution to ensure high-quality, efficient service delivery.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks that may impact launch timelines or product performance.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of specialty pharmacy operations, tracking launch success, patient outcomes, and service delivery metrics.
• Oversee development of operational dashboards and reporting capabilities related to patient progression, reimbursement status, treatment persistence, escalation management, and channel performance.
• Prepare regular performance reports and provide insights to senior leadership on progress toward operational and business goals.
• Lead quarterly business reviews/evaluations with all related vendors
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team, ensuring they are equipped to support the product launch and long-term business objectives.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, customer-centricity, and operational excellence within the team.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage
• company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• tuition reimbursement
• student loan assistance
• a generous 401(k) match
• flexible time off
• paid holidays
• paid leave programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director