Japan Program Manager

About the role

Novartis is looking for a Japan Program Manager to lead programs that directly affect patients' lives. You will work closely with cross-functional partners to shape development strategies, anticipate challenges and help teams move forward, growing into a strategic leader in a collaborative environment.

Key responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end project and program management for assigned initiatives in Japan.
• Translate program strategy into integrated development plans aligned with target product profiles.
• Align Japan project plans with global development plans through close partnership with global teams.
• Provide accurate, high-quality project information for reporting, portfolio assessment and strategic reviews.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of key deliverables, including meeting minutes and strategic documents.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and drive proactive risk mitigation within project teams.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and support high-performing project teams.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in a life science field; master's or doctoral degree preferred.
• Fluency in Japanese and English with strong communication skills.
• More than five years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, ideally in R&D or commercialization.
• Solid understanding of the drug development lifecycle, including clinical, regulatory and post-launch phases.
• Experience in international, cross-functional development teams, ideally in project management.
• Strong leadership, collaboration and problem-solving abilities.

Required skills

• Program management and project planning
• Drug development and clinical trials
• Microsoft Project and Microsoft SharePoint