Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company seeking a Director of Specialty Operations. The role will lead the launch and ongoing management of an integrated specialty operations model, including specialty distribution, hub capabilities, pharmacy services, reimbursement, logistics, and cross-functional coordination.
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
Skills
- · Experience supporting ultra-rare, specialty, or medical benefit therapies with complex reimbursement and longitudinal patient management 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
- · Skills & Competencies: 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
- · Pharmacy Degree preferred
- · MBA or related advanced degree preferred
- · Demonstrated understanding of operational governance across multiple external vendors and institutional stakeholders preferred
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage
- Company provided basic life insurance
- Accidental death & dismemberment insurance
- 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
- Other company provided benefits
Company Overview
Company H1B Sponsorship