Shionogi Inc

Executive Director, Global Project Leader

Shionogi Inc$285K — $315K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (PhD, PharmD, MD, MS, MBA).
  • 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology development, with leadership in global settings.
  • Experience in rare disease development strongly preferred.
  • Understanding of drug development phases and regulatory pathways essential.
  • Proven ability to influence senior leadership and synthesize complexity into strategic recommendations.
  • Experience with external stakeholders in a compliant manner is crucial.
  • Capability to think at a portfolio level and adapt to evolving program needs.

Responsibilities

  • Lead cross-functional program teams for rare disease assets through the full development lifecycle.
  • Drive integrated program strategies that align with clinical and commercial objectives.
  • Contribute to the overall strategy of the rare disease portfolio, including decision-making on program prioritization.
  • Translate complex scientific data into clear strategic options for senior leaders.
  • Prepare and deliver high-quality materials for governance forums aligned with business priorities.
  • Oversee integrated development plans and ensure strategic milestones are met.
  • Identify and mitigate risks impacting program timelines, quality, or viability.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for mentorship and professional development.
  • Access to a comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and wellness programs.
  • Flexible working conditions with required in-office presence only 50% of the time each month.
  • Travel opportunities for global collaboration.
  • Engagement in impactful work contributing to the rare disease community.
Full Job Description
Overview

The Global Project Leader provides strategic and operational leadership for one or more global clinical development programs within a complex, global rare disease portfolio, spanning early development through registration and lifecycle management. The role drives integrated program strategy, execution, and decision-making within a global, matrixed governance model, partnering closely with cross-functional and headquarters stakeholders. The Global Project Leader is accountable for shaping strategic recommendations, enabling high-quality governance, and ensuring delivery of program objectives aligned with portfolio priorities and long-term patient impact.

 

This role is critical to ensuring that Shionogi’s rare disease portfolio is advanced with agility, rigor, and long-term patient impact in mind.

Responsibilities Responsibilities:
  • Lead global, cross-functional program teams across the full development lifecycle (early, late, registration, lifecycle management) for rare disease assets.
  • Define and drive integrated program strategies aligned with clinical, regulatory, CMC, and commercial objectives.
  • Contribute to rare disease portfolio strategy, including prioritization, sequencing, and portfolio trade-off decisions across programs.
  • Translate complex scientific, clinical, and regulatory data into clear strategic options and decision frameworks for senior leadership.
  • Serve as a core leader in governance forums, delivering high-quality, decision-ready materials aligned with enterprise priorities.
  • Drive structured, transparent decision-making across global stakeholders within a matrixed governance model, including close partnership with headquarters.
  • Oversee integrated development plans, critical milestones, and cross-functional execution to ensure delivery against strategic objectives.
  • Ensure accountability, execution discipline, and proactive resolution of risks impacting timelines, quality, or program viability.
  • Lead lifecycle management strategy, including label expansion, geographic expansion, and integration of real-world evidence.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate program and portfolio risks; lead scenario planning and complex trade-off decisions under uncertainty, including challenges specific to rare disease development.
  • Accountable for program-level resource planning, financial assumptions, and alignment with portfolio investment priorities.
  • Influence and align global cross-functional stakeholders across regions (U.S., EU, APAC) and external partners (e.g., regulators, KOLs, advocacy groups) to advance program objectives.
  • Mentor and develop talent, and drive continuous improvement in program leadership capabilities, tools, and operating model effectiveness.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Job Requirements:
  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, MS, MBA) strongly preferred.
  • 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology development with demonstrated leadership in global, cross-functional settings; experience in rare disease development strongly preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience across multiple phases of drug development, with strong understanding of the end-to-end development lifecycle, including regulatory pathways.
  • Proven ability to drive program strategy and execution in matrixed organizations and within structured governance models.
  • Strong track record of engaging and influencing senior leadership; ability to synthesize complexity into clear decision options and recommendations.
  • Experience working effectively with external stakeholders (e.g., regulators, KOLs, advocacy groups, partners) in a compliant and coordinated manner.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate with portfolio-level thinking and to transition across indications/programs as portfolio needs evolve.
  • Proven ability to mentor and develop program/project management talent and contribute to building organizational capability.

Preferred

  • Experience leading development programs in highly complex, rapidly evolving rare neurodegenerative diseases with substantial scientific, clinical, and regulatory uncertainty.
  • Broader experience in rare disease / orphan drug development and/or specialty therapeutics.
  • Experience with post-approval LCM (label expansion, RWE integration, lifecycle value planning).
  • Experience collaborating with headquarters-led decision-making structures in a global organization.
  • Operates within a matrixed global governance model where decision authority is shared; accountable for shaping recommendations, driving alignment, and ensuring execution against agreed decisions.
  • Ability and willingness to travel approximately 25–35% of the year both domestically and internationally.
  • Must live a commutable distance to our US Corporate Headquarters in Florham Park, NJ. Office presence required at least 50% of the time per month.

 

Additional Information

The base salary range for this full-time position is $285,000 - $315,000. Individual pay is determined by several factors, which include but are not limited to: job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. The range does not include the comprehensive benefits, bonus, long-term incentive, applicable allowances, or any additional compensation that may be associated with this role. 

About Shionogi Inc

Shionogi Inc is a pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative medicines. The company's focus is on developing treatments for pain, cancer, and infectious diseases. Shionogi Inc is a subsidiary of Shionogi & Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company. The company was founded in 1878 and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. Shionogi Inc was established in 2008 and is headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey. The company has a strong pipeline of products in development and is committed to improving the health and well-being of patients around the world.
Learn more about Shionogi Inc
Size
2,000 employees
Industry

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