Business Unit Head, Ophthalmology (m/w/d)

Business Unit Head, Ophthalmology (m/w/d)

About Astellas:

At Astellas we offer an inspiring place to work and a chance to make your mark in doing good for others.

Our expertise, science and technology make us a pharma company, our open and progressive culture is what makes us Astellas. It’s a culture of doing good for others and contributing to a sustainable society.

Delivering meaningful differences for patients is our driving force. We all have a significant opportunity to make that difference, working locally in the areas we know best, whilst drawing inspiration from the different insights and expertise we have access to globally and from our innovative, external partners.

Our global vision for Patient Centricity is to support the development of innovative health solutions through a deep understanding of the patient experience. At Astellas, Patient Centricity isn’t a buzzword, it’s a guiding principle for action. We believe all staff have a role to play in creating a patient-centric culture and integrating an awareness of the patient into our everyday working practices, regardless of our role, team, or division.

Our ethos is underpinned by the Astellas Way, comprising five core values: patient focus; ownership; results; openness and integrity.

We are proud to offer an inclusive and respectful working environment that fosters collaboration and ownership. Our aspiration is to bring the best minds together, to provide them with world-leading tools and resources and a unique structure that fosters real agility and entrepreneurial spirit.

About This Job:

With the recent integration of Iveric at Astellas, we have a new opportunity for an experienced Business Unit Head to establish and build our Ophthalmology Therapy Area in our German Affiliate.

With the geographic atrophy (GA) treatment accepted for review by EMA, this will be a busy and exciting opportunity in a new area for Astellas. Reporting to the German General Manager, and as part of the affiliate Leadership team, you will evidence strong knowledge of the German market and co-develop the country’s strategic approach for GA to ensure success in the launch of the product.

Utilising your knowledge and experience in Ophthalmology, you will establish a new go to market model, looking at innovative approaches to access, ultimately bringing value to patients. You will develop and drive stakeholder/customer relationships and build a new high performing team, creating a best in class team with experience and knowledge of the local market and TA area.

Hybrid Working:

At Astellas we recognise that our employees enjoy having balance between their professional and home lives. We are proud of our hybrid approach which empowers you to have flexibility on whether to work from home or in the office.

Key activities are noted below:

• Co-develop the Affiliate’s strategic approach for the product, challenging, implementing and monitoring Commercial plans to ensure a successful launch
• Responsible for achievement of sales targets and management to budget of SG&A in the department, proposing actions to mitigate potential risks and allocate resources/activities to achieve annual and mid-term, financial goals
• Work with cross functional partners to bring innovation and novel approaches to this new marketplace - including access strategies, insights/analytics and customer experience platforms
• Adapt and implement Global and Established Brand plans in the local market environment, appropriately deploying promotional resource (salesforce & other channels) to support brand strategies, in consultation with the Global and Established Brand leads
• Build a new high performing team, creating a best in class team with experience and knowledge of the local market and TherapyAarea

Essential Knowledge & Experience:

• Demonstrable innovative commercial leadership from within the Pharmaceutical Industry preferably as a BU head or other complimentary commercial roles. A solid track record of successful product launches, revenue and market share growth.
• Able to assimilate scientific data to create marketing strategies and co-collaborate on overall product strategy
• Previous/current experience of the Ophthalmology Therapy Area (preferably retina) and evidence of creating and building new country teams
• Fluent in verbal and written business English with excellent communication and planning skills

Education/Qualifications:

• A post-graduate qualification such as MBA or equivalent is highly desirable

Additional information:

• This is a permanent, full-time position based in Germany (Munich)
• The position follows our hybrid working model with a blend of home and a minimum of 1-day per quarter in the office. Flexibility may be required in line with business needs. Candidates must be located within a commutable distance of the office.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.