Associate Director, R&D HCP Engagement

Job Summary

The Associate Director, R&D HCP Engagement CoE is a critical change agent and system implementer responsible for designing the operating model and overseeing the execution of a unified, compliant, and exceptional service model for all Healthcare Professional (HCP) engagement and contracting within R&D. This role will seek to transform an inconsistent process into an audit‑ready, "white glove" service, providing necessary direction to a direct report responsible for day‑to‑day execution.

While initially focusing on Medical Affairs, the vision is to cover all R&D HCP engagement over time. This position reports into the Medical Excellence & Operations Vendor and Contracts Management Lead and directly manages the Manager, HCP Engagement Lead. This position will lead the transformation of how Otsuka plans, governs, and executes interactions with healthcare professionals; ensuring all engagements are conducted with the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and efficiency while enabling scientific collaboration and knowledge exchange across regions.

• Set the vision and operational roadmap for the HCP Engagement CoE, acting as the primary change agent to transform the fragmented HCP engagement process into a unified, compliant, and efficient service model
• Lead the end‑to‑end design and implementation of the centralized HCP engagement and contracting system (e.g., leveraging iHub and Veeva), ensuring the system architecture supports both operational excellence and stringent compliance standards
• Drive the continuous identification of gaps and the necessary innovation of the CoE's processes, championing the use of technology and AI to support workflow improvement across Medical Affairs and R&D

• Directly manage, coach, and develop the Manager, HCP Engagement Lead, overseeing their performance, workload, and adherence to newly implemented process standards and protocols
• Provide operational oversight for tracking the entire HCP engagement process, ensuring the Manager accurately monitors performance and proactively identifies and resolves systemic process bottlenecks
• Design and enforce the framework for a robust feedback loop with internal stakeholders (e.g., Sourcing, Finance, Compliance) and external experts, ensuring the CoE service model evolves based on customer needs and reputational impact
• Develop and implement a comprehensive training and certification program for all internal stakeholders involved in HCP engagement.

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for global oversight of HCP interactions, ensuring compliance with internal policies, legal requirements, and industry codes (e.g., PhRMA, EFPIA).
• Establish the governance structure for HCP engagement to ensure all contracting elements and fair market value (FMV) determinations are audit‑ready
• Design the framework for monitoring HCP engagement frequency and workload to prevent KOL fatigue and manage the ethical use of experts across R&D and Commercial activities
• Set the standards for "white glove" service, ensuring the Manager maintains timely, professional, and consistent communication with external experts to mitigate reputational risk

• Define and monitor performance metrics and engagement analytics to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for optimization in HCP contracting
• Develop dashboards and KPIs to monitor processing of HCP payments
• Analyze engagement data to identify trends, efficiency opportunities, and compliance risks
• Ensure visibility, transparency, and data integrity across the end‑to‑end HCP lifecycle from engagement request to contract close‑out
• Partner with R&D and Medical leaders to use data insights to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement
• Identify process inefficiencies and implement scalable, automated solutions to reduce cycle times and administrative burden
• Lead cross‑functional Root Cause Analysis (RCA) initiatives and implement corrective and preventive action (CAPA) plans
• Establish KPIs and dashboards to…