Research Strategy Lead, Oncology Research Intelligence (IO) (Sr. Director)

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians.  If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

This position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose and Scope:

The Research Strategy Lead, Oncology Research Intelligence reports to the Head of Competitive Intelligence (CI) & Research Program Management (RPM). This role is a strategic role within the CI & RPM in Oncology Research, responsible for developing actionable strategies in key therapeutic areas such as immuno-oncology (IO) or tumor-targeted therapies in Oncology. This role integrates deep scientific expertise with strategic thinking to shape a future-ready oncology research pipeline. Through rigorous internal and external landscape analysis, the Research Strategy Lead informs research direction, portfolio differentiation, and early innovation targeting. The Research Strategy Lead collaborates closely with the Strategy Integration Lead, Oncology Research Leadership, and other cross-functional stakeholders to ensure research and portfolio alignment, enhancing the impact, agility, and future-readiness of the oncology pipeline.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Portfolio Guidance:

• Lead the development of therapeutic area-specific research strategies grounded in both internal capabilities and external innovation signals in alignment with Astellas’ long-term relevant Primary Focus (PF) area goals.
• Deliver actionable insights and foresight to the Head of CI & RPM, Oncology Research leadership and PF Leadership Team to guide prioritization, differentiation, and long-term planning based on deep insights into competitive dynamics, scientific trends, and unmet needs.
• Translate macro-level strategy into clear scientific focus areas, roadmaps, and research hypotheses for research teams.
• Act as a strategic thought partner to the Head of CI & RPM, integrating intelligence into portfolio prioritization, resource planning, and innovation decisions.
• Lead horizon scanning efforts to identify emerging opportunities and risks to maintain a future-ready research organization.

Competitive Intelligence & Strategic Foresight:

• Oversee continuous monitoring of the oncology landscape, including pipelines, scientific breakthroughs, partnerships, and regulatory changes.
• Ensure synthesis of data into insights that clearly highlight risks and opportunities for Astellas’ oncology research pipeline.
• Support early evaluations of external opportunities to External Innovation Partners, Modality Intelligence Leads and Innovation Intelligence Analysts by providing strategic context and scientific framing.
• Collaborate with Strategy Integration Lead to support the development of strategic playbooks and investment theses that inform internal program direction and external innovation targeting.

Operational Excellence & Intelligence Infrastructure:

• Establish and continuously enhance best practices for strategic intelligence gathering, synthesis, and insight dissemination to support data-driven decision-making.
• Promote the effective use of digital platforms, analytics tools, and dashboards to accelerate insight generation and improve strategic responsiveness.

Qualifications
Required:

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, MBA, or equivalent) in Oncology, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in oncology R&D, research strategy, or scientific intelligence in a pharmaceutical/biotech environment.
• Strong understanding of immuno-oncology, targeted therapies in Oncology, or modality platforms such as ADCs, engineered biologics, or engineered small molecules.
• Expertise in competitive portfolio landscapes in oncology therapeutic area.
• Deep understanding of advancements in drug discovery, emerging technologies, and industry trends, and apply this knowledge to enhance research strategies.
• Proven ability to integrate complex data sources into cohesive strategy documents and recommendations.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive cross-functional alignment.
• Strong storytelling skills in both written and verbal formats tailored to scientific and executive audiences.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills across cross-functional scientific and business stakeholders.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of pharmaceutical industry regulations and processes (e.g. IND, NDA submissions).
• Proven ability to respectfully challenge and influence senior leaders.
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• High digital literacy and familiarity with CI platforms and analytics tools. 

Working Environment:

• This position is based in US or Japan and requires some overseas/domestic business travels.
• At Astellas we recognize the importance of work/life balance, and we are proud to offer a hybrid working solution allowing time to connect with colleagues at the office with the flexibility to also work from home. We believe this will optimize the most productive work environment for all employees to succeed and deliver. Hybrid work from certain locations may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines.

Salary Range: $197,400 - $310,200 (Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to skills, experience and organizational equity considerations)

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Company fleet vehicle for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

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