Japan Project Head (Vaccines)

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Company

hirify.global is advancing vaccine development through global and Japan-based R&D collaboration, with a portfolio of priority vaccine projects.

What you will do

• Develop the integrated Japan development strategy and plan for assigned vaccine projects in alignment with global strategy, hirify.global R&D priorities, and business objectives.
• Lead the Japan project team across R&D, manufacturing and supply, commercial, regulatory, clinical, medical, and enabling functions through licensure and launch.
• Coordinate with the Global Project Team to align Japan activities, timelines, priorities, and country-specific needs.
• Assess project risks, create mitigation plans, manage issues, and provide recommendations to governance committees and senior management.
• Manage project budgets, resources, headcount, decision-making, stage-gate milestones, and execution against timelines.
• Build effective relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, academic groups, joint ventures, and opinion leaders.

Requirements

• Approximately 10 years of overall experience, including more than 5 years in development and more than 3 years in direct or transversal leadership.
• Strong scientific and academic background; experience in vaccine development or a related therapeutic area is preferred.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in Japan within multicultural and international project environments.
• Strong understanding of complex project budgets, resources, timelines, decisions, risks, and mitigation planning.
• Knowledge of the Japan environment and regulations, ideally including exposure to Japanese health authorities.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with local and global stakeholders in English and Japanese.

Nice to have

• Ph.D. in a science field, MD, PharmD, B.S., M.S., or MBA.
• Experience in vaccine or pharmaceutical R&D, regulatory, commercial, or clinical development.
• Existing network in hirify.global ComOps, R&D, regulatory affairs, or medical functions.
• Experience working with external partners in co-development projects.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work on vaccine projects identified as a global priority for hirify.global.
• Exposure to a rich vaccine portfolio, including projects within hirify.global's Big 11 initiative.
• Cross-functional leadership connecting global vaccine strategy with Japan development objectives.
• Strategic ownership and influence over high-level project decisions involving internal and external stakeholders.
• Equal-opportunity workplace with a stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.