[innovative Medicine] R&d, Director, Search & Evaluate-asia Pacific

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson · Pharma · Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Johnson & Johnson is seeking a Director, Search & Evaluation for their External Scientific Innovation (ESI) team in Tokyo, Japan. This role focuses on identifying and evaluating external innovation opportunities in the life sciences ecosystem across the Asia Pacific region, with a primary focus on Japan. The Director will build relationships with academia, venture capital, and startups to source and advance potential pipeline opportunities, acting as a key liaison between external partners and internal J&J teams.

What you'd actually do

  1. Cover the Asia Pacific landscape, with a focus on Japan, to partner closely with the Regional Sourcing Leader to set the sourcing strategy and engagement plan across all TAs/Functions within R&D.
  2. Actively develops, builds and maintains close relationships with appropriate external sources of innovation in the life sciences ecosystem including entrepreneurs, academics, key opinion leaders, biotech companies, venture capitalists, nonprofit organizations etc. that fosters trust, respect and credibility.
  3. Identify and scout highly innovative product/platform opportunities that are aligned with TA External Innovation strategies and lead the initial pre-vetting process.
  4. Represent J&J to prospective partners and regular attendance and speaking engagements/panels at industry events such as conferences, including engagement in industry thought leadership.
  5. Building close relationships with relevant J&J businesses. This is to both understand/contribute to strategy/requirements and to develop sufficient influence in order to champion new opportunities, including those that are potentially “off strategy” but where a compelling business case can be made.

Skills

Required

  • Doctoral level degree (Ph.D. in life sciences preferred)
  • 8+ years of broad R&D experience
  • Broad network in the relevant life science ecosystem
  • Experience in scientific search and evaluation
  • Experience developing valuable relationships in life science ecosystems

Nice to have

  • MD, PharmD or other scientific doctoral level degree backgrounds
  • Experience across multiple therapeutic areas and/or advanced technologies and platforms
  • Experience in oncology, immunology and/or neuroscience
  • Experience leading and motivating a team

What the JD emphasized

  • Doctoral level degree required
  • 8+ years of broad R&D experience