Associate Director, Marketing

Summary

Join Ultragenyx, a biopharmaceutical company focused on rare diseases, and lead launch preparation and pre-launch marketing initiatives for the Japanese market. Reporting to the Sr. Director, you will collaborate with Japan and Global teams to develop and execute annual marketing plans, manage budgets, select vendors, and forecast market trends. You will build relationships with healthcare professionals and stakeholders, monitor patient support programs, and identify barriers to optimal patient management. This role requires strong collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Global Brand Strategy, Government Affairs, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, and Patient Advocacy. The position offers a remote work model with occasional travel and the opportunity to contribute to the growth of an entrepreneurial organization. Ultragenyx offers a range of benefits, including generous vacation time, volunteer days, long-term incentives, employee wellbeing benefits, and professional development plans.

Requirements

• Strong passion to deliver innovative new drugs to patients who are suffering from rare or ultra-rare diseases
• BA/BSc degree or equivalent life-sciences qualification required
• Minimum 5+ years of marketing experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with preference to those with experience in rare/ultra-rare disease
• Comfort working in start-up environments and working to define process and forge new operating principles with internal stakeholders
• Successful candidates will have a proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary team with a high degree of collaboration and a strong patient focus
• Strong command of analytical and market research techniques with a proven ability to interpret market insights to help guide strategic direction and prioritize patient tactics
• Experience of leading or collaborating on Market Access initiatives to expand patient access
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and act creatively to develop and lead innovative brand strategies and tactics
• Proven experience in partnering with Field Teams
• Proven experience working with and managing external partners, including Advertising and Communications agencies
• Excellent public presentation skills, written communication and listening skills in English
• Travel will be frequently required with appropriate and safe
• Set & Achieve Goals: Understand business objectives and effectively translate them into strategies, while skilfully navigating obstacles and resistance to change
• Inspire & Mobilize Others: Serve as a positive role model – create followership and effectively mobilize and influence others, both on your team and across the organization
• Partner & Collaborate Effectively: Listen to and value others’ thoughts and ideas. Demonstrate effective partnership both within and outside your team. Achieve results with and through others

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Global marketing teams to lead the development of Japanese marketing initiatives, monitor the progress of these marketing initiatives and adjust appropriately to optimize success and ensure achievement of business and sales objectives
• Ensure all marketing programs are adherent to Ultragenyx policies, procedures and compliance procedures
• Responsible for managing the execution of plans and budgets, ensure on-time delivery within budget of all marketing initiatives
• Executing Marketing advisory boards and other HCP engagements to support market understanding and inform strategic and tactical planning and execution
• Building and developing meaningful business relationships with HCPs and with necessary external stakeholders across Japan
• Monitor and work to adapt the patient support program and its offerings to ensure optimal patient experience and product usage
• Responsible for managing execution of plans and budgets, ensure on-time delivery within budget of all marketing initiatives
• Manage congress initiatives in collaboration with the event management team, including messaging, booth design and coordinating onsite materials and field training
• Identify issues that could potentially create barriers to optimal patient management and provide solutions
• Work cross-functionally and partner with multiple non-commercial teams including Global Brand Strategy, Government Affairs, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, & Patient Advocacy
• Partner with commercial colleagues and the customer facing Field Teams, providing training and ensuring field teams are appropriately prepared to deploy marketing programs

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA preferred
• Experience of marketing Advisory Boards is preferred

Benefits

• Generous vacation time and public holidays observed by the company
• Volunteer days
• Long term incentive and Employee stock purchase plans or equivalent offerings
• Employee wellbeing benefits
• Fitness reimbursement
• Tuition sponsoring
• Professional development plans