Astellas Pharma · 1 week ago
Research Strategy Lead, Oncology Research Intelligence (IO) (Sr. Director)
Cambridge, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$197K/yr - $310K/yr
8+ years expAstellas Pharma is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies for patients. The Research Strategy Lead will be responsible for shaping actionable strategies in oncology research, focusing on immuno-oncology and tumor-targeted therapies, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance the oncology pipeline.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedical
Responsibilities
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
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
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
Qualification
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
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
Company
Astellas Pharma
Astellas Pharma is a global pharmaceutical research & development company.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Astellas Pharma has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (7)
2024 (4)
2023 (4)
2022 (2)
2021 (3)
2020 (5)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
2020-07-22Grant
2008-10-13IPO
Leadership Team
Amanda Hart
Head, Global Commercial Analytics and Reporting
Recent News
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase