Executive Director – Japan Representative

Location Type: On-site

 

Overview

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) International Department seeks a strong leader with excellent relationship building, leadership, management, and communication skills to run its Tokyo, Japan office. The Japan Representative/ Executive Director/ Deputy Vice President of the Japan Office is a senior externally facing leader with significant influence in Japan’s healthcare policy landscape. The Executive Director will be the single point of accountability for PhRMA’s advocacy in Japan, representing the organization at the highest levels with government, industry, and media, while leading a small, high-performing team. The position reports to the Vice President, International Advocacy in Washington, D.C., and works in close partnership with JBEC and member company leadership in Japan.

The role blends strategic vision with hands-on leadership. It demands an ability to navigate complex policy issues – most notably drug pricing and reimbursement – while balancing Japan-specific priorities with global strategy. Success will require the gravitas to engage with CEOs and senior government officials, the agility to operate in a small-team environment, and the diplomacy to align diverse stakeholder interests.

Japan is a dynamic region for the biopharmaceutical industry, and the second largest market for sales of patented medicines. The role requires close engagement with senior stakeholders – including member company CEOs and, Japan country presidents, and board members – alongside Japanese government officials, regulators, industry associations, and other key opinion leaders.

The Executive Director will:

• Serve as the single point of accountability for PhRMA’s advocacy in Japan.
• Lead a small, high-impact team of six (once fully staffed), ensuring cohesion, motivation, and resilience; they will oversee all management and administrative matters, including budget, staff and consultants.
• Shape and execute strategies on priority policy issues – most notably drug pricing regulation – while identifying emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Balance Japan-specific advocacy priorities with PhRMA’s global strategy, navigating differing perspectives and building consensus.

Key responsibilities:

Policy & Advocacy Leadership

• Lead policy advocacy in Japan, with a strong focus on pricing policy, reimbursement, and market access.
• Anticipate and address emerging threats to the innovative biopharmaceutical sector in Japan.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Japanese government ministries, Diet members, and regulatory agencies as well as the U.S. Embassy in Japan.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the principal spokesperson for PhRMA with government, industry, media, and other external stakeholders.
• Maintain and expand relationships with senior leaders across PhRMA’s membership, ensuring alignment on strategy and messaging.

Team & Office Management

• Lead, inspire, and manage a team of six, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Address staffing and performance issues promptly to maintain operational excellence.
• Oversee the office budget and administrative functions.

Strategic Planning & Coalition Building

• Develop and implement integrated advocacy campaigns, drawing on global best practices.
• Build coalitions with other trade associations, patient groups, and relevant stakeholders to advance shared objectives.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Key Success Factors
The successful candidate will be an accomplished and influential leader with the credibility to represent PhRMA at the highest levels in Japan and globally. They will combine strategic vision with the ability to operate in a hands-on, small-team environment, and will be equally comfortable leading complex policy discussions with senior government officials as they are in uniting diverse member companies behind a shared position. This role demands a thoughtful coalition builder, a persuasive advocate, and a culturally adept diplomat who can balance Japan-specific priorities with the needs of a global, U.S.-based organization.

The successful candidate will be:

• An accomplished leader with expertise in government affairs, policy advocacy, or public affairs, ideally with significant experience in Japan’s political and regulatory environment.
• A strategic thinker and decisive implementer, able to operate in complex, high-stakes environments and adapt quickly to new information or challenges.
• Skilled at coalition building – uniting diverse stakeholders, sometimes with differing priorities, behind common positions.
• Respected for integrity, following through on commitments and holding themselves accountable.
• Comfortable in small-team leadership, acting as a “player-coach” while empowering others and addressing personnel issues promptly.
• Adept at navigating both local and global priorities, understanding when to advance, adapt, or defer ideas for strategic alignment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, medtech, or other regulated industries will be advantageous; however, direct industry experience is not mandatory if the candidate demonstrates strong learning agility and a willingness to master the policy environment.
• Proven track record of working in multinational organizations or trade associations, balancing complex stakeholder interests.
• Bicultural fluency – American expatriate with deep Japan experience or Japanese-American/dual national – highly desirable. Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in Japanese could be a plus.

Leadership attributes:

• Strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial mindset – sees the big picture and has execution focus.
• Skilled advocate, distills complex policy issues into clear, compelling messages for a range of audiences.
• Inspirational people leader with the ability to reinforce existing strengths and develop the next generation of talent.
• Culturally adept, able to navigate political and organizational dynamics with diplomacy and tact.
• Results-oriented and tenacious, with the judgement to make decisions that serve the broader interests of the industry.
• Collaborative, service-minded, and consensus-driven, with the courage to hold a position while remaining open to alternative perspectives.

Potential Salary

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

Who we are
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents the country’s leading innovative biopharmaceutical research companies, which are laser focused on developing innovative medicines that transform lives and create a healthier world. Together, we are fighting for solutions to ensure patients can access and afford medicines that prevent, treat and cure disease. Over the last decade, PhRMA member companies have invested more than $850 billion in the search for new treatments and cures over the last decade, supporting nearly five million jobs in the United States.

Connect with PhRMA
For information on how innovative medicines save lives, please visit:
www.PhRMA.org
www.Innovation.org
www.MAT.org
www.Facebook.com/PhRMA
www.Twitter.com/PhRMA

What we offer

We are committed to the growth and development of our team members and offer many learning opportunities including an integrated onboarding program, best-in-class leadership programming, tuition reimbursement, industry on-site and off-site training, and other management/professional development programs. Corporate social responsibility is also important to us at PhRMA. Our team members participate in community service activities, fundraising drives and charitable athletic events.

We are committed to supporting our family of professionals at PhRMA and strive to create programs that help our team members manage the challenges of balancing a fast-paced career with their own personal goals.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PhRMA provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

The job description contains an overview of the activities and duties for this role. Responsibilities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time.

To apply, submit a resume to:

Ryoko Komatsuzaki atryoko.komatsuzaki@russellreynolds.com

Daria Rokk atdaria.rokk@russellreynolds.com