--- title: 'Director, Strategic Initiatives at Kyowa Kirin North America' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-strategic-initiatives-kyowa-kirin-north-america-princeton-vz9dwd4djwtf' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-14' --- # Director, Strategic Initiatives at Kyowa Kirin North America - **Company:** Kyowa Kirin North America - **Location:** Princeton, NJ - **Posted:** 2026-10-12 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-14 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kyowakirinusa90/jobs/8027272003 ## Job description Kyowa Kirin is a global specialty pharmaceutical company backed by more than 70 years of breakthrough life science innovation, dedicated to discovering and advancing treatments for diseases in which unmet need is greatest. Based in Japan with worldwide operations, we work across the continuum from drug discovery to commercialization, guided by our commitment to patients and their families. Our research teams, located in California and around the world, are focused on developing the next generation of antibody, cell, and gene therapies, with particular emphasis on bone and mineral disorders, hemato-oncology, and rare diseases. We accelerate development through collaborations with industry, academia, patients, and healthcare providers, and since 2018 we have introduced four new therapies serving patients with progressive illnesses often in need of new therapeutic alternatives. Summary of Job: The Director of Strategic Initiatives will be responsible for driving the development, planning, and execution of strategic initiatives in North America. Reporting to the Senior Director, Strategic Planning, this position will lead cross-functional teams in the successful implementation of these initiatives, monitor their progress, and evaluate their impact to ensure alignment with the company’s broader strategic goals. Essential Functions: Collaborate closely with strategy team and/or senior leadership to execute strategic initiatives related to North America strategy, including: - Analyze long-range plans, forecasts, business performance, and external developments to identify strategic implications, risks, opportunities, capability needs, and potential investment or resource-allocation choices. - Translate strategic planning outputs into clear, actionable recommendations for North America leadership. - Lead or support business-critical strategic initiatives, including ongoing or emerging enterprise priorities identified by leadership. - Develop executive-level views of business performance and strategic initiative progress, highlighting key risks, opportunities, trends, and decisions requiring leadership attention. - Support North America’s strategic assessment of business development and portfolio opportunities, including strategic fit, organizational capabilities, potential synergies, potential integration considerations, and support ongoing portfolio prioritization. Subordinates: Individual Contributor Job Requirements: Education Bachelor’s Degree required. MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred ## Experience 7+ years’ experience leading cross-functional teams with diverse experience. 7+ years of experience in marketing leadership, sales leadership or operations leadership roles within the pharma/biotech market. Rare Disease and Oncology experience preferred but not required. Knowledge of best practices, business processes, financial management, and commercial systems across the pharmaceutical industry. Insightful understanding of regulatory and legal requirements for pharmaceutical marketing. Proven track record of building, leading, and driving business process transformation in organizational effectiveness. Demonstrated ability to seek diverse input from multiple stakeholders to make highly complex decisions and drive innovative solutions. Project Management experience preferred. Technical Skills Proficient in MS Office Suite, leverages AI effectively, and Veeva/Salesforce CRM Systems. Non-Technical Skills Demonstrated ability to organize, prioritize, meet deadlines, make decisions, and change course of action quickly. Strong interpersonal and communication skills. A strong work ethic is required. Detail-oriented and excellent follow through. Has the ability to flex and deal with ambiguity in a dynamic, fast-paced, high-growth environment. Has a passion for personal learning and development to be able to grow with the company. Cultural sensitivity and ability to develop consensus within a multinational organization. Physical Demands: Normal office environment with prolonged sitting and extensive computer work Working conditions: Requires up to 10% domestic & international travel Our culture is grounded in our values: Commitment to Life, Integrity, Innovation, and Teamwork/Wa, and brought to life through the Kabegoe Principles, which define the behaviors and actions that guide how we work together to deliver meaningful impact for patients. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and mindful of the countless individuals still waiting for their own breakthroughs. A commitment to making people smile unites our efforts. Learn more at [www.kkna.kyowakirin.com](https://www.kkna.kyowakirin.com). The anticipated salary for this position will be $195,00 to $240,000.  The actual salary offered for this role at commencement of employment may vary based on several factors including but not limited to relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, education (including applicable licenses and certifications, job-based knowledge, location, and other business and organizational needs. The listed salary is just one component of the overall compensation package. At Kyowa Kirin North America we provide a comprehensive range of benefits including: - 401K with company match - Annual Bonus Program (Sales Bonus for Sales Jobs) - Generous PTO and Holiday Schedule which includes Summer and Winter Shut-Downs, Sick Days and, Volunteer Days - Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Prescription Drugs and Vision) - HSA & FSA Programs - Well-Being and Work/Life Programs - Life & Disability Insurance - Concierge Services - Long Term Incentive Program (subject to job level and performance) - Pet Insurance - Tuition Assistance - Employee Referral Awards The compensation and benefits information set forth in this posting applies to candidates hired in the United States. Candidates hired outside the United States will be eligible for compensation and benefits in accordance with their local market. KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America, Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race, religion, creed, color, pregnancy, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law. When you apply to a job on this site, the personal data contained in your application will be collected and stored by Kyowa Kirin, Inc. (“Controller”), which is located at 510 Carnegie Center Dr. Princeton, NJ 08540 USA and can be contacted by emailing kkus.talentacquisition.8h@kyowakirin.com. Controller’s data protection officer can be contacted at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com. Your personal data will be processed for the purposes of managing Controller’s recruitment related activities, which include setting up and conducting interviews and tests for applicants, evaluating and assessing the results thereto, and as is otherwise needed in the recruitment and hiring processes. Such processing is legally permissible under Art. 6(1)(f) of General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (“GDPR”) as necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the Controller, which are the solicitation, evaluation, and selection of applicants for employment. Your personal data will be shared with Greenhouse Software, Inc., a cloud services provider located in the United States of America and engaged by Controller to help manage its recruitment and hiring process on Controller’s behalf. Accordingly, if you are located outside of the United States, your personal data will be transferred to the United States once you submit it through this site. The transfer will be made using appropriate additional safeguards under the standard contractual clauses approved by regulators for transfers of personal data outside the European Union. Your personal data will be retained by Controller as long as Controller determines it is necessary to evaluate your application for employment.  Under the GDPR, if you are located in the European Union, you have the right to request access to your personal data, to request that your personal data be rectified or erased, and to request that processing of your personal data be restricted. You also have the right to data portability, and to lodge a complaint with an EU supervisory authority. If you have any questions about our use of your data, you may contact us by email at usprivacyoffice@kyowakirin.com. Recruitment & Staffing Agencies Kyowa Kirin does not accept agency resumes unless contacted directly by internal Kyowa Kirin Talent Acquisition. Please do not forward resumes to Kyowa Kirin employees or any other company location; Kyowa Kirin is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. ## #LI-JC1 ## About Kyowa Kirin North America ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Kyowa Kirin North America is the U.S. and Canadian arm of a global specialty pharmaceutical company that discovers and delivers novel medicines for rare diseases, bone/mineral disorders, hematologic cancers, and other serious unmet medical needs. - **Entity Type**: Private (wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange: TYO 4151) - **Headquarters**: Princeton, New Jersey, USA (with offices in La Jolla, CA; Sanford, NC; and Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) - **Founded**: Not publicly available for the North America entity; parent company founded in 1949 - **Founders**: Not publicly available; parent company founded by Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Kirin Pharma ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Specialty pharmaceuticals / biotechnology - **Target customers**: Healthcare providers, patients, payers, and partner organizations in the U.S. and Canada, primarily in rare disease and oncology - **Mission / purpose**: “Translating science into smiles” — delivering breakthrough treatments where no adequate therapies exist, from drug discovery through commercialization ## Products & Services - **Therapeutic Areas (pipeline and marketed medicines)**: - Bone & Mineral disease - Intractable hematologic disorders - Hematology oncology - Rare diseases (e.g., CNS/movement disorders, immunology) - **Services**: Full value chain – early-stage discovery, clinical development, manufacturing (including a greenfield biologic manufacturing site in Sanford, NC, opening 2027), and commercialization ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not publicly available for the North American entity; parent company Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. had a market cap of approximately ¥1.4 trillion (~$9.3 billion USD) as of early 2025. - **Key Metric**: North America is described as Kyowa Kirin’s “fastest growing global region.” - **Notable Investors / Partners**: Parent company partners with global pharma/biotech firms and academic institutions; specific North American collaborations not detailed in available sources. - **Growth Signals**: - Building first U.S. manufacturing site in Sanford, NC (ground broken Sep 2024, operational by 2027) - Expanded into Canada with a new office in Mississauga (2024) - Certified as a Great Place To Work® - Actively hiring across rare disease sales, medical affairs, manufacturing, clinical operations, regulatory, IT, and more (29+ open roles on Greenhouse) ## Competitive Advantages - **First-in-class science**: Portfolio includes novel mechanisms of action for conditions with high unmet need. - **Integrated capabilities**: In-house discovery, development, manufacturing, and commercialization provide end-to-end control. - **Culture of “Wa”**: The Japanese concept of harmony and constructive challenge fosters collaboration and innovation. - **Specialist focus**: Concentrated expertise in rare and complex diseases allows deep therapeutic knowledge and patient-centricity. ## Strategic Focus - **Expand North American footprint**: Scale discovery, clinical development, and manufacturing capabilities. - **Deliver pipeline**: Advance programs in bone/mineral, hematology oncology, and rare diseases. - **Enhance patient access**: Build commercial and patient services teams across the U.S. and Canada. - **Attract and retain top talent**: Emphasize culture, benefits, and meaningful impact to support rapid growth. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Guided by “Wa” principles — open dialogue, mutual respect, and patient-centered innovation. Employees describe it as “catching lightning in a bottle.” - **Work model**: Hybrid, field, and onsite roles available; offices in Princeton, La Jolla, Sanford, and Mississauga. - **Benefits** (from job postings): - 401(k) with company match - Annual bonus program - Generous PTO + summer and winter shut-downs, sick days, volunteer days - Healthcare (medical, dental, prescription, vision) - HSA & FSA programs - Well-being and work/life programs - Life & disability insurance - Concierge services - Long-term incentive program (level/role-based) - Pet insurance - Tuition assistance - Employee referral awards - **Engineering / R&D culture**: Cutting-edge research facility in La Jolla, CA, and a state-of-the-art manufacturing site under construction in Sanford, NC. ## Sources 1. [kkna.kyowakirin.com](https://www.kkna.kyowakirin.com/) 2. [kkna.kyowakirin.com – Job Seekers](https://www.kkna.kyowakirin.com/job-seekers/) 3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io – Kyowa Kirin NA jobs](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kyowakirinusa90) 4. [kkna.kyowakirin.com – Locations](https://www.kkna.kyowakirin.com/who-we-are/north-america-locations/) 5. [kkna.kyowakirin.com – Current Openings](https://www.kkna.kyowakirin.com/job-seekers/current-openings/) ## Other roles at Kyowa Kirin North America - [Principal I, Global Regulatory Affairs-CMC](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-i-global-regulatory-affairs-cmc-kyowa-kirin-north-america-sanford-r335k4f3jnbg) — Sanford, NC - [2027 Summer Intern - Mississauga, Ontario Office](https://feeny.ai/job/2027-summer-intern-mississauga-ontario-office-kyowa-kirin-north-america-bv7c8k8dzh1x) — Mississauga, Canada - [Senior Specialist, Digital Quality (Quality Systems & Compliance)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-specialist-digital-quality-quality-systems-compliance-kyowa-kirin-north-161kpw7pxm2x) — Sanford, NC - [Associate Director, Patient Services Marketing](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-patient-services-marketing-kyowa-kirin-north-america-ytkyxcm5k4se) — Princeton, NJ - [Sr. Maintenance Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-maintenance-specialist-kyowa-kirin-north-america-sanford-877h4n0e004z) — Sanford, NC - [Maintenance & Utilities Technician II](https://feeny.ai/job/maintenance-utilities-technician-ii-kyowa-kirin-north-america-sanford-r1skqz9g2hnc) — Sanford, NC - [Regional Business Manager - Rare Disease -New Orleans, LA](https://feeny.ai/job/regional-business-manager-rare-disease-new-orleans-la-kyowa-kirin-north-america-j92fc5dt89ya) — New Orleans, LA - [Rare Disease Senior Medical Science Liaison- South Central](https://feeny.ai/job/rare-disease-senior-medical-science-liaison-south-central-kyowa-kirin-north-mtcbs8zzz9ew) — Dallas, TX - [Warehouse Associate III](https://feeny.ai/job/warehouse-associate-iii-kyowa-kirin-north-america-sanford-2tqhbrstze3h) — Sanford, NC - [2027 Summer Intern - Clinical Pharmacology](https://feeny.ai/job/2027-summer-intern-clinical-pharmacology-kyowa-kirin-north-america-princeton-0rbbh5x4ejtg) — Princeton, NJ