---
title: 'Medical Director, Japan at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/medical-director-japan-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-tokyo-gkb6b6jcb7cc'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-14'
---

# Medical Director, Japan at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

- **Company:** Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical
- **Location:** Tokyo, Japan
- **Posted:** 2026-07-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-14
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ultragenyxpharmaceutical/jobs/4714053005?gh_jid=4714053005

## Job description

Why Join Us?

Be a hero for our rare disease patients

At Ultragenyx, we fundamentally believe that taking real impactful action to care for the needs of patients and our people is always the right thing to do. To achieve this goal, our vision is to lead the future of rare disease medicine. For us, this means going where other biopharma companies won’t go – challenging the status quo and creating a new model that advances our field so more patients and caregivers can benefit from life-changing treatments. We do this by following the science, applying a novel rapid development approach, making innovative medicines at fair and reasonable prices, and creating a collaborative ecosystem to reach patients in ways that are most meaningful for them.

Our commitment and care for patients extends to our people, so culture is an essential cornerstone for Ultragenyx. We remain continuously focused on creating a supportive and inclusive environment of profound learning and growth – so employees can thrive in all areas of their lives, in and outside of work. Ultimately, we want to be an organization where we would be proud for our family, friends and children to work.

If you want to have a meaningful impact, do the best work of your career, and grow a lot, both professionally and personally, come join our team.

Position Summary:

ultrafocused – Work together to fearlessly uncover new possibilities

As Medical Director (MD) in Japan, you cooperate closely with Japan Field Medical team, and global Medical and Clinical Development organizations. You are responsible for; 1) development of local Medical Strategy including pipelines, working with local Filed Medical team to enhance medical science-based relationships with medical thought leaders involved in various phases of product development, as well as key medical organizations including treatment centers of excellence and established societies and associations; and 2) supporting Japan Country Clinical Operation Lead (CCOL) from medical perspective for Clinical trial operation in Japan. You provide medical information through scientific exchange in a fair-balanced manner and provide clinical/scientific support to the company. You possess established professional personal and scientific credibility to interact with thought leaders and centers of excellence. You will support Ultragenyx products in development and commercialized brands in Japan as your primary responsibility.

Work Model:

Remote: Officially documented as working full-time from home, with travel to Ultragenyx's offices or other locations on occasion as needed.

Responsibilities:

- Develop and execute Japan Medical Plan with Executive Medical Director
- Develop and execute territory plans in alignment with the global medical plan
- Close collaboration with local Field Medical team including KOL engagement, development speakers and advocates among KOLs.
- Collaborate with the Clinical Operation organization to enhance patient enrolment in company sponsored clinical trials by identifying appropriate clinical trial sites and interacting with investigators in ongoing and future planned clinical trials
- Provide clinical presentations and information in response to unsolicited questions (as appropriate) in academic, community, and healthcare provider settings
- Contribute to the development, planning and implementation of advisory board meetings
- Provide scientific and medical information updates
- Provide timely feedback/information on emerging clinical/scientific teams and opportunities to internal stakeholders
- Provide scientific support for appropriate educational initiatives
- Ensure all activities are compliant with company policies and SOPs

Requirements:

- Advanced degree in clinical specialty in Japan is required (MD and/or MD/PhD) and more than 5 years clinical experience in general paediatrics, inherited metabolic diseases with Japan Paediatric Board-certified physician or at least 5-7 years clinical experience in metabolic diseases and/or neurological disorders.
- Rare disease experience is preferred, particularly in genetic disorders
- Biomedical research experience is preferred.
- Industry experience in medical affairs is optional but preferred.
- Business-level English skill and native-level Japanese reading/writing skills are required
- Excellent teamwork and communication skills are required
- Demonstrated experience effectively presenting clinical/scientific information required
- Expert understanding of the health care delivery system in Japan and its impact on patient care and medical care
- Ability to organize and prioritize your own work schedule. Time and territory management skills are also required
- Ability to make decisions which have a significant impact on the department’s credibility, operations, and services
- Approximately 25% travel is required; overnight travel is required as needed

#LI-CK1#LI-Remote

Full Time employees across the globe enjoy a range of benefits, including, but not limited to:

- 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
- Benefits vary by region and country

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital and veteran status, and any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for all protected statuses or classifications protected by applicable law, including individuals with disabilities, disabled veterans, for pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, and based on sincerely held religious beliefs. Applicants can request an accommodation prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, you may contact Talent Acquisition by emailing us at talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com.

See our [CCPA Employee and Applicant Privacy Notice](https://www.ultragenyx.com/CCPA-Notice/).

See our [Privacy Policy](https://www.ultragenyx.com/privacy-policy/).

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Note to External Recruiters: All candidate activity and open positions are managed strictly through our Human Resources Department. Our Human Resources Department kindly requests that recruiters not contact employees/hiring managers directly in an attempt to solicit business and present candidates. Please note that failure to comply with this request will be a factor in determining a professional relationship with our organization. Submission of unsolicited resumes prior to an agreement set in place between the Human Resources Department and the recruiting agency will not create any implied obligation.  Inquiries on developing a recruiting relationship with us, may be directed to: [talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com](http://mailto:talentacquisition@ultragenyx.com/).

## About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing first-ever treatments for rare and ultra-rare genetic diseases with high unmet medical need.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: RARE)
- **Headquarters**: Novato, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2010
- **Founders**: Emil D. Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D.

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Biotechnology research; rare disease therapeutics (metabolic, bone, endocrine, muscle, and central nervous system disorders).
- **Target customers**: B2B (healthcare providers, payers, government agencies) and B2C (patients and patient advocacy groups).
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Transform the lives of those living with rare diseases” (ultragenyx.com).

## Products & Services
- **Crysvita (burosumab)**: Approved for X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) – a biologic therapy.
- **Dojolvi (triheptanoin)**: Approved for long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAOD) – a small molecule.
- **Mepsevii (vestronidase alfa)**: Approved for mucopolysaccharidosis VII (Sly syndrome) – an enzyme replacement therapy.
- **Evinacumab-dgnb (non-U.S. rights)**: Approved by FDA and EMA for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia; marketed outside the U.S. under a partnership with Regeneron.
- **Pipeline**: A diverse portfolio across multiple modalities – gene therapies, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), mRNA therapies – targeting ultra-rare diseases in bone, endocrine, metabolic, muscle, and CNS categories (ultragenyx.com).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: ~$3.3 billion (as of June 2026, per LinkedIn company page and market data).
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of $673 million (most recent fiscal year); total funding of $1.55 billion (including Series A, post-IPO equity, and debt).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**:
  - Investors: Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (led $400M post-IPO debt in 2025), multiple venture and institutional investors.
  - Partners: Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Daiichi Sankyo, Mereo BioPharma, Regeneron (non-U.S. commercial rights for evinacumab).
- **Growth Signals**:
  - One of the largest and most diverse pipelines in rare disease.
  - Awarded “Best Place to Work” by BioSpace (2020, 2021) and recognized by Deloitte’s Fast 500.
  - Active job postings: 21 openings as of mid-2026 (LinkedIn), though headcount declined 1.9% YoY to 1,247 employees.
  - Recent news: Ultragenyx Reports Inducement Grant Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5 (June 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Ultra-rare focus**: Targets diseases with no approved therapies, creating first-ever treatments and building significant regulatory and commercial expertise.
- **Multi-modality platform**: Expertise across biologics, small molecules, gene therapies, ASOs, and mRNA – reducing risk and expanding addressable disease space.
- **Global infrastructure**: Operations in 20 countries (including Brazil, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan) and commercial presence in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

## Strategic Focus
- **Commercial expansion**: Hiring for Commercial and Medical Affairs teams to support growing product portfolio.
- **Gene therapy manufacturing**: Building a new gene therapy manufacturing facility in the Boston area to scale production for pipeline candidates.
- **Pipeline advancement**: Continued clinical development of gene therapies, ASOs, and mRNA programs for ultra-rare indications.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as “inclusive, generous, curious, and humble,” with a strong emphasis on purpose and patient impact. Named a top workplace by BioSpace and Deloitte.
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive coverage starting on day one for all regular full-time employees; includes robust health, retirement, and wellness programs.
- **Work environment**: Hybrid/office model with multiple U.S. hubs (Novato, Brisbane, Boston area) and international offices. Employer rating on LinkedIn: 3.3/5 (324 reviews) with culture rated 3.5, compensation 4.0, and work-life balance 3.2.
- **Career development**: Internships, seasonal co-ops, and postdoctoral programs; strong alumni pipeline to top biopharma companies (Genentech, BioMarin, Vertex, Amgen).

## Sources
1. [ultragenyx.com](https://www.ultragenyx.com/)
2. [ultragenyx.com – Join Our Team](https://www.ultragenyx.com/join-our-team/)
3. [ultragenyx.com – Current Opportunities](https://www.ultragenyx.com/join-our-team/current-opportunities/)
4. [LinkedIn Company Page](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ultragenyx)
5. [talent.ultragenyx.com](https://talent.ultragenyx.com/)
6. [Greenhouse Careers Page](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ultragenyxpharmaceutical)

## Other roles at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical

- [UltraCare Liaison](https://feeny.ai/job/ultracare-liaison-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-germany-b502ttkt7d2w) — Germany
- [Senior IT Analyst II - IT Research and Development](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-it-analyst-ii-it-research-and-development-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-v2wsc9qv32cs) — United States
- [Senior Director, US Medical Lead LC-FAOD and MPSs](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-us-medical-lead-lc-faod-and-mpss-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-e9cazv3hfwnx) — United States
- [Senior Medical Science Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-medical-science-manager-ultragenyx-pharmaceutical-paris-ag112d1v24xj) — Paris, France
- [Facilities Technician II (GMP) – Pitman Schedule (9:00 PM–7:00 AM)](https://feeny.ai/job/facilities-technician-ii-gmp-pitman-schedule-9-00-pm-7-00-am-ultragenyx-q5hahx8cs9n6) — Bedford, MA