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Japan Vaccine Development Lead at GSK in Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
ExperiencedHybridFull-timeTokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Job Description
Japan Vaccine Development Lead
Location: Japan - Tokyo - Akasaka
Business Introduction
At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade. Our R&D focuses on discovering and delivering vaccines and medicines, combining our understanding of the immune system with cutting-edge technology to transform people’s lives. GSK fosters a culture ambitious for patients, accountable for impact, and committed to doing the right thing, making sure that we focus our efforts on accelerating significant assets that meet patients’ needs and have the highest probability of success. We’re uniting science, technology, and talent to get ahead of disease together.
Find out more:
Our approach to R&D
Position Summary
You will lead vaccine development for a key asset in Japan. You will work across global and local teams to shape strategy, plan studies, and ensure timely delivery. You will be the single point of contact in Japan for senior leaders and governance. We value clear leadership, practical problem solving, and inclusive collaboration. This role offers visible impact, career growth and the chance to help unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
This role will provide YOU the opportunity to lead key activities to progress YOUR career. These responsibilities include some of the following:
- Act as single point of accountability for the vaccine asset in Japan from initiation through first approval and early post-approval activities.
- Lead the Japan vaccine development team and drive integrated planning, execution and decision making across functions.
- Collaborate with the central Vaccine Development Team to shape the integrated evidence plan and development strategy that aligns Japan and global needs.
- Build and sustain relationships with Japanese regulators, government stakeholders, scientific societies and patient groups to support approvals and market access.
- Manage resourcing and the asset budget in Japan, and provide transparent status, risks and recommendations to governance.
- Ensure development activities meet quality, safety and compliance expectations and that data and science are robust.
Why You?
Working model
This role is located in Japan and is hybrid. You will be expected to work on-site regularly in Japan and travel as required for stakeholder engagement and governance.
Basic Qualification
We are seeking professionals with the following required skills and qualifications to help us achieve our goals:
- Advanced degree in life sciences, medicine, pharmacy or equivalent experience.
- Significant experience in vaccine development or related areas within the pharmaceutical industry.
- Proven track record leading late-phase development and regulatory filings in Japan.
- Experience working with Japanese regulatory authorities and understanding of local legal and government frameworks.
- Strong matrix leadership skills, including leading cross-functional teams and influencing without direct authority.
- Fluent Japanese and strong English communication skills, both written and verbal.
Preferred Qualification
If you have the following characteristics, it would be a plus:
- MD, PhD or PharmD qualification.
- Experience shaping integrated evidence strategies and real world evidence approaches for vaccines.
- Demonstrated success in delivering product approvals and early market access in Japan.
- Experience working across global and local governance forums and presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Prior experience building external scientific relationships with key opinion leaders and patient groups in Japan.
- Experience managing asset budgets and resource plans at country level.
Who you are
You are accountable, collaborative and patient-focused. You make clear decisions and explain them simply. You support colleagues and welcome different perspectives. You balance strategic thinking with practical delivery. You care about high-quality science and compliance. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, even if you do not meet every preferred criterion.
How to apply
We want to hear from you. Please submit your CV and a short cover letter describing a recent development program you led, the main challenges and the outcomes. Tell us how you would help deliver vaccines of value for patients in Japan. We look forward to hearing from you.
Why GSK?
Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.
GSK is a global biopharma company with a purpose to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together. We aim to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people by the end of the decade, as a successful, growing company where people can thrive. We get ahead of disease by preventing and treating it with innovation in specialty medicines and vaccines. We focus on four therapeutic areas: respiratory, immunology and inflammation; oncology; HIV; and infectious diseases – to impact health at scale.
People and patients around the world count on the medicines and vaccines we make, so we’re committed to creating an environment where our people can thrive and focus on what matters most. Our culture of being ambitious for patients, accountable for impact and doing the right thing is the foundation for how, together, we deliver for patients, shareholders and our people.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal opportunities for all applicants. We embrace an agile working culture across our roles, so if flexibility is important to you please discuss opportunities with our hiring team. If you need any adjustments to the recruitment process to help you demonstrate your strengths and capabilities, contact APACRecruitment.Adjustments@gsk.com. Please note this email is for adjustment requests only; for other enquiries please use our standard contact channels.
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