[Innovative Medicine] Associate Director, Government Affairs, Policy & Patient Advocacy Japan

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.
As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.
Job Function:
Communications & Corporate/External Affairs
Job Sub Function:
Government Affairs & Policy
Job Category:
Professional
All Job Posting Locations:
Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Job Description:
About Innovative Medicine
Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.
Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.
Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine
Reports to: Senior Director of Government Affairs & Policy (GA&P)
The Government Affairs & Policy (GA&P) team at J&J Innovative Medicine plays a leading role in advancing access to innovative medicines and shaping a policy environment that fosters innovation. Working alongside talented colleagues from diverse backgrounds, you will help tackle some of Japan’s most pressing healthcare policy challenges and make a meaningful difference for patients, the healthcare system, and society.
As part of our commitment to putting patients at the center of everything we do, the team is expanding its capabilities to integrate the patient voice into policy shaping and patient access. This newly designed role offers a unique opportunity to build and lead Patient Advocacy in Japan while contributing to core GA&P priorities.
The qualifications below reflect the capabilities we aspire to. We do not expect candidates to meet every requirement from day one; rather, we welcome individuals with the ambition, curiosity, and determination to learn quickly and grow into the role. If you are excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference as part of a talented, purpose-driven team, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Overview of Role:
The Government Affairs & Policy function plays a pivotal role in improving patient access to innovative medicines by proactively engaging policymakers, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and patient communities. It navigates wide-ranging cost-containment measures, geopolitical dynamics, and rapid policy shifts, requiring agile and forward-looking strategies.
This position combines two responsibilities:
First, under the direction and guidance of the Director, the role will contribute to policy shaping strategy and related actions, including policy analyses on the NHI drug pricing system, CEA, and assigned therapeutic area(s) (TAs).
Second, the role will lead Patient Advocacy in Japan, building trusted relationships with patient organizations, understanding patients’ unmet needs and access barriers, and translating these insights into policy shaping and access strategies to improve patient access to innovative medicines.
Position Summary:
Government Affairs & Policy
Work with the Director to develop policy-related strategies, goals, and outcome-based action plans.
Work with the IMAT team as well as cross-functional teams to deliver the outcome.
Proactively work with both internal and external stakeholders on pricing, regulatory, CEA (Japan HTA), and patient access matters from policy development, interpretation and implementation that are relevant to J&J IM in the current and future market.
Develop narratives and materials with a deep understanding of target stakeholders in both Japanese and English.
Work closely with Asia Pacific regional and global teams to maximize the value and impact of actions.
Enhance J&J IM presence and reputation in the GA&P area through collaboration with external stakeholders, including industry associations.
Patient Advocacy
Develop and execute the Patient Advocacy strategy for Japan, aligned with GA&P and business priorities, in key disease areas (e.g., oncology, immunology, neuroscience).
Build, maintain, and strengthen long-term, trusted relationships with patient organizations, patient advocates, and other patient-related stakeholders.
Identify patients’ unmet needs and access barriers, and incorporate patient perspectives into policy shaping, access, and external engagement strategies.
Act as a champion of the patient voice within J&J IM Japan, and create opportunities for the organization to learn directly from patients.
Collaborate with Medical Affairs, Market Access, Communications & Public Affairs, Business Units, and Global/AP Patient Advocacy teams to ensure aligned and impactful engagement.
Partner with Compliance, Legal, and Finance to establish and implement frameworks and processes that ensure engagement with patient organizations is ethical, transparent, non-promotional, and compliant with company policies and applicable industry codes.
Represent J&J IM Japan externally on patient advocacy and patient access topics, and share best practices with regional and global Patient Advocacy communities.
Qualifications:
The position requires an experienced expert with deep knowledge of the healthcare industry and a proven ability to establish trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including government and patient communities. The individual must have a proven track record of good performance and the ability to manage project teams. 10+ years of relevant work experience, especially in healthcare-related industries, is preferred.
The leader must:
Have a sufficient level of presence and interpersonal skills, excellent influencing skills, and an established level of credibility.
Be highly articulate, with excellent written and verbal communication skills in Japanese and sufficient capability in verbal communication, writing, and formulating policy-related documents in English.
Have the ability to anticipate emerging issues of importance to the company and to prioritize appropriately.
Have the ability to take a key role or position in industry associations such as JPMA and PhRMA.
Have a deep knowledge of the industry business, regulatory and healthcare policy environment, coupled with the ability to clearly articulate plans that enable J&J IM to understand the risks, opportunities, and implications of industry/government initiatives, with strategies to manage issues both proactively and reactively.
Have genuine empathy for patients and the ability to build trust-based relationships with patient organizations; experience working with patient organizations or advocacy groups is preferred.
Have a solid understanding of compliance requirements for engagement with patient organizations and the general public, or the ability to acquire it quickly.
Be a Credo-based leader who drives integrity throughout the organization.
Have at least a bachelor’s degree. An MBA, MPH, Master’s degree or equivalent would be advantageous.
J&J Innovative MedicineのGovernment Affairs & Policy（GA&P）チームは、革新的な医薬品へのアクセスの向上と、創薬イノベーションを支える環境づくりに向けて、業界をリードする役割を担っています。多様なバックグラウンドを持つ優秀なメンバーとともに、日本の医療政策における重要な課題に取り組み、患者さん、医療システム、そして社会に意義あるインパクトを生み出すことができるポジションです。
「患者さんを中心に」という私たちのコミットメントのもと、チームは患者さんの声を政策形成と患者アクセスの改善に活かすための機能を強化しています。本ポジションは新たに設計された役割であり、GA&Pの中核業務に貢献しながら、日本におけるPatient Advocacyを構築・リードする、他にない機会です。
以下に示す要件は目指す理想像です。現時点ですべてを満たしている必要はありません。学び続ける意欲と、成長への高いコミットメントをお持ちの方を歓迎します。私たちの志に共感し、尊敬し合える仲間とともに患者さんの未来に貢献したいと考える方からのご応募を、心よりお待ちしています。
Overview of Role:
Government Affairs & Policy（GA&P）は、医薬品のイノベーションを支援し患者アクセスを改善するために、外部環境の形成において重要な役割を担います。これには、政策立案者、規制当局、業界団体、患者コミュニティ等との積極的な関与が含まれます。またGA&Pは、広範な医療費抑制策、地政学的な動向、迅速な政策変更に対応し、機動的かつ将来を見据えた戦略を推進する必要があります。
本Associate Directorポジションは、2つの役割を担います。第一に、Senior Directorの指示・指導のもと、薬価制