Product Manager - IVD & Autoimmune Diagnostics Tokyo

Are you an experienced Product Manager in medical devices, in vitro diagnostics (IVD), pharmaceuticals, or life sciences looking to take ownership of product strategy and new product launches in Japan?

Join a leading global medical diagnostics manufacturer in Tokyo as a Product Manager - Autoimmune Disease, where you will drive upstream marketing strategy, portfolio planning, and the commercialisation of innovative diagnostic products for the Japanese healthcare market.

This is a highly strategic position, with approximately 90% of your time dedicated to upstream marketing, including long-term business planning, product selection, market segmentation, and launch strategy rather than routine promotional activities.

You will collaborate closely with US headquarters and local Japanese teams to introduce new diagnostic technologies, strengthen market positioning, and accelerate sustainable business growth.

This opportunity is ideal for a healthcare marketing professional with successful end-to-end product launch experience who wants to make a measurable impact in a growing diagnostics business.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Product Marketing: Develop and execute a five-year strategic business plan for Japan, establishing long-term growth priorities, market opportunities, and product portfolio objectives.
• Budget & Financial Planning: Set annual budgets, monitor business performance, and develop marketing strategies to achieve revenue and profitability targets.
• Global Product Portfolio Management: Evaluate, select, and prioritise new diagnostic products from the US portfolio for introduction into the Japanese healthcare market.
• New Product Launch Management: Lead the entire product launch lifecycle, from initial product selection and market assessment through regulatory submission, reimbursement planning, and commercial launch.
• Upstream Marketing & Market Analysis: Conduct market segmentation, customer targeting, competitive analysis, and product positioning to identify growth opportunities and strengthen market competitiveness.
• Regulatory & Reimbursement Coordination: Collaborate with relevant internal teams to support Japanese regulatory submissions, reimbursement considerations, and market access planning.
• Marketing Communications & Sales Enablement: Develop promotional materials, product messaging, value propositions, and sales strategies tailored to hospitals and clinical laboratory customers.
• Customer & Market Development: Identify opportunities to expand into new customer segments, including clinical laboratories and other diagnostic testing providers.
• Global & Local Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with US headquarters and Japanese commercial, regulatory, and cross-functional teams to align business priorities and resolve operational challenges.
• Business Growth & Commercial Excellence: Support the transition towards a more strategically driven marketing organisation while strengthening long-term product performance and market expansion.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Experience:

• Healthcare Marketing Experience: Professional marketing experience within medical devices, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, in vitro diagnostics (IVD), or another healthcare-related industry.
• New Product Launch Experience: Proven experience successfully leading at least one complete new product launch, from initial planning through commercial introduction.
• Product Marketing Strategy: Practical knowledge of market segmentation, customer targeting, and product positioning, with the ability to explain and apply these concepts to commercial strategies.
• Strategic Planning: Ability to develop marketing plans, evaluate business opportunities, and align product strategies with revenue and growth objectives.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working with commercial, marketing, and other internal stakeholders to support product development or launch activities.
• Education: Bachelor's degree.

Soft Skills:

• Relationship Building: Ability to establish strong, trusting relationships with healthcare professionals, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Ownership & Initiative: Proactive approach to decision-making, with the confidence to take responsibility and independently drive projects forward.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Strong emotional intelligence and sensitivity to cultural differences when collaborating with Japanese and international teams.
• Resilience & Professionalism: Ability to manage challenges constructively while demonstrating humility, integrity, and accountability.
• Curiosity & Continuous Learning: Strong interest in expanding clinical knowledge and developing expertise in new diagnostic technologies and therapeutic areas.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect market insights, customer needs, and commercial priorities to develop effective product strategies.
• Collaboration & Influence: Strong interpersonal skills to align stakeholders and support successful product launches across multiple business functions.

Language Requirements:

• Japanese: Native-level proficiency for communication with healthcare professionals, customers, and internal stakeholders in Japan.
• English: Business-level proficiency for effective collaboration with US headquarters and international teams.

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• MBA Qualification: Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
• IVD Industry Experience: Previous experience in in vitro diagnostics, clinical laboratory testing, or medical diagnostic products.
• Autoimmune Disease Knowledge: Familiarity with autoimmune diseases, related diagnostic technologies, or specialised laboratory testing.
• Japanese Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding of medical device or diagnostic product regulations and regulatory submission processes in Japan.
• Reimbursement & Market Access: Knowledge of Japanese healthcare reimbursement requirements and their impact on diagnostic product commercialisation.
• Hospital & Laboratory Sales Cycles: Understanding of purchasing processes, commercial decision-making, and sales cycles within hospitals and clinical laboratories.
• New Market Development: Experience expanding healthcare products into new customer segments, including mid-sized clinical laboratories.
• Portfolio & Commercial Strategy: Experience evaluating new product opportunities, managing product portfolios, or developing long-term healthcare business strategies.

About the Company

Our client is a leading global medical diagnostics manufacturer providing specialised diagnostic instruments, reagents, and software solutions to major hospitals and commercial clinical laboratories across Japan.

The organisation focuses on important healthcare fields, including autoimmune disease diagnostics, acute care testing, and specialised blood diagnostics, supporting healthcare professionals with technologies that contribute to accurate and effective clinical testing.

With an established presence in Japan and access to a broad international product portfolio, the company combines global diagnostic innovation with local market expertise.

Its diagnostics business is experiencing sustained double-digit growth, creating opportunities for strategic product management, new product introductions, and expansion into additional customer segments.

The organisation is also strengthening its strategic marketing capabilities, offering an opportunity to influence how innovative diagnostic products are selected, positioned, and launched in Japan.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• Attractive Compensation: Annual salary of ¥11M-¥14M, offering a rewarding opportunity for experienced healthcare and diagnostics marketing professionals.
• Strategic Upstream Marketing Focus: Spend approximately 90% of your time on upstream marketing, including portfolio strategy, market analysis, product selection, and long-term business planning.
• Product Ownership: Take direct responsibility for identifying, prioritising, and commercialising innovative diagnostic products from a broad global portfolio.
• Strong Business Growth: Join an established diagnostics business unit delivering continuous double-digit growth.
• Marketing Transformation Opportunity: Play an important role in the transition from a sales-driven commercial approach towards a strategically focused marketing organisation.
• End-to-End Product Launch Leadership: Lead new diagnostic product introductions from market assessment and regulatory planning through commercial launch.
• Global Collaboration: Work closely with US headquarters and Japanese cross-functional teams, gaining exposure to international product strategies and decision-making.
• Structured Knowledge Transfer: Benefit from a comprehensive handover and knowledge transfer process from the outgoing incumbent, supporting a smooth transition into the role.
• Flexible Working Arrangements: Remote work and work-from-home opportunities, together with flexible working hours.
• Healthcare Industry Impact: Contribute to the introduction of diagnostic technologies supporting autoimmune disease testing and other important areas of clinical care.
• Professional Development: Strengthen your expertise in medical diagnostics, product portfolio management, strategic marketing, market access, and healthcare commercialisation.

Don't Miss Out - Apply Now!