Orion Pharma is currently seeking to recruit an experienced Global Asset Lead (GAL) to take end‑to‑end accountability for the strategic vision and successful delivery of a priority oncology program. In this pivotal role, you will lead a high‑performing Global Program Team (GPT) in a dynamic matrix environment, integrating the efforts of Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, Medical Affairs, and Commercial functions.
Your mission is to maximize the medical and commercial value of the asset from early transition (Phase 1/2) through global registration, launch, and long-term life cycle management. This role requires a balance of technical depth (scientific and clinical rigor) and business acumen (BD, portfolio strategy, and market dynamics).
Key Responsibilities
1. Integrated Development Plan (IDP) & Strategic Vision
- Integrated Development Plan Ownership: Lead the creation and annual update of the Integrated Development Plan, ensuring clinical, regulatory, technical, and commercial workstreams are harmonized into a single, cohesive roadmap.
- Target Product Profile (TPP): Develop, refine and execute on the TPP and ensure all development activities are designed to achieve a competitive and differentiated label that meets both regulatory requirements and payer/market needs.
- Evidence Generation: Partner with Medical Affairs and Clinical to drive an integrated evidence generation strategy (including RWE and HEOR) to support global market access and reimbursement.
2. Matrix Leadership & Cross-Functional Liaison
- Project Team Leader: Lead the GPT as the central decision-maker, ensuring that Clinical, CMC, Regulatory, Medical Affairs, and Commercial are aligned on the asset’s primary objectives.
- Functional Synergy: Serve as the primary liaison between technical R&D (CMC/Clinical) and downstream functions (Commercial/Market Access) to ensure the asset is "launch-ready" from a supply and value-proposition perspective.
- Matrix Leadership: Proactively manage cross-functional priorities, trade-offs, and resource constraints to ensure the program remains on track.
3. Governance, Risk & Portfolio Management
- Governance Representative: Act as the lead presenter for the asset at Senior Executive Governance (e.g., Investment Committees, Portfolio Boards). Secure funding and alignment for major milestones (Phase 2/3 transitions).
- Decision Science: Establish clear "Go/No-Go" decision points and objectively present data to governance to drive portfolio-level prioritization.
- Risk Mitigation & Scenario Planning: Lead formal risk assessments and develop robust contingency/back-up scenarios for clinical failures, regulatory shifts, or competitive market entries.
4. Life Cycle Management (LCM) & Value Maximization
- Line Extensions: Strategize and execute the expansion of the asset into new indications, earlier lines of therapy, and novel combination regimens (e.g., IO combinations, ADC sequencing).
- Pediatric & Regional Strategy: Ensure the IDP includes global geographic considerations (e.g., China/Japan development) and mandatory pediatric investigation plans (PIP/PSP).
- Collaborations & Alliances: Lead collaborations with academic cooperative groups (e.g., ECOG, EORTC) and manage Joint Steering Committees (JSC) for co-development assets with industry partners.
5. Business Development (BD) & Strategic Initiatives
- BD Technical Lead: Serve as the asset expert for due diligence on potential in-licensing opportunities that complement the asset’s core strategy.
- External Advocacy: Build and maintain high-level relationships with global Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and participate in strategic partnering/investor discussions.
- Competitive Intelligence: Continuously monitor the oncology landscape to adjust asset strategy in response to emerging "Standard of Care" shifts or competitor data readouts.
- Opportunity to work with talented and experienced scientists and assistants across Orion’s RnD.
- An exciting R&D pipeline and enthusiastic working environment with opportunities to use your strengths to build your competence and career.
- Exciting opportunity to innovate and impact future therapies for patients.
The role can be based in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA); Cambridge (UK); or Espoo, Finland, within the Research & Development (R&D) organization, and reports directly to the Chief Medical Officer, Oncology Therapy Area.
What We Offer
At Orion, your work creates true impact and well-being for our customers, patients and society at large. Our culture of friendliness, respect, mutual appreciation and diversity creates a safe working environment where you can strive for excellence. We offer a wealth of career paths and development opportunities that support the development of innovative solutions and improving the quality of life.
Please visit our website to find further information about our values and Orion as an employer https://www.orion.fi/en/careers/orion-as-an-employer/.
Our Expectations
- Mandatory Advanced Degree: Ph.D. in Life Sciences, Pharm.D., or an equivalent doctoral-level degree (e.g., MD).
- Minimum of 15 years in pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D, with a minimum of 8 years specifically in Oncology Asset Leadership or a similar high-level matrix role.
- Documented success in leading a program through a global regulatory submission (NDA/BLA/MAA) and subsequent commercial launch.
- Proven ability to influence and lead large cross-functional teams without direct line-management authority in a Big Pharma environment.
- Experience managing large-scale program budgets and a sophisticated understanding of NPV/Asset Valuation models.
- The ability to pivot between high-level strategic "Boardroom" discussions and technical "Deep Dives" into clinical protocols or CMC validation data.
- Exceptional executive presence; able to challenge senior leadership and functional heads to ensure the best outcome for the asset.
- Unwavering commitment to clinical data integrity and the ultimate delivery of meaningful outcomes to cancer patients.
How to apply
Please send your application with the latest CV, cover letter, and salary request in English by May 10th, 2026.
The expected salary range for this position depends on the country the role will be based. Final compensation will depend on skills, experience, and job-related qualifications.
#LI-ORION
Approved medical examination which also includes drug testing is required prior to the employment. We will also carry out a security clearance prior to the employment for the selected person.
Orion Pharma’s pharmaceutical innovations are created within its R&D organization. We employ around 400 top professionals in the field of drug discovery and development. We work globally: in Espoo and Turku in Finland, in Cambridge and Nottingham in England and in Cambridge, MA, USA. Orion R&D and the Innovative Medicines business division are dedicated to making a transformation to become a global player in the pain and oncology therapy areas.
Company
Orion Pharma is a globally operating Nordic pharmaceutical company – a builder of well-being for over a hundred years.
We’re home to more than 4,000 Orionees around the world, and we’re proud to be known as a responsible employer and a great place to work. At Orion Pharma, people are truly valued and trusted, encouraged to grow, and supported by a culture where every voice is heard. We appreciate each other, strive for excellence, and build the future.
Together we develop, manufacture, and market human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Our extensive portfolio includes proprietary and generic medicines as well as consumer health products. The core therapy areas of our pharmaceutical R&D are oncology and pain. Proprietary products developed by Orion Pharma are used to treat cancer, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, and more.
We offer careers with a clear purpose: empowering people to live their lives to the fullest.