The Director of Internal and Executive Communications is a key role within the Corporate Communications team, as part of Corporate Affairs. This role will lead the strategy and execution of internal communications across Otsuka during a period of dynamic transformation, and is responsible for ensuring leaders communicate with clarity, credibility, and consistency, while employees are informed, engaged, and aligned with company priorities.
Operating within a highly matrixed environment, the Director will serve as a trusted partner to senior leaders and a central integrator across functions – translating complex, rapidly changing information into clear, actionable communications delivered through the right internal channels at the right time.
Key Responsibilities
Internal Communications Strategy & Leadership
-Develop and lead a comprehensive internal communications strategy that supports business priorities, organizational change, and company culture.
-Ensure consistent messaging and narrative alignment across all internal touchpoints, including leader communications, company-wide updates, the Vine (Otsuka’s intranet platform), all-employee chats, and departmental town halls.
-Anticipate communication needs in an agile, fast-changing environment and proactively develop plans to support evolving priorities.
Executive & Leader Communications
-Partner closely with functional leaders to strengthen credibility, clarity, and authenticity in their communications.
-Serve as a strategic advisor to executives and people leaders on messaging, tone, timing, and channel selection.
-Draft, edit, and oversee high-impact communications such as leadership emails, town halls, scripts, FAQs, talking points, in partnership with the office of the CEO and change communications.
-Support leaders through periods of transformation, growth, and uncertainty with thoughtful, empathetic communication approaches.
Platform Management & Channel Oversight
-Own the strategy, governance, and ongoing management of internal communications platforms (e.g., intranet, collaboration tools, newsletters, internal channels).
-Ensure platforms are user-centered, effective, and aligned with how Otsuka-people consume information.
-Optimize best practices, standards, and governance for content creation, publishing, and measurement across channels.
-Partner with Otsuka IT, People and Business Services, other stakeholders to continuously evolve internal platforms and tools.
Matrixed Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
-Support the team’s positioning as a business partner to leadership, helping transition perception from service-based execution towards strategic counsel
-Act as a central connector across Corporate Communications and business functions to align messaging and timing.
-Navigate a matrixed environment, balancing enterprise priorities with functional needs.
-Provide guidance, oversight, and editorial review for internal communications developed across the organization.
-Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Measurement & Continuous Improvement
-Define and track success metrics for internal communications, using insights to refine strategy and execution.
-Gather employee feedback and sentiment to inform messaging and channel effectiveness.
-Synthesize learnings and offer “front lines” perspectives back to key stakeholders.
-Stay current on internal communications best practices, tools, and trends, particularly within healthcare and regulated environments.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, English, or a related field.
10-12+ years of experience in internal communications, corporate communications, or related disciplines; healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotech, or life sciences experience preferred.
Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and supporting executive communications.
Proven ability to manage communications during change, ambiguity, and organizational evolution.
Experience managing internal communications platforms and establishing governance models.
Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills, with a strong sense of judgment and attention to detail.
Comfort operating in regulated environments and partnering with Legal, HR, and Compliance.
Strong organizational, relationship-building, and influencing skills.
Key Competencies
Executive presence and sound judgment
Strategic thinking with hands-on execution
Change and transformation communications
Stakeholder management in matrixed environments
Message discipline and editorial rigor
Empathy, clarity, and credibility in leadership communications
Competencies
Accountability for Results - Stay focused on key strategic objectives, be accountable for high standards of performance, and take an active role in leading change.
Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving - Make decisions considering the long-term impact to customers, patients, employees, and the business.
Patient & Customer Centricity - Maintain an ongoing focus on the needs of our customers and/or key stakeholders.
Impactful Communication - Communicate with logic, clarity, and respect. Influence at all levels to achieve the best results for Otsuka.
Respectful Collaboration - Seek and value others’ perspectives and strive for diverse partnerships to enhance work toward common goals.
Empowered Development - Play an active role in professional development as a business imperative.
Minimum $186,489.00 - Maximum $278,875.00, plus incentive opportunity: The range shown represents a typical pay range or starting pay for individuals who are hired in the role to perform in the United States. Other elements may be used to determine actual pay such as the candidate’s job experience, specific skills, and comparison to internal incumbents currently in role. Typically, actual pay will be positioned within the established range, rather than at its minimum or maximum. This information is provided to applicants in accordance with states and local laws.
Application Deadline This will be posted for a minimum of 5 business days.
Company benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, company provided basic life, accidental death & dismemberment, short-term and long-term disability insurance, tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, a generous 401(k) match, flexible time off, paid holidays, and paid leave programs as well as other company provided benefits.
Come discover more about Otsuka and our benefit offerings; https://www.otsuka-us.com/careers-join-otsuka
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned to this position. It is not intended to include every job duty and responsibility specific to the position. Otsuka reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.
Otsuka is an equal opportunity employerAll qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, national origin, veteran status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation, if you are unable or limited in your ability to apply to this job opening as a result of your disabilityYou can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Accommodation Request
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At Otsuka we take security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please be aware individuals may approach you and falsely present themselves as our employees or representatives. They may use this false pretense to try to gain access to your personal information or acquire money from you by offering fictitious employment opportunities purportedly on our behalf.
Please understand, Otsuka will never ask for financial information of any kind or for payment of money during the job application process. We do not require any financial, credit card or bank account information and/or any payment of any kind to be considered for employment. We will also not offer you money to buy equipment, software, or for any other purpose during the job application process. If you are being asked to pay or offered money for equipment fees or some other application processing fee, even if claimed you will be reimbursed, this is not Otsuka. These claims are fraudulent and you are strongly advised to exercise caution when you receive such an offer of employment.
Otsuka will also never ask you to download a third-party application in order to communicate about a legitimate job opportunity. Scammers may also send offers or claims from a fake email address or from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc, and not from an official Otsuka email address. Please take extra caution while examining such an email address, as the scammers may misspell an official Otsuka email address and use a slightly modified version duplicating letters.
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Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc., and Otsuka Precision Health, Inc. (“Otsuka”) does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any Otsuka employee directly or through Otsuka’s application portal without a valid written search agreement in place for the position will be considered Otsuka’s sole property. No fee will be paid if a candidate is hired by Otsuka as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.
There are two Otsuka pharmaceutical industry companies in the U.S.:
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI) successfully commercializes Otsuka-discovered and in-licensed products in North America.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) clinically develops and registers innovative healthcare products on a global basis.
