Director, Supply Chain & Wholesaler Relations - Japan

The Opportunity:

The Director, Japan Supply Chain & Wholesaler Relations will play a critical role in building Revolution Medicines’ Japan commercial supply chain infrastructure from the ground up to ensure operational readiness for commercial launch and ongoing supply continuity. This is a highly hands-on role requiring both strategic thinking and operational execution. The successful candidate will personally lead wholesaler selection, contract negotiations, 3PL setup, distribution process design, and launch readiness activities in close collaboration with QA, CMC, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial teams.

We are seeking an agile and entrepreneurial leader who thrives in a fast-paced biotech environment and is comfortable operating with limited infrastructure and evolving processes. This role is best suited for individuals who have experience building new capabilities rather than operating within highly structured large-company environments. The ideal candidate combines deep knowledge of the Japanese pharmaceutical distribution landscape with the ability to execute independently and pragmatically in a launch-stage organization.

Key Responsibilities

Japan Supply Chain Strategy & Launch Readiness

• Develop and implement Japan supply chain and distribution strategies to support product launch and commercialization.

• Establish scalable and compliant supply chain processes aligned with Japan regulatory and commercial requirements.

• Support launch readiness activities including inventory planning, distribution setup, serialization readiness, and product flow design.

• Collaborate with Global Supply Chain to ensure alignment between global and local supply strategies.

• Coordinate launch readiness activities across internal and external stakeholders to ensure uninterrupted commercial supply.

Build-from-Scratch Commercial Infrastructure

• Lead the establishment of Japan commercial distribution and supply chain operations from the ground up.

• Develop practical and scalable operational processes in a resource-constrained, pre-commercial environment.

• Identify operational gaps proactively and implement pragmatic solutions to support launch readiness.

• Create operational frameworks and governance processes appropriate for a growing biotech organization.

Wholesaler Strategy & Relationship Management

• Lead evaluation, selection, negotiation, and onboarding of pharmaceutical wholesalers in Japan.

• Drive contract negotiations and operational alignment with wholesalers and distribution partners.

• Build trusted relationships with key external stakeholders across wholesalers, logistics providers, and service vendors.

• Coordinate inventory management, order fulfillment, and distribution KPIs with wholesalers.

• Monitor wholesaler performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

• Support development of distribution models aligned with commercial strategy and patient access objectives.

3PL & Distribution Operations

• Lead end-to-end selection and implementation of third-party logistics (3PL) providers in Japan.

• Establish compliant warehousing, transportation, and distribution operations in collaboration with QA and Regulatory teams.

• Work directly with QA and CMC teams to establish compliant and scalable distribution operations.

• Support operational execution activities as needed, including process mapping, SOP development, issue resolution, and launch coordination.

• Oversee logistics operations including cold chain handling, returns, recalls, and destruction processes as applicable.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with QA on GDP/GQP compliance, deviation management, supplier qualification, and change control activities.

• Collaborate with CMC and Global Technical Operations on supply planning, packaging configuration, artwork implementation, and release timelines.

• Work with Regulatory Affairs to support importation, labeling, and local compliance requirements.

• Coordinate with Finance and Commercial teams on inventory planning, demand forecasting, and gross-to-net considerations.

• Act as a key local operational partner to global teams while maintaining strong ownership of Japan execution activities.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all supply chain and distribution activities comply with applicable Japan regulations and company quality standards.

• Support inspection readiness and audit activities related to supply chain operations.

• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks and develop business continuity plans.

• Ensure compliant management of product traceability, inventory controls, and distribution documentation.

Required Skills, Experience and Education:

• 12+ years of relevant pharmaceutical supply chain and distribution experience in Japan.

• Strong understanding of the Japanese pharmaceutical distribution ecosystem and wholesaler operations.

• Demonstrated experience on creating, developing, and implementing strategic initiatives aligned with organizational goals

• Proven experience supporting commercial launch preparation or building new supply chain capabilities in Japan.

• Hands-on experience with wholesaler selection, contract negotiation, and 3PL implementation.

• Experience with strategic frameworks, business modeling, and performance metrics.

• Working knowledge of GDP/GQP requirements and Japan pharmaceutical regulations.

• High adaptability and execute effectively with limited resources and evolving organizational structure.

• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills with QA, CMC, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial organizations.

• Excellent critical thinking, negotiation, and communication skills.

• Business-level Japanese and English communication skills.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in pre-commercial biotech or launch-stage organizations.

• Experience establishing Japan commercial infrastructure for first product launch.

• Oncology or specialty pharmaceutical experience.

• Experience with limited distribution or specialty distribution models.

• Experience working in highly matrixed global organizations while maintaining strong local execution ownership.

• Experience with SAP, NetSuite, or other ERP systems.

• Individuals with a highly execution-oriented and hands-on working style.

Key Success Factors

• Builder mindset with strong ownership and accountability.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and creating structure where none exists.

• Willingness to remain close to operational details while driving strategic initiatives.

• Ability to balance speed, compliance, and pragmatism in a launch-stage biotech environment.

• Strong external stakeholder management and negotiation capability.

• Ability to influence cross-functional teams without large organizational infrastructure or resources.

Additional Candidate Profile Considerations

Candidates who are most successful in this role are typically those who enjoy building organizations and processes from an early stage rather than operating within mature, highly resourced structures.This role is best suited for individuals who are motivated by creating new capabilities, solving operational challenges directly, and working hands-on in a dynamic launch environment.

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