Astellas Hiring for Assoicaite Manager Sample Operations Job at Northbrook, IL Full Time

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com.

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois, however remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose & Scope:
The Associate manager, Sample Operations ensures proactive adherence to the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) guidelines and timely reporting for State and Federal reporting regulations. Through cross-functional collaboration, this role is accountable for improving the efficiency of our sample programs and achieving the brand teams’ objectives. This position will manages day to day operations of the sampling process. Through successful partnering/collaboration with Compliance, Legal, Data Enablement, various vendors and other groups, this position is key in effectively and compliantly providing analytics, metrics and insights to key customers.

This role is accountable for developing and monitoring relevant sample effectiveness metrics, conducting ongoing and ad hoc analyses and providing useful insights and recommendations to Field Operations and Sales Leadership to improve the department’s value.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Responsible for managing and adhering to PDMA guidelines and State/Federal regulations.
• Responsible for leading all aspects related to field sample allocation.
• Conduct analytics to establish benchmarks to support development of effective sample programs.
• Co-develop and maintain sample management direct-to-practitioner (DTP) programs to ensure sample program alignment with business objectives and Marketing goals.
• Co-develop, maintain and implement appropriate departmental standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Partner with training department to ensure sales colleagues/team members are properly trained on related sample tools.
• Provide primary operational sampling support as well as develop effective sampling and compliance monitoring strategies to ensure optimal utilization of sample resources.
• Develop and implement processes to better address compliance issues, including the LMS to track employee training, on-boarding and separations.
• Support/lead projects to improve compliance around key sample operations processes.
• Collaborate with Sales Leadership, Marketing, Legal and Compliance to develop/recommend opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of samples.
• Manage external relationships with vendors, consultants and commercial partners to achieve business objectives.

Quantitative Dimensions:
Quality of strategic sample programs, based on proactively monitoring and supported by feedback from key customers and cross-functional colleagues including quality of the collaboration.

Accuracy, timeliness, efficiency and effectiveness of DTP programs, seamless allocation process and Federal/State reporting.

Ability to meet/exceed established key achievements related to assigned major projects.

Management of function within approved operating budget.

Amount of time and ease of effort needed to reconcile sample records and differences between systems of record.

Organizational Context:
Individual contributor position reporting to the Assistant Director, Business Operations.

This position requires close collaboration with colleagues in Sales, Marketing, Compliance, Legal, Data Enablement and several outside vendors.

Qualifications:
Required

• Minimum of 5 years work experience in a highly regulated pharmaceutical or medical device environment.
• 2+ years of analytical experience that includes data analysis and reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in business related field.
• Knowledge of the PDMA.
• Proven analytical, problem-solving and quantitative skills.
• Ability to work independently in a dynamic fast paced environment with minimal direction.
• Demonstrated ability in taking initiative to proactively evaluate existing sales strategies and recommend changes when appropriate.
• Ability to think outside the box and consistently produce results with a high degree of accuracy.
• Experience in vendor management.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Catalyst for change; conveys a sense of urgency while being flexible and adaptable to changing business priorities.
• Extensive computer proficiency with desktop software in a Windows environment including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft PowerPoint or equivalent applications.
• Possess strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees including senior management.

Preferred

• Prior sampling experience strongly preferred.
• Certification or advanced degree in related field.
• Prior sample operations experience.
• Working knowledge Salesforce/Veeva platform.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

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