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. 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 and Scope:
The Biostatistics Director is a very senior biostatistician who provides technical statistical leadership to the biostatistics function and has a major influence on the technical capabilities of the department. May act as a global statistical lead, representing Data Science in Core Teams (CMT or Development Core Team). Responsible for multiple projects, the Biostatistics Director works on the most complex or critical projects, discusses TA strategy, supports interactions with regulatory authorities and key opinion leaders, and is accountable for the statistical soundness of all statistical input and deliverables for the assigned projects. Provides consultancy to other project teams and other statistical leads and advises staff on available statistical methodologies and their application in drug development ensuring the department stays at the forefront of statistical methodologies in drug development.
Essential Job Responsibilities:
Technical Excellence
Stays at the cutting edge of methodology development in statistics, regulatory guidelines, and industry trends in drug development, particularly with respect to the therapeutic area(s) of interest, and signals relevant developments in a timely manner for the company.
Advises project teams and statistical leads on challenging statistical design, analysis and decision-making issues. Provides expert opinions, advises staff on available statistical methodologies, performs/supervises modeling and simulations, and leverages external experts to provide help to clinical development issues.
Provides expert statistical strategy input to Core Teams (CMT or Development Core Team) and performs expert review of major deliverables
Facilitates and oversees creation of TA standards with respect to key variables, definitions, statistical methods, data structures and presentation of data
Provides oversight on statistical matters for meetings with regulatory authorities, key opinion leaders and similar experts and bodies
Participates in reviewing in-licensing opportunities and due diligence activities, reviews data and advises company
Strategy
Participates in development of 1 – 3 year statistics-specific objectives and plans
Develops and implements plans to achieve objectives
Leadership & People Development
Reviews key project level documents and advises other statisticians on design and methodologies
Advises staff on available statistical methodologies and their application in drug development
Coaches and supports statistical leads in providing best in class data science support to Astellas drug development programs
Assists with recruitment, development / career management and retention of staff
Inspires and advises individuals in investigating and applying advanced statistical methods in drug development programs
Strategic thinker and problem solver, who recognizes, anticipates and solves problems; helps individuals to develop problem solving skills. Must be able to delve into high degree of detail when necessary
Collaborations
Leader or member of external industry or professional organizations. Develops and maintains relationships with leading academic institutions and key statistical opinion leaders
Actively participates in professional association activities to support the branding of Astellas
Ability to influence peers in same function, also in other sites
Ability to influence other peers and more senior managers inside and outside of Data Science on best practice in their area of competence
Process Development
Contribute to improvement efforts, implements agreed improvement actions and monitors effects after implementation
Contribute to development and implementation of best-in-class standards, processes and SOPs in statistics
Leads strategic improvement projects
Performance and Resource Management
Measures and monitors performance standards in collaboration with functional management
Contributes to the design of an integrated information technology platform for Data Science, especially in the area of analysis, reporting and data review tools, and database integration
When assigned as a statistical lead for clinical development programs and/or lifecycle management of marketed products
Provides statistical advice to clinical teams including design of studies and analyses requiring advanced statistical methodologies. Recognizes and addresses issues which may impact the statistical integrity of the development program or for which statistical tools may add value.
Ensures that Data Science needs are reflected within the plan and strategy across regions. Ensures quality and consistency of key data science deliverables across studies.
Represents the company on statistical matters at meetings with regulatory authorities, key opinion leaders and similar experts /bodies
Reviews key project and study documents to ensure optimal statistical presentation and compliance.
For studies within assigned projects provides all required statistical support and deliverables by supervising assigned study statisticians.
Ensures appropriate vendor oversight for assigned programs when statistical support or programming for studies or other deliverables within assigned projects are contracted out to a CRO.
Quantitative Dimensions:
The Data Science department provides statistical, biometrical and data management/warehousing expertise for all R&D projects and marketed products, encompassing Phase I-IV studies. Qualified biostatistical expertise for clinical studies and drug submissions is a regulatory requirement and carried out in accordance with international regulations (ICH, FDA, PMDA, EMA) and internal Astellas SOPs and standards. The results must be reproducible and statistically sound and are subject to internal and external inspections. Flawed statistical input to drug development projects may result in failure to achieve marketing authorization or regulatory approval delays resulting in substantial financial loss for the company.
A Biostatistics Director makes decisions and recommendations that could affect the methodology used across many of Astellas projects. He/she undertakes this work with full independence.
Organizational Context:
This position reports to the Primary Focus Biostatistics Lead (ED level) or Senior Biostatistics Director. As a member of project teams, leads the data science extended (project) team and deliverables teams. Manages to achieve successful outcome through delegation of work, coaches assigned team members within own functions. Provides guidance to / mentors less experienced statisticians.
Qualifications:
Required
S. or Ph.D. in statistics or equivalent degree/experience
Minimum of 10-15 years’ experience in applying statistical methods in biomedical research, extensive pharmaceutical or CRO experience required with at least 3 years managing projects for a product or a therapeutic area; academic or regulatory assessor experience preferred or demonstrated ability to provide stats direction in these areas
Has demonstrated understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and related regulations globally; recognized as expert in application of biostatistics to clinical trials: e.g. leader/member of external industry or professional organizations, record of publications/presentations.
Advanced and broad knowledge of statistical methods, along with thorough understanding of industry practices related to the statistical analysis of clinical data
Expert level knowledge in a variety of statistical methods with applications in clinical development, or expert knowledge in one or more therapeutic areas
Experience in interactions with health authorities such as FDA, PMDA or European regulatory bodies
Very good understanding of all phases of clinical development, and processes in data science
Experience in all aspects of statistics for clinical trials and in working as a member of a project team including design of clinical studies and contribution to Clinical Development Plans
Experience working in an international environment and demonstrated ability to manage and influence across different locations, time zones and cultures; builds global relationships.
Experience working in an international environment and demonstrated ability to manage and influence across different locations, time zones and cultures; builds global relationships.
Ability to work in a matrix environment.
Proven excellent organizational, project and time management skills.
Benefits:
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks
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
#LI-SS
Category Statistical & RWD Science
Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.
EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans