Entrepreneurial Spirit, Rooted in Tradition. Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (TPA) is a U.S. subsidiary of Tanabe Pharma Corporation (TP) in Japan, which touts a storied reputation more than 300 years in the making. Our parent company - one of Japan’s most respected - is a research-driven pharmaceutical company that has tirelessly pursued medical breakthroughs with global reach. Tanabe Pharma Corporation has discovered and produced several first-in-class medicines for serious diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes mellitus (DM), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and is currently developing medicines in  Neurology in Parkinson’s (PD), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), and in high unmet areas in Immunology and Oncology.

TPA is rapidly expanding its operations across all functional areas. TPA’s commitment to patients and their communities continues with a robust late-stage pipeline of investigational treatments for difficult-to-treat diseases and commercializing products with significant unmet medical needs in North American markets.  In the United States, TPA launched rare disease treatments including RADICAVA® (edaravone) injectables in 2017 and RADICAVA® (edaravone) oral suspension in 2022.  The company handles research, clinical development, sales, marketing, medical affairs, supply chain, and business development functions.  TPA is dedicated to improving the treatment environment for those with debilitating diseases, researching on real-world evidence, and creating hope for all facing illness. 

The Vice President, Head of Transactions, serves as a senior leader responsible for overseeing Tanabe Pharma’s full spectrum of transaction activities, including in-licensing, acquisitions, divestitures, out-licensing, and alliance management negotiations. The Vice President role carries broader enterprise-level accountability—shaping strategy, ensuring execution excellence, coordinating cross-functional initiatives, and providing leadership across U.S. and Japan workstreams.

Enterprise Deal Leadership

• Serve as the accountable executive for all major transaction categories including in-licensing, M&A acquisitions, M&A divestitures, out-licensing, alliance management negotiations, and other agreements requiring business leadership.
• Set enterprise standards for process discipline, negotiation strategy, and internal alignment across all Business Development & Licensing (BD&L) transactions.
• Anticipate and resolve cross-functional barriers, ensuring executive-level visibility and decision-making.

Global People & Team Leadership

• Lead and grow a BD&L transactions team, with direct management responsibility for U.S. team members and indirect oversight of Japan-based and Ex-U.S. project teams.
• Supervise divestiture teams across multiple geographies, ensuring globally consistent rigor.
• Oversee Japan out-licensing teams and processes, aligning local objectives with global priorities.
• Establish a coaching culture with high performance expectations.

Senior Stakeholder & Executive Influence

• Represent BD&L in Executive Team discussions, providing senior-level guidance on strategy, trade-offs, and value inflection.
• Advise on portfolio and capital allocation strategy, including asset investment and externalization.
• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and TPC Japan.
• Act as a visible ambassador for TPA in external negotiations at CEO/Board level.

Strategic Transaction Structuring

• Drive creation and evaluation of complex deal structures aligned with long-term portfolio strategy.
• Make senior-level recommendations regarding prioritization, negotiation posture, and final terms.
• Own final accountability for transaction quality and long-term value creation.

• Advanced degree (JD, MBA) with deep financial, contractual and scientific fluency.
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in BD&L, corporate development, or transaction advisory.
• Extensive leadership experience overseeing multi-functional, multi-geography deal teams and processes.
• Proven track record as principal negotiator on complex transactions across all major categories.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams and influence executive stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written.
• Required to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Our Value Proposition:

Enjoy the fast-moving, entrepreneurial spirit more typically found in a small biotech, complemented by the benefits of a global pharmaceutical/chemical conglomerate.  At this time, Tanabe Pharma America offers our employees unparalleled opportunities for career success coupled with a supportive level of employee benefits.

TP provides a competitive benefits package inclusive of Medical and Dental health benefits, short-term and long-term disability plans, Company Paid and Supplemental Life insurance and additional voluntary benefits such as Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, and ID Theft Protection.  In addition, we provide a generous PTO policy based on tenure, commencing with 24 PTO days, pro-rated based on hire date.

The salary range for this position is $385,000 - $400,000. Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary may be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state and depending on the role), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

This position is eligible to participate in our annual Short-Term Incentive (STI) program.  Specific information about the plan including eligibility rules and target, will be furnished upon hire.

This position is eligible to participate in our Long-Term Incentive (LTI) program.  Specific information about the plan including eligibility rules and target, will be furnished upon hire.