Associate Director, Wholesale Strategic Operation

Associate Director, Wholesaler Strategic Operation
Finance & Operations Wholesaler Group
Tokyo, Japan

Are you passionate about driving operational excellence and fostering strategic partnerships? Do you have deep knowledge of the Japanese wholesaler landscape and a knack for translating commercial objectives into actionable initiatives? If so, we invite you to join Novo Nordisk as our Associate Director, Wholesaler Strategic Operations in Japan. Read on and apply today!

Your new role
As the Associate Director, Wholesales Strategic Operation, you will drive and execute the wholesaler engagement strategies to maximize market reach, product availability and commercial performance. Other responsibilities include:

• Serve as the primary strategic lead for relationships with national and regional wholesalers, negotiating commercial arrangements, SLAs, distribution terms, and service-level improvements.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Distribution, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment between inventory strategy, order management, and market demand.
• Lead commercial contracting with wholesaler partners, including rebate programmes, chargebacks, pricing terms, and promotional support mechanisms.
• Develop KPIs and dashboards to monitor wholesaler performance, channel profitability, market penetration, and service metrics.
• Ensure wholesaler operations adhere to corporate policies, local laws, and industry codes, coordinating with Regulatory, Legal, and Market Access teams.
• Act as the internal trusted advisor to cross-functional teams on wholesaler-related strategies and operational matters.
• Lead strategic projects, apply change management practices, and drive continuous improvements in wholesaler operations and analytics.

Your new department
The Wholesaler Group is part of the Finance & Operations Division at Novo Nordisk Japan. Reporting to the Vice President of Finance & Operations, the team is dedicated to managing distributor and wholesaler relationships to ensure reliable product availability and optimize network performance. The department operates in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, fostering collaboration and innovation to drive commercial growth. Located in Japan, the team is committed to delivering excellence in supply chain coordination, strategic operations, and analytics, all while adhering to compliance standards and corporate policies.

Your skills & qualifications
We are looking for a reliable and experienced professional who meets the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, commercial, supply chain, pharmacy, life sciences, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 7–10 years’ experience in wholesaler or distributor management, distribution operations, or commercial operations within pharmaceutical or healthcare sectors.
• Proven experience negotiating commercial agreements with wholesalers, managing rebate or chargeback programs, and leading distributor partnerships.
• Strong understanding of Japan wholesaler landscape, distribution models, pharmaceutical regulations and industry codes.
• Strong analytical skills with business-level proficiency in Japanese and fluency in English, including excellent written and verbal communication.

Working at Novo Nordisk
Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

Deadline
Until the completion of the recruitment. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and defeating diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.

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