Senior Director, New Product Strategy & Planning, North America

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Director, New Product Strategy & Planning, North America

Company: Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc.

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: New Product Strategy & Planning (Revenue Operations/GTM Alignment)

Date Posted: June 18, 2026

Experience Level: Senior Level (10+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the strategic commercial assessment of external assets and opportunities specifically for the North American (US) market, ensuring alignment with global new product strategy and business development initiatives.

• Develop and implement early commercialization and pre-launch strategies for both internal and external assets, focusing on maximizing their value within the North American therapeutic area pipeline.

• Act as the primary US commercial lead throughout the business development and external innovation lifecycle, providing critical market insights and strategic direction.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with global and regional teams to ensure seamless integration of new assets into the Ipsen pipeline and effective operationalization for US market launch.

• Contribute to the evolution of Therapeutic Area & Franchise Strategies by providing a US market perspective on access, pricing, and commercial viability of potential new products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Business Operations & Strategy team, reporting to the VP of Business Operations. While not a direct "Revenue Operations" title, the responsibilities heavily align with GTM strategy, commercial planning, and market assessment, which are critical for revenue generation and operational efficiency in a biopharmaceutical context. The focus on "New Product Strategy & Planning" implies a strong emphasis on market analysis, forecasting, and strategic decision-making that directly impacts future revenue streams.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive US market perspective on external innovation strategies, including detailed analysis of access and pricing considerations, to inform business development priorities.

• Lead in-depth commercial evaluation processes for North America, encompassing market landscaping, secondary/primary market research, forecasting, pricing, access assessment, and SMM estimation for potential external assets.

• Serve as the US commercial lead for all stages of business development and external innovation evaluation, actively seeking new opportunities and providing detailed feedback on incoming assets.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Business Development, External Innovation, Medical Affairs, R&D, Regulatory, Finance, Global Pricing & Access, Business Excellence) to gather essential inputs for commercial modeling and business case development.

• Own and present NA opportunity assessments for external assets to cross-functional teams and executive leadership, ensuring data-driven decision-making.

• Develop and refine processes for better integration of new assets (Phases 1-3) into the Ipsen pipeline and US commercial teams, ensuring a smooth transition from global to the US brand team.

• Provide US perspective on launch planning considerations to earlier-stage development, focusing on critical success factors such as US value, market access, and other commercialization elements.

• Identify and implement opportunities to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the business development assessment process.

• Foster collaboration and share best practices with counterparts across different franchises to identify synergistic business opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic market analysis, commercial evaluation, and operational integration, which are core to GTM success in the pharmaceutical industry. The role requires a deep understanding of the US market dynamics, regulatory landscape, and payer environment, crucial for maximizing asset value and driving revenue.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree in a Life Sciences-related discipline and/or an MBA (essential). Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in New Product Planning, Global Marketing, Business Development, or Portfolio Management roles within the biopharmaceutical industry.

• Proven experience in early commercial planning, disease area strategy, business development activities, and forecasting.

• Strategy consulting experience in life sciences, including work in early-commercial strategy, commercialization, Life Cycle Management (LCM), Business Development (BD), and due diligence, is highly valued.

• Experience in developing cross-functional pre-commercialization plans within a pharmaceutical company or management consulting firm.

• Demonstrated experience working within a cross-functional matrix team to achieve deliverables on time and within budget.

• Competitive landscaping and strategic marketing expertise (including positioning, targeting, segmentation, launch planning, LCM) is highly preferred.

• Strong business acumen and a deep understanding of the US market. Required Skills:

• New Product Planning & Strategy: Expertise in developing commercial strategies for new pharmaceutical products.

• Business Development & External Innovation: Proven ability to assess and evaluate external assets and opportunities.

• US Market Expertise: In-depth understanding of the US healthcare landscape, including access, pricing, and regulatory considerations.

• Forecasting & Financial Modeling: Strong analytical skills for forecasting market potential and developing business cases.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to effectively partner with diverse teams across R&D, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, Finance, and Commercial.

• Market Research & Analysis: Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative market research, competitive landscaping, and SMM estimation.

• Project Management: Strong planning and project management skills to manage parallel workstreams efficiently.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication, with a proven ability to present complex information to executive leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Pricing and Access Experience: Specific experience in US market pricing and market access strategies.

• Therapeutic Area Expertise: Strong scientific, medical, and commercial knowledge in Oncology, Neuroscience, and/or Rare Diseases.

• Strategic Marketing: Expertise in positioning, targeting, segmentation, launch planning, and life cycle management.

• MBA or Advanced Life Sciences Degree: Formal business or scientific education to complement industry experience.

• Knowledge of French: Additional language skills can be beneficial for global collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "essential" and "preferred" skills highlights the need for candidates with a robust background in biopharma strategy and commercialization. The inclusion of consulting experience and specific therapeutic areas indicates a preference for candidates who can bring both strategic rigor and deep industry knowledge.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Commercial Strategy Development: Showcase examples of strategic plans developed for new products or market entries, detailing market assessment, target identification, and strategic recommendations.

• Business Development Case Studies: Present analyses of potential external assets, including market opportunity assessments, competitive landscape evaluations, and financial projections (forecasting, business case components).

• Launch Planning Frameworks: Illustrate frameworks or contributions to pre-commercialization and launch plans, highlighting considerations for US market access, pricing, and stakeholder engagement.

• Process Improvement Initiatives: Document instances where you identified and implemented improvements to business development assessment, new product integration, or cross-functional planning processes, demonstrating efficiency gains or enhanced decision-making.

Process Documentation:

• Market Opportunity Assessment Documentation: Evidence of structured approaches to evaluating market potential, including methodologies for landscaping, primary/secondary research synthesis, and risk identification.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Protocols: Examples of how you facilitated collaboration across diverse teams (e.g., R&D, Medical, Regulatory, Commercial) to gather critical inputs for strategic planning and business cases.

• Forecasting & Business Case Model Snapshots: Visualizations or summaries of forecasting models and business case structures used to support investment decisions, demonstrating clarity and analytical rigor.

• Implementation & Integration Roadmaps: Documents outlining the phased integration of new assets into pipeline management and US commercial operational readiness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on strategy and planning, a portfolio should demonstrate strategic thinking, analytical rigor, and the ability to translate complex data into actionable plans. Case studies showcasing collaboration and process improvement are crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Annual Base Salary: $217,500 - $310,000 USD

• Methodology: This range is derived from the provided compensation details, reflecting a senior-level position with significant strategic responsibility in the high-cost-of-living area of Cambridge, Massachusetts. Industry benchmarks for Senior Director roles in biopharmaceutical strategy and business development in major US biotech hubs typically fall within this bracket.

Benefits:

• Short-Term Incentives Program: Eligibility for performance-based bonuses.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with company contributions.

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive group medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Protection: Life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance.

• Financial Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

• Work-Life Balance: Parental leave, generous paid time off (PTO), and a discretionary winter shutdown.

• Additional Perks: Well-being allowance, commuter benefits, and other benefits contributing to employee welfare.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week.

• Note: Given the senior strategic nature of the role and its focus on business development and launch planning, extended hours may be expected during critical project phases or evaluation periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is explicitly stated in the job description. The benefits listed are also detailed and comprehensive, typical of a mid-to-large-sized global biopharmaceutical company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Biopharmaceutical (focus on Oncology, Rare Disease, Neuroscience).

Company Size: Ipsen is described as a "mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company." This suggests a structure that balances the resources and reach of a larger corporation with the agility and potential for direct impact found in smaller organizations. For operations professionals, this can mean opportunities to influence processes and see tangible results, alongside access to robust systems and global best practices.

Founded: Ipsen has nearly 100 years of development experience, indicating a long-standing history and stability in the pharmaceutical sector. This history suggests established processes, deep scientific expertise, and a commitment to long-term innovation.

Team Structure:

• Business Operations & Strategy Team: This role is part of a dedicated team focused on strategic planning and operational excellence.

• Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the VP of Business Operations.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires extensive collaboration with Global New Product Strategy & Innovation, Business Development, North America Leadership, Global Partnering, Value & Access, Medical Affairs, R&D, Regulatory, Finance, country teams, and global pricing & access teams. This indicates a highly matrixed and collaborative environment where alignment and communication are paramount.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on market opportunity assessment, forecasting, and business case development suggests a reliance on quantitative data and rigorous analysis.

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Focus on developing and implementing plans from early-stage assets through pre-launch, requiring a structured approach to strategy formulation and operationalization.

• External Innovation Integration: Proactive engagement with business development to identify and integrate external opportunities, highlighting a forward-looking and growth-oriented operational approach.

Company Website: https://www.ipsen.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a global presence with strong therapeutic area focus and a commitment to human-centric leadership and collaboration. This implies an operational environment that values both strategic thinking and team synergy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at the Senior Director level, signifying significant responsibility and strategic influence. It is a leadership position focused on shaping the future product portfolio and market entry strategies for North America.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the VP of Business Operations provides visibility to senior leadership and direct involvement in strategic decision-making processes. It also implies a clear line of accountability and potential for mentorship from a seasoned executive.

Operations Impact: The role's primary impact is on identifying, evaluating, and planning for the commercial success of new products, directly influencing future revenue streams and the company's therapeutic area leadership. By providing the US commercial perspective, this role ensures that global strategies are optimized for maximum market impact and financial return.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: As a Senior Director, there are opportunities to lead major strategic initiatives, mentor junior team members, and potentially move into broader VP-level roles within Business Operations, Strategy, or Commercial functions.

• Therapeutic Area Specialization: Deepening expertise within Oncology, Rare Disease, or Neuroscience through continuous exposure to new assets and market dynamics.

• Global Exposure: Working closely with global teams provides exposure to international market strategies and cross-cultural collaboration, enhancing global business acumen.

• Strategic Influence: The ability to shape the company's future product pipeline and market entry strategies offers significant professional satisfaction and a high level of strategic impact.

• Business Development Acumen: Continuous engagement with external innovation and BD activities will hone negotiation, partnership, and strategic alliance skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a significant step for operations professionals looking to move into high-level strategic planning and business development within the biopharma sector. The growth path emphasizes strategic leadership and deep domain expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The location is specified as "Cambridge One Main," a common designation for modern office buildings in biotech hubs. This typically implies a professional, collaborative office environment.

Office Location(s): Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. This is a prime location within a major global hub for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, offering access to talent, innovation, and a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role requires extensive cross-functional collaboration, suggesting a workspace designed to facilitate teamwork, meetings, and knowledge sharing.

• Access to Tools & Technology: As a global biopharmaceutical company, Ipsen is expected to provide access to relevant analytics, CRM, and project management tools necessary for strategic planning and market assessment.

• Professional Setting: The Senior Director role implies a professional office setting conducive to high-level strategic discussions and presentations.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time (40 hours/week) is the baseline.

• Flexibility: While the role is on-site, strategic planning and business development often involve periods of intense work, requiring flexibility to meet project deadlines and market opportunities. The company culture, described as "human-centric" and "empowering," may offer some flexibility, but the core responsibilities suggest a need for consistent presence and availability in the Cambridge office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Cambridge location is a significant advantage, placing the role at the heart of biotech innovation. The on-site requirement is typical for roles demanding high levels of collaboration and direct engagement with leadership and diverse teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and a brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and interest.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A detailed discussion with the VP of Business Operations, focusing on your experience in new product planning, business development, US market strategy, and leadership capabilities. Be prepared to discuss your strategic approach and relevant case studies.

• Cross-functional Team Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from R&D, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Finance, and Global teams. These will assess your ability to collaborate, understand diverse perspectives, and integrate information from various functions. Expect scenario-based questions.

• Case Study Presentation: A common element for senior strategy roles. You may be given a hypothetical new product or external asset and asked to develop a preliminary US market assessment and commercialization outline, which you will then present to a panel.

• Executive Leadership Interview: A final interview with senior leadership (e.g., NA President) to assess strategic fit, leadership potential, and overall alignment with Ipsen's vision and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Structure your portfolio to tell a compelling story about your strategic impact. For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your approach, the key strategic decisions, and the quantifiable outcomes or learnings.

• US Market Focus: Emphasize your experience and insights specific to the US biopharmaceutical market, including pricing, access, regulatory, and competitive dynamics.

• Process Optimization: Showcase instances where you improved processes for evaluating opportunities, integrating assets, or planning launches. Highlight efficiency gains or enhanced decision-making.

• Cross-functional Integration: Demonstrate your ability to work effectively with diverse teams, providing examples of how you synthesized input from R&D, Medical, Commercial, etc., into cohesive strategies.

• Data & Analytics: Present how you used data (market research, forecasting, financial models) to support strategic recommendations and business cases. Use clear visualizations where possible.

Challenge Preparation:

• Market Assessment Scenarios: Practice evaluating a new drug candidate. Consider its therapeutic area, mechanism of action, competitive landscape, potential pricing, market access challenges, and launch feasibility in the US.

• Business Development Due Diligence: Prepare to discuss the key criteria you would assess when evaluating an external asset for potential acquisition or partnership.

• Cross-functional Alignment Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would gain buy-in from different departments for a new product strategy, especially when there might be conflicting priorities.

• Strategic Communication: Practice articulating complex strategies concisely and persuasively, tailoring your message to different audiences (e.g., scientific, commercial, executive).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a Senior Director role in strategy and planning will be rigorous, focusing heavily on strategic thinking, analytical skills, and cross-functional leadership. A well-curated portfolio is essential to demonstrate practical application of these skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): While not directly managing sales, understanding CRM data and its implications for market segmentation, targeting, and forecasting is crucial.

• Business Intelligence & Analytics Platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): For data visualization, trend analysis, and creating dashboards to communicate market insights and performance metrics.

• Forecasting Software: Specialized tools or advanced Excel models for projecting market share, revenue, and key performance indicators for new products.

• Project Management Software (e.g., Asana, Monday.com, MS Project): To manage complex, multi-workstream projects like new product evaluations and pre-launch planning.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Market Research Databases & Tools: Access to syndicated data providers (e.g., IQVIA, EvaluatePharma), competitive intelligence platforms, and tools for conducting primary market research surveys and analysis.

• Financial Modeling Tools: Advanced Excel skills are essential for building detailed financial models, business cases, and sensitivity analyses.

• Internal Reporting Systems: Familiarity with Ipsen's internal reporting structures for financial performance, pipeline status, and strategic initiative progress.

CRM & Automation:

• Data Integration Tools: Understanding how data from various sources (market research, clinical trials, sales, finance) is integrated to provide a holistic view for strategic decision-making.

• Collaboration Platforms (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Slack): Essential for seamless communication and document sharing within a matrixed global organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the nature of the role implies a need for proficiency in standard biopharma analytics, forecasting, project management, and collaboration tools. A candidate's ability to leverage data for strategic decision-making is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Human-Centric Leadership: Ipsen emphasizes a workplace that champions human-centric leadership, suggesting a culture that values empathy, development, and well-being of its employees. Operations professionals are expected to contribute to this by fostering supportive team dynamics and transparent communication.

• Collaboration & Excellence: The company culture fosters excellence and collaboration. This means operations professionals are expected to work seamlessly with diverse teams, share knowledge, and strive for high-quality outcomes in their strategic planning and execution.

• Impact: A focus on bringing transformative medicines to patients and creating real impact on patients and society. Operations roles are expected to align their strategic efforts with this overarching mission, ensuring that commercial plans directly contribute to patient access and company growth.

• Inclusion & Diversity: Ipsen values different perspectives, experiences, and ways of thinking, striving for inclusion. Operations professionals should be adept at working with diverse teams and considering varied viewpoints in their strategic assessments.

• Empowerment: Individuals are empowered to be their true selves, grow, and thrive. This suggests an operational environment where initiative is encouraged, and employees have autonomy within their roles to drive improvements and strategic initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Matrixed Environment: Expect a highly collaborative style across global and North American functions, requiring strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence without direct authority.

• Data-Informed Dialogue: Discussions and decision-making are likely to be data-driven, with an expectation for operations professionals to present well-researched insights and defend their strategic recommendations with evidence.

• Proactive Engagement: A proactive approach to engaging with business development, global strategy, and regional teams is crucial for identifying opportunities and ensuring alignment.

• Feedback Culture: The emphasis on growth and development suggests a culture where constructive feedback is exchanged to refine strategies and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values provide a strong framework for understanding how operations professionals are expected to behave and contribute. The focus on human-centricity, inclusion, and impact is a key differentiator.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Global vs. Local Priorities: Balancing the strategic direction set by global teams with the specific nuances and demands of the US market can be a significant challenge, requiring strong negotiation and alignment skills.

• Early-Stage Asset Uncertainty: Evaluating and planning for assets in early clinical development (Phases 1-2) involves inherent uncertainty regarding efficacy, safety, and market potential. This requires robust risk assessment and scenario planning capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Achieving consensus and driving action across numerous departments (R&D, Medical, Regulatory, Commercial, Finance) with potentially competing priorities requires exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.

• Rapidly Evolving Market Landscape: The biopharmaceutical industry is dynamic, with constant shifts in scientific innovation, regulatory requirements, and market access dynamics. Staying ahead of these changes and adapting strategies accordingly is an ongoing challenge.

• Pace of Business Development: The business development function often operates with a sense of urgency. This role must efficiently assess opportunities while maintaining rigorous analytical standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Therapeutic Area Expertise: Continuous exposure to new compounds and market challenges within Oncology, Rare Disease, and Neuroscience will significantly enhance domain knowledge.

• Advanced Strategic Planning Skills: Opportunities to refine and apply advanced methodologies in market assessment, forecasting, pricing strategy, and LCM planning.

• Business Development & Deal Making: Direct involvement in evaluating and contributing to business development deals offers invaluable experience in M&A and licensing.

• Executive Presence & Communication: Developing and refining presentation skills for executive leadership and cross-functional teams.

• Industry Trends & Innovation: Staying abreast of emerging scientific advancements, market access models, and digital health solutions impacting the biopharma industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant strategic challenges that are inherent to the biopharmaceutical industry's innovation cycle. Overcoming these challenges directly translates into substantial professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the commercial assessment of a new external asset. What was your process, what key risks did you identify, and how did you communicate your findings to leadership?" (Focus on process, risk management, and communication.)

• "How would you approach developing an early commercialization strategy for a Phase 2 asset in [Therapeutic Area]? What US market-specific factors would you prioritize?" (Assess understanding of early-stage planning and US market nuances.)

• "Walk us through a challenging situation where you had to gain buy-in for a strategic recommendation from multiple, diverse functional teams. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Evaluate stakeholder management and influencing skills.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in [Oncology/Rare Disease/Neuroscience] and their potential impact on new product strategy and market access in the US?" (Gauge industry knowledge and proactive learning.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Ipsen's therapeutic areas, and how do you see your role contributing to our mission?" (Demonstrate research and alignment with company goals.)

• "How do you embody Ipsen's values of human-centric leadership, collaboration, and impact in your professional work?" (Assess cultural fit and understanding of company values.)

• "Describe your experience working in a global, matrixed organization. How do you ensure effective communication and alignment across different regions and functions?" (Evaluate experience with complex organizational structures.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The "STAR" Method for Case Studies: Structure each portfolio example using Situation, Task, Action, Result. Clearly define the context, your specific responsibilities, the actions you took, and the measurable impact or key learnings.

• Focus on "Why": For each strategic decision or recommendation, explain the rationale behind it. What data supported it? What assumptions were made? What were the trade-offs?

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the value of your contributions. This could include revenue projections, market share gains, efficiency improvements, or successful asset integration.

• US Market Specificity: For any relevant case study, highlight your specific contributions related to US market access, pricing, competitive positioning, or launch planning.

• Visual Clarity: Use clear, concise slides or documents. Avoid overwhelming text. Focus on key messages, data visualizations, and concise summaries. Be prepared to guide the audience through your thought process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, analytical rigor, cross-functional leadership, and a deep understanding of the biopharmaceutical market, particularly the US landscape.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Ipsen Careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your experience in new product planning, business development, US market strategy, and cross-functional leadership, using keywords from the job description.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates achievements using quantifiable results, especially those related to market assessment, strategic planning, and commercialization efforts. Emphasize experience in oncology, rare disease, or neuroscience if applicable.

• Interview Preparation: Practice answering common strategy, leadership, and situational questions using the STAR method. Prepare specific examples from your experience that showcase your ability to assess opportunities, drive strategy, and collaborate across functions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Ipsen's therapeutic areas, recent news, financial performance, and stated company values to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment. Understand their current pipeline and strategic priorities.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.