Lead, R&D Business Analysis

Lead, R&D Business Analysis (Director) At Astellas, we strive to become a cutting‑edge, value‑driven life science innovator. This means working at the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into value for patients. We are a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, with a team of more than 14,000 managing operations in approximately 70 countries around the world. In Canada we are growing to meet the exciting opportunities realized by our legacy brands and rich pipeline of innovative treatments. We are looking for candidates who will thrive in an entrepreneurial and empowering environment where talent and leadership flourish. Responsibilities Lead a dual‑role position that drives the digital transformation of pharmaceutical R&D, combining people management with cross‑functional leadership. Serve as people manager: develop talent, manage team capacity and foster excellence across the Business Analyst community that supports R&D digital initiatives. Assign and lead a cross‑functional matrixed team for a portfolio of R&D digital capabilities, working with scientific, operational, data and technology domains to define vision and guide execution. Coach and mentor team members to strengthen core capabilities, including Astellas values, R&D business analysis, stakeholder engagement, communication and agile delivery. Partner with HR and functional leaders to attract, retain and develop top digital talent, aligned with evolving R&D business needs. Develop and monitor Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) with cross‑functional stakeholders and the R&DX leadership team. Continue to mature agile ways of working, supporting ceremonies (sprint planning, backlog refinement, retrospectives, regular stand‑ups) and using Agile Enterprise applications (Azure DevOps) for managing epics, features, user stories and sprints. Monitor project timelines, budgets and resources, ensuring on‑time and on‑budget delivery. Collaborate with business stakeholders and technical teams to identify innovation opportunities—including AI, GenAI, Automation and Advanced Analytics—to drive digital transformation. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, Systems Engineering or related field. Advanced degree (MS, MBA, PhD) or equivalent experience preferred. 10+ years of experience in business analysis or digital product management within pharmaceutical R&D and/or management consulting focused on R&D in life sciences. 5+ years of people leadership experience, managing and developing high‑performing teams. Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional digital initiatives or product portfolios in complex, matrixed environments. Strong understanding and experience of Agile methodologies and ways of working. Demonstrated knowledge of the R&D lifecycle and related digital ecosystems to coach and manage direct reports effectively. Ability to partner with business stakeholders across functions. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong problem‑solving skills and a proactive approach to challenges. May require up to 10% international travel. Preferred Experience leading digital capabilities in R&D or regulated scientific environments. Experience in Agile Development, Product Management and Software Development Life Cycles, including requirements specifications development and user acceptance testing for computer systems in a GxP environment. Familiarity with emerging technologies such as GenAI, advanced analytics and intelligent automation in R&D use cases. Demonstrated ability to drive business value realization and adoption of digital products. Working Environment This position is remote and is based in Canada. Astellas offers a hybrid working solution with flexible office and remote options in accordance with the Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Additional Information Astellas Pharma Canada welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the hiring process. No telephone inquiries, in‑person applications or agencies please. While we appreciate all applications, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans. #J-18808-Ljbffr