Group Head: Product Portfolio Development - Durban at Aspen Pharma Group

ROLE PURPOSE:

Oversee the Group Portfolio Development team to evaluate, advise and deliver scientific, well-researched strategic product opportunities efficiently and effectively.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS:

Driving organic growth

• Initiate and support the Aspen Group and Affiliate organic growth initiatives via new product introduction and/or assessment
• Contribute to the portfolio decision-making and prioritisation of strategic initiatives through collaborating with stakeholders within Aspen, including, but not limited to, Regulatory, Medical, Strategic & Portfolio Development, Commercial, Marketing and Finance
• Support key strategic business development initiatives in analysis and evaluation
• Drive an inclusive and collaborative environment across affiliates to attain the organisation’s organic growth objectives
• Review, validate and interrogate PnLs and provide sound strategic advice 

Portfolio analysis and evaluation

• Critically evaluate new product opportunities and M&A opportunities to ensure they are commercially sound and value-creating prior to significant investment of resources (financial and time)
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the pharma industry, products and market dynamics of each international territory in order to identify and optimise business opportunities
• Make recommendations using both a sense of what is correct and logical, supported by facts and figures
• Ensure buy-in of product development opportunities based on critical analysis and challenge assumptions
• Evaluate, manage and utilise competitive intelligence platforms 
• Work independently and engage on a strategic level internally/externally
• Provide and communicate insights into molecules, product lifecycle, competitive landscape and market dynamics (current and future) 
• Sourcing of new potential licensors for molecules to in-license, initial screening and discussion of high level terms
• Attendance of affiliate portfolio calls and assisting with queries raised by the relevant teams be it licensor, internal IP or New Products
• Assist to identify, make contact with, CDA execution and sending draft proposals to potential partners
• Assist the screening of new opportunities, in line with Aspen’s strategy
• Support portfolio review and undertake IMS assessment for portfolio acquisition opportunities being evaluated by Chief Strategic Development Officer
• uide the Group Portfolio Development Coordinator and align on opportunities to be shared, reviewing queries received from internal and external customers

Team management

• Effectively manage, coach, guide and empower the Portfolio Development team to remain engaged, motivated and, realise its potential to deliver the set objectives successfully
• Oversee the Group Portfolio Development team to deliver scientific, well researched strategic product opportunities efficiently and effectively 

Reporting

• Track and present to senior management top key priority organic growth opportunities on agreed upon intervals
• Maintain accurate reflection of the 5-year pipeline to the Aspen Group

Customer engagement

• Serve as strategic and scientific interface between the Product Portfolio Development team, M&A Team and internal/external customers

Requirements

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• B Pharmacy Degree (advantageous) or Science Degree with Post-Grad  
• Computer literacy is a must
• 15 years experience in the Pharma industry
• Sales and marketing experience essential
• New Business Development experience essential
• Knowledge of Global regulatory requirements is an advantage
• Previous management experience
• Experience in working with different business units and interactions between business units
• Financial knowledge essential
• Knowledge of internal Aspen business and processes
• Good knowledge of contracts
• Product knowledge
• Pharmaceutical Industry knowledge
• Financial Acumen
• Knowledge of cost structures
• Project administration
• Database manipulation skills MS Excel
• Research skills – Archives and Internet
• High proficiency in both verbal and written English is essential

WORK-SPECIFIC SKILLS & EXPOSURE:

• Experience within the Pharmaceutical Industry in New Business Development and Portfolio processes;
• Pharmaceutical sales and marketing experience
• Market regulatory requirement knowledge an advantage
• Experience in evaluation and providing insights on molecule development, product lifecycles and market dynamics 

SKILLS:

• Time management; problem-solving; analytical; service orientation 
• Relationship management with strong interpersonal skills – internal and external 
• Critical reasoning skills – facilitate contract interpretation and negotiation
• Computer proficiency (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Email, Internet) 
• Sound and logical reasoning based on facts and figures
• Efficient communicator
• Work in a matrix-structure
• Creative and solution-oriented
• Able to operate within a team environment

ATTRIBUTES:

• Initiative; discretion; integrity; resilient; dependable, decisive with sound judgment; customer-focused interpersonal sensitivity; patience; influence; attention to detail; logical thinking; information-seeking, enterprising, technical; emotional intelligence, self-motivated and tenacity

KNOWLEDGE:

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Pharmaceutical product knowledge

ASPEN COMPETENCIES:

Business

• PERFORMANCE DRIVEN - Initiative, multi-tasking, result-oriented, systems thinking, planning and organisational skills
• ACCOUNTABILITY AND OWNERSHIP - Focus, Visioning, Cooperation, Proactive, Responsibility and Accountability, Resilience

People

• DEALS WITH AMBIGUITY AND EMBRACES CHANGE - Flexibility and tolerance, transition management, capacity for and resistance to stress, perseverance and tenacity
• COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY – Informal communication, active listening skills, writing skills, presentation skills, meeting facilitation, empathy

Self

• CONTRIBUTES SPECIAL EXPERTISE – technical/ professional knowledge, industry knowledge
• TAKES ACTION WITH ACTION WITH INTEGRITY - personal responsibility, self-assurance, honesty, ethical conduct.