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Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs

Tokyo, Japan
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At a glance

Bring your curiosity to a team where deep immunoscience meets cutting-edge innovation. Across oncology, rare diseases, neurology, and vaccines, you’ll work at the intersection of lab science and AI-powered discovery — all while collaborating across boundaries to turn breakthrough ideas into real-world impact. Whether you want to deepen your scientific expertise or grow as a leader, you’ll find the opportunity here.

Job title: Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs

  • Location: Hatsudai Tokyo

About the Job

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs serves as the Japan regulatory lead for assigned development projects. This role is responsible for formulating and executing Japan regulatory strategies in alignment with global development plans, leading PMDA interactions, and ensuring high‑quality regulatory submissions including CTNs, J-NDAs, and J-sNDAs.

As a senior regulatory expert, the individual will provide strategic input to cross‑functional teams, guide regulatory risk assessment and mitigation, and contribute to the successful and timely delivery of medicines to patients in Japan.

Role & Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement Japan regulatory strategies for development programs and new indications, ensuring alignment with global regulatory strategies.

  • Serve as the regulatory representative on project teams, providing expert guidance on Japan regulatory requirements.

  • Lead preparation and execution of PMDA Consultation Meetings and Health Authority interactions, including development of meeting scenarios and briefing documents.

  • Identify regulatory risks and develop mitigation plans; ensure timely communication and alignment across stakeholders.

  • Represent Japan regulatory perspectives within global regulatory teams (GRT) and contribute to global strategy development.

  • Lead the preparation and internal review coordination of Japanese CTD (J‑CTD) modules for major submissions (CTN, J‑NDA, J‑sNDA).

  • Coordinate cross‑functional contributions from non‑clinical, clinical, medical, PV, CMC and other key stakeholders.

  • Lead preparation of responses to PMDA inquiries and ensure high‑quality, timely submissions.

  • Lead Japanese Package Insert revisions requested by Commercial or Medical teams, when handled by PMDA’s New Drug Review Division.

  • Ensure compliance with Japan regulatory requirements and internal quality standards for all submissions and regulatory documents.

  • Act as a key point of contact for PMDA and MHLW for assigned products.

  • Build and maintain constructive relationships with regulatory authorities and relevant external stakeholders.

  • Demonstrate behaviors aligned with the company’s values and contribute to a collaborative, positive, and learning‑oriented team culture.

  • Encourage junior staff to proactively learn, challenge assumptions, and adopt a problem‑solving mindset.

About you

Knowledge, Skills & Competencies / Language

  • Hands-on experience with CTN preparation, PMDA consultations, and regulatory submissions (preferred but not mandatory at entry level for this grade).

  • Knowledge of the drug development process and Japan regulatory review frameworks.

  • Experience with CTD/eCTD preparation is preferred.

  • Strong logical and analytical thinking.

  • Excellent negotiation and communication skills.

  • Ability to proactively identify issues and drive solutions.

  • Demonstrated ability to work independently with a positive and self‑driven mindset.

  • Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills and ability to influence without authority.

  • Results-oriented and persistent in achieving goals.

  • Highly organized with strong attention to detail.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in a scientific or health-related field (advanced degree preferred).

  • Minimum 2 years of experience in R&D functions or regulatory affairs within the pharmaceutical industry or equivalent.

  • Business-level English (TOEIC 800+ or equivalent).

  • Native-level Japanese required.

Why choose us?

As a regulatory expert, you will be a core member of cross‑functional project teams and directly influence development strategy and key decision-making.

The role offers the opportunity to engage closely with PMDA on development plans and scientific discussions, one of the most impactful and rewarding aspects of regulatory affairs.

You will gain firsthand insight into evolving regulatory frameworks, new guidelines, and emerging trends in Japan’s development landscape, continuously strengthening your expertise.

This role contributes directly to accelerating patient access to innovative therapies in Japan, providing a strong sense of purpose and mission.

PursueProgress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law. 

Pursue Progress. Discover Extraordinary.

Join Sanofi and step into a new era of science - where your growth can be just as transformative as the work we do. We invest in you to reach further, think faster, and do what’s never-been-done-before. You’ll help push boundaries, challenge convention, and build smarter solutions that reach the communities we serve. Ready to chase the miracles of science and improve people’s lives? Let’s Pursue Progress and Discover Extraordinary – together.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

Watch 'One day at Sanofi' and check out our Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives at sanofi.com

Apply now
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  • Expand your horizons. Grow through curiosity, with support to move, learn, and lead in a culture that champions mentorship, mobility, and bold development.

  • Accelerate results with technology. Harness the power of AI and automation to push scientific boundaries and reimagine what's possible in drug discovery.

  • Impact through inclusive innovation. Help deliver better science and fairer outcomes by driving inclusive research that reaches more people, in more meaningful ways.

  • Turn patient needs into breakthrough science. Drive scientific breakthroughs that start with patient needs – and end in treatments that change lives.

Meet Nils Libert, Associate Scientist

Meet Nils Libert, an Associate Scientist in Belgium, where he plays a key role in advancing groundbreaking research. Learn how his work helps drive innovation, uncover new scientific possibilities, and contribute to life-changing treatments that impact patients around the world.

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