HEMA Lead Japan

DePuy Synthes is recruiting for a Senior Manager, Healthcare Economics & Market Access (HEMA), located in Tokyo.

The Senior Manager, Healthcare Economics & Market Access (HEMA) is responsible for establishing and leading the HEMA function in DPS Japan. 
This role owns the end-to-end market access strategy in Japan, including reimbursement, pricing, health economics and evidence generation, to ensure sustainable patient access and business growth across the DPS portfolio within the Japanese healthcare system. 

This role will also directly responsible for a priority and strategic business unit at APAC regional level, defined according to APAC needs, ensuring HEMA strategy and execution align with business priorities and performance objectives. 

Key Responsibilities 

(1) HEMA Function & Strategy Leadership 

• Establish and lead the Healthcare Economics & Market Access function for DPS Japan 

• Define and execute the mid- to long-term HEMA strategy aligned with DPS Japan business priorities and product portfolios 

• Act as the single point of accountability for market access strategy and execution in Japan 

• Build internal capability, processes, and governance related to reimbursement and health economics 

(2) Reimbursement & Pricing Strategy 

• Develop and lead reimbursement strategies for new and existing products in Japan 

• Lead reimbursement projects including:  

• New product reimbursement strategies 

• C-category and description change (B2) applications 

• Management of existing reimbursement prices 

• Oversee preparation of reimbursement application dossiers and evidence packages 

• Lead negotiations and communications with relevant authorities including MHLW and related advisory bodies 

• Lead and coordinate responses to medical fee revision (診療報酬改定), including impact assessment and strategy development/implementation for affected products 

(3) Health Economics & Evidence Strategy 

• Define health economic and evidence generation strategies to support reimbursement and value demonstration 

• Oversee cost-effectiveness analyses, budget impact analyses, and other relevant economic evaluations (as applicable) 

• Lead the development and execution of strategies for real-world evidence (RWE), database research, and consensus studies in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders 

• Ensure alignment of evidence strategy with global / regional HEMA frameworks while addressing local needs 

(4) Environmental Shaping & External Engagement 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders including:  

• Academic societies 

• Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) 

• Industry associations 

• Government and policy stakeholders 

• Shape a favorable market access environment through proactive engagement and evidence-based value communication 

• Represent DPS Japan in industry forums and working groups related to reimbursement and health economics 

(5) Cross-functional Leadership & Stakeholder Management 

• Partner closely with Commercial, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Clinical, and Finance teams 

• Provide strategic HEMA input for product strategy, launch planning, lifecycle management and business planning 

• Educate and support internal stakeholders on Japanese reimbursement systems, health economics, and policy trends 

(6) Team & Resource Management 

• Build, develop, and manage the team capability in Japan 

• Manage external vendors and consultants related to health economic modeling, research, and reimbursement activities 

• Ensure efficient project management, prioritization, and resource allocation 

Key Competencies 

• Deep understanding of the Japanese healthcare system, reimbursement and pricing mechanisms 

• Strong health economics and evidence-based decision-making capability 

• Strategic thinking with ability to translate policy and economic insights into business impact 

• Leadership in ambiguity, particularly in a new organization / function build environment 

• Influence without authority and strong stakeholder management skills 

• Clear, persuasive communication in both Japanese and English 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, pharmacy, medicine, public health, health economics or related field 

• Advanced degree (Master’s, PhD, MBA) preferred 

Experience 

• Typically 7+ years of experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare industry 

• Solid experience in market access, reimbursement, health economics or related roles in Japan 

• Proven track record of leading reimbursement projects and engaging with Japanese health authorities 

• Experience in team leadership or function leadership strongly preferred 

Skills 

• Business-level Japanese and English (written & spoken) 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills 

• Experience preparing and reviewing government-facing documents 

• Ability to work independently and lead cross-functional initiatives 

Key Working Relationships 

Internal 

• Japan Leadership Team 

• Commercial / Marketing 

• Medical Affairs & Clinical 

• Regulatory Affairs 

• Finance 

• Regional / Global HEMA teams 

External 

• MHLW and related advisory organizations 

• Academic societies and KOLs 

• Industry associations 

• External consultants and research partners 

Other 

• Travel: Domestic and limited international travel as required 

• This position plays a critical role in building DPS Japan’s long-term market access foundation and organizational capability