Global Asset Lead, Oncology London

About Ipsen

Ipsen is a mid-sized global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on transformative medicines in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience, with global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K, we tackle areas of high unmet medical need through research and innovation. Our passionate teams in more than 40 countries are focused on what matters and endeavour every day to bring medicines to patients in 88 countries. We build a workplace that champions human‑centric leadership and fosters a culture of collaboration, excellence and impact. At Ipsen, every individual is empowered to be their true selves, grow and thrive alongside the company’s success. Join us on our journey towards sustainable growth, creating real impact on patients and society!

Job Description

Locations: Cambridge (US) | London (UK) | Paris (France)

We are seeking an exceptional VP, Global Asset Lead, Oncology to take ultimate accountability for the vision, strategy, and value creation of a critical global oncology asset. This is one of the most influential leadership roles within our R&D organization, offering the opportunity to drive an asset from development through commercialization while shaping its global impact on patients, healthcare systems, and scientific innovation. This role demands a rare combination of scientific credibility, strategic excellence, commercial acumen, and inspirational leadership. You will operate at the centre of decision‑making, partnering with senior executives and leading a highly matrixed global team to maximise asset value, accelerate delivery, and ensure long‑term success across the entire product lifecycle.

If you are an entrepreneurial leader who thrives in complexity, influences at the highest levels, and is motivated by delivering breakthrough outcomes for patients, this is an opportunity to leave a lasting mark on oncology.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the SVP, Oncology Therapeutic Area Head, R&D, the Global Asset Lead is accountable for maximizing and delivering asset value targets. The successful leader will lead a cross‑functional Global Asset Team and define, develop, and execute an integrated asset strategy spanning development, manufacturing, regulatory, market access, and commercial activities throughout the asset lifecycle. As the strategic leader and ultimate ambassador for the asset, you will drive alignment across functions, influence key stakeholders across the enterprise, and ensure delivery against critical milestones and performance objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Asset Leadership
  • Lead the cross‑functional Global Asset Team to build the vision and strategy to maximize value of the Asset.
  • Create scientific and commercial value from early development to initial approval, from late development phase to patent expiry, adapted for each asset.
  • Own the overall program strategy, establish project goals and lead a cross‑functional team to meet program objectives.
  • Outline an integrated development strategy that shapes the competitive and prescription landscape.
  • Translate strategy into an efficiently executable high‑level roadmap with clear priorities.
• Operational Excellence & Delivery
  • Oversee operations, ensure strong alignment across all functions, and drive operational excellence in execution, supported by a project manager.
  • Identify opportunities through bold and disruptive leadership, translating vision into robust planning based on internal and external insights.
  • Maintain strong scientific, technical, and clinical expertise in the therapeutic area, critically evaluating relevant medical literature and competitive developments to inform lifecycle management strategy.
  • Set short and long‑term product strategy and operational priorities aligned with corporate objectives.
  • Drive and coordinate development, registration, launch, market‑facing activities, and lifecycle management initiatives to maximise both short and long‑term asset value.
• Stakeholder Leadership & Governance
  • Lead communication platforms across key internal and external stakeholders.
  • Maintain visibility and credibility within the therapeutic area among internal and external stakeholders.
  • Serve as spokesperson for the asset, reporting progress, risks, and opportunities to functional and executive leadership teams.
  • Represent the interests of the asset within Ipsen Governance Committees.
  • Define and implement a comprehensive asset communication strategy.
  • Act as a role model and ambassador for the asset and for Ipsen across the scientific community, health authorities, healthcare practitioners, patients, and strategic partners.
• Resource & Risk Management
  • Partner with functional leaders to define resource requirements and external needs for the five‑year plan, ensuring optimal allocation of investment and capabilities.
  • Ensure comprehensive risk mitigation plans are developed, maintained, and executed.
  • Challenge resource allocation decisions across functions to maximise overall asset value.
• Team Leadership
  • Build and lead high‑performing, motivated cross‑functional teams.
  • Partner with functional leaders to establish objectives for dedicated Asset Team members and assess performance against asset‑related goals.
  • Mobilise resources across a complex global matrix through influence, collaboration, and authentic leadership.
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
  • Foster a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement.
  • Drive new ways of working through benchmarking, competitive intelligence, bold regulatory strategies, and open innovation partnerships.
  • Deliver all activities in compliance with R&D SOPs, GCP standards, applicable regulations, and Ipsen policies.

What You Will Bring

• Advanced degree in Medical or Life Sciences, such as MD, PhD and/or MBA. For physician candidates, board certification in Oncology or Hematology is highly valued.
• Minimum 5 years of global project leadership experience within biotechnology or pharmaceutical environments.
• Demonstrated success leading complex global matrix teams and influencing without formal authority.
• Experience across multiple functions involved in successful asset development and commercialization, including Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Commercial, Market Access, Regulatory, Safety, Medical Affairs, and Project Management.
• Deep understanding of oncology and the competitive landscape, with strong external scientific networks highly advantageous.

Leadership Profile

You are a visionary leader who:

• Paints a compelling vision and inspires others to action.
• Thinks globally while balancing short and long‑term priorities.
• Keeps patients at the centre of every decision.
• Challenges convention and drives innovation.
• Builds trust, alignment, and high‑performing teams.
• Excels in navigating complexity and solving critical business challenges.
• Leads with authenticity, courage, and impact.

Why Ipsen

Ipsen is a company where innovation meets purpose. Our ambition is clear: to accelerate transformative medicines that improve outcomes for patients worldwide. Here, you will have the opportunity to influence strategy at the highest level, work alongside world‑class scientific and commercial leaders, and help bring life‑changing oncology innovations to patients who need them most. Join us and lead an asset that could redefine the future of cancer care. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported; where we embrace “The Real Us”. The value we place on different perspectives and experiences drives our commitment to inclusion and equal opportunities. When we include diverse ways of thinking, we make more thoughtful decisions and discover more innovative solutions. Together we strive to better understand the communities we serve. This means we also want to help you perform at your best when applying for a role with us. If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please let the recruitment team know. This information will be handled with care and will not affect the outcome of your application. Ipsen is an equal opportunity employer that strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to an individual’s race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, mental/physical disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.