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About the Role

The Head of Science – ANZ is a senior business-focused scientific leadership role responsible for leading the Zone Science team, covering regulatory and medical activities to develop and execute strategies for growth ambition in the ANZ zone. This role is a key member of both the Opella ANZ Leadership Team and the AMEA Region Science Leadership Team, acting as a strong science partner to ANZ cross-functional leaders and AMEA across-zone science leaders.

Responsibilities

Manage the science team based in ANZ, fostering professional growth and embedding a challenger mindset through coaching and engagement.
Contribute actively to the ANZ leadership team and the regional science leadership team.
Support business leaders' decision-making with sound judgment, medical and regulatory expertise, and business acumen.
Partner with local B&I and R&D teams to integrate science into repeatable growth models for global and local brands.
Evaluate and define a portfolio approach for medical value creation initiatives, setting clear priorities, deliverables, and measurable impacts.
Set performance metrics for the science team to ensure effective execution of local medical brand plans aligned with global medical strategy.
Develop superior product science, mode of action, and medical safety/efficacy data, translating complex science into clear communication for HCPs and consumers.
Identify opportunities in scientific evidence for priority brands and develop/execute evidence generation strategies, including lab testing, in vitro, in vivo, RWE, and clinical studies.
Generate superior claims backed by scientific data and evidence to engage and influence HCPs.
Provide medical support throughout the innovation process, from ideation to post-launch engagement.
Ensure regulatory compliance of the portfolio with Health Authority requirements and drive scientific recommendations for risk mitigation.
Develop and execute creative regulatory strategies for new product innovations and lifecycle activities.
Take a risk-based approach to superior claim and packaging innovation opportunities while ensuring compliance.
Shape local business strategy through input into the zone and potential external advocacy plans.
Build a fast-acting, collaborative, outcome-obsessed, risk-taking, and innovative science culture.
Set medical and regulatory science strategies with execution plans aligned with business priorities.
Ensure science initiatives are prioritized and aligned with brand strategies to drive performance and growth.
Manage risks and opportunities, developing mitigation action plans.

Requirements

Demonstrated medical credibility, influence, and trust in understanding product science, competitive superiority, mode of action, and medical safety/efficacy data.
Proven success in shaping scientific strategy, identifying gaps, and guiding science evidence generation.
Familiarity with the latest clinical guidelines.
Expert knowledge of drug and VMS regulations and requirements, and Health Authority regulations.
Ability to evaluate the impact of regulations on marketed products and navigate creative innovation pathways for timely regulatory approvals.
Knowledge of the local Consumer Health environment, including regulatory aspects, regional industry associations, and public/government affairs.
Demonstrated business acumen, agility, adaptability, and resilience.
Success in partnering and influencing across a matrix environment with exceptional communication and influence skills.
Leadership experience in inspiring and growing teams, setting objectives, measuring achievement, and providing career development support.
Ability to lead transversally, collaborating with various functions within the ANZ business and regional/global science functions.
Strategic and analytical thinking.
Creativity and problem-solving skills.
Leadership autonomy, strong executive presence, and inspirational leadership.
Capability to influence decisions and lead without direct authority.
Flexibility to work across time zones.
Ability to operate strategically and execute brilliantly.
Strong mental agility and flexibility to adapt to a constantly changing business environment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Skills

Medical credibility
Influence
Trust
Product science understanding
Competitive superiority understanding
Mode of action understanding
Medical safety/efficacy data understanding
Data translation and simplification
Claim development
Scientific strategy shaping
Science evidence generation
Clinical guidelines
Drug and VMS regulations
Health Authority regulations
Regulatory compliance
Innovation pathways
Consumer Health environment knowledge
Business acumen
Agility
Adaptability
Resilience
Matrix environment partnering
Communication skills
Influence skills
Team leadership
Strategic thinking
Analytical thinking
Creativity
Problem-solving
Executive presence
Inspirational leadership
Cross-time zone collaboration
Strategic operation
Brilliant execution
Mental agility
Flexibility
Written communication
Verbal communication

Location

Sydney, Australia
Brisbane, Australia

Work Type

Full-time

Experience Level

Senior business focused scientific leadership role
Leadership experience

Education Level

Degree in Life Science
Higher degree (Ph.D., MD, or PharmD) is a plus

About the Company

Opella is the self-care challenger with the purest and third-largest portfolio in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market globally.
Our mission is to bring health in people’s hands by making self-care as simple as it should be.
We have 100 loved brands, an 11,000-strong global team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers.
Headquartered in France, Opella is the proud maker of many of the world’s most loved brands, including Allegra, Buscopan, Dulcolax, Enterogermina, Essentiale and Mucosolvan.
As a globally certified B Corp company, we are active players in the journey towards healthier people and planet.