Position Title:  Manager Scientific Engagement

Date:  Jun 25, 2026
Requisition ID:  19438
Work Location: 

Tokyo, Tokyo, JP, 100-6190

Position Title:                      Manager Scientific & External Engagement

Reports to:                          Senior Manager Scientific & External Engagement

Organization:                      External Affairs

 

Philip Morris International: Building a Smoke-Free Future

At PMI, we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business and building our future on smoke-free products with the power to improve the lives of a billion smokers worldwide.

With huge change, comes huge opportunity. So, wherever you join us, you’ll enjoy the freedom to dream up and deliver better, brighter solutions and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions.

 

The Role

The Manager Scientific & External Engagement will be responsible for driving the development and deployment of scientific engagement strategies and plans on a market specific basis to drive the creation of tobacco regulatory frameworks, whilst create awareness and acceptance of PMI’s SFP science to the external world to pave the way for successful commercialization and regulation of SFP’s.

He/She directs resources for external and internal scientific engagements and communications to increase understanding of the science behind Tobacco Harm Reduction & Smoke Free Products across a broad range of audience. Lead the relationship management (development and maintenance) of key opinion leaders and stakeholders including but not limited to the scientific and medical communities, governmental bodies, regulators.

He/She fosters a network of informed stakeholders to initiate and engage in a debate on harm reduction that can advocate for science-based policy and build understanding in the general society.

He/she directs high impact engagement projects in order to improve confidence and credibility of Tobacco Harm Reduction and Smoke Free Products.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

  • Design & implement multi-year outreach strategy to support both corporate and departmental goals; establish & measure against stretch targets; takes a broader view to identify emerging risks and opportunities to the Company’s transformation to a smoke-free future. This includes the development and execution of market scientific engagement strategies for: (a) influencing public health policies and plans; (2) increasing the understanding and interests within the scientific and medical community of PMI’s scientific approach and; (c) producing results to drive the creation of the regulatory frameworks, whilst ensuring the integration with the market's overall goals and strategies.
  • Ensures scientific engagement education and coaching to internal teams on overall PMI Science, scientific engagement strategy and rules of engagement. This includes appropriate scientific training to the market, including but not limited to the senior management, external affairs, communications, SFP Marketing & Commercial Team and scientific consultants, in order to enable the team to be able to understand and communicate the science behind SFPs; and is responsible for the scientific quality and accuracy of any material serving as input into the SFP communication and engagement material.
  • Develop, maintain, and constantly assess contacts with identified local key opinion leaders, communities, and organizations, executing meaningful programs and/or projects to bring awareness and acceptance of tobacco harm reduction and Smoke Free Products, thus enhancing positive awareness, perception and scientific credibility of PMI Science and in the market as a responsible tobacco company. This includes identifying/creating scientific networking opportunities at conferences/events or articles in scientific journals, in collaboration with R&D scientists and market EA/Communications colleagues.
  • Engage in, network, and build allies/coalitions in support of THR and the creation of a welcoming SFP environment locally. Proactively communicate company’s views and positions in support of tobacco harm reduction. Analyze intelligence and observations from these engagements, refining action plans when necessary.
  • Secures the appropriate scientific spokesperson to: (a) liaise with government officials and regulators, in collaboration with external affairs and R&D, on scientific information and/or regulatory submissions supporting differentiation of SFPs from combustible cigarettes and pave the way for appropriate SFP regulations. This also includes engagements required to discuss the product surveillance program and escalation of individual severe adverse event reports and; (b) communicate and engage with external and scientific media for the market.
  • Identify and engage on gaps in the PMI’s scientific evidence locally with KSOLs to improve confidence and credibility of Tobacco Harm Reduction and Smoke Free Products. This includes:

-Facilitate and review locally initiated research (literature review or studies)

-Guide and advise on scientific positions, messages, content or materials before external use.

-Support development of scientific engagement tools and materials for increasing understanding of PMI science.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Significant experience in industries or sectors from tobacco, pharmaceutical, or other medical/science/technology  sectors that are highly regulated. Ideally in Regulatory or Government Affairs. Experience within government or government-related agency is preferred.
  • Participated/led complex cross-functional projects among multi-disciplinary senior stakeholders in R&D, law, corporate/regulatory affairs, communications, sales, marketing, planning and/or operations. International experience, preferably coming from multinational companies is, as well as, public speaking/media engagement is a must.
  • Minimum BSc or equivalent in a scientific discipline or public health policy or science communications.
  • Fluent in Japanese and business level of English
  • 3+ years of experience in a leadership position in medical/scientific communication in healthcare field in a global setting will be considered with priority.
  • Strong business acumen with strategic and logical thinking, and highly effective analytic skills are required.
  • Must have excellent communication and presentation skills (verbal and written) with the ability to effectively present ideas, and influence and negotiate with others.
  • Ability to strongly promote planning, preparation, and implementation of projects. Management skills to bring together diverse ideas.

 

WHAT WE OFFER

 Our success depends on the men and women who come to work every single day with a sense of purpose and an appetite for progress. Join PMI and you too can:

    • Seize the freedom to define your future and ours – we’ll empower you to take risks, experiment and explore
    • Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture, where everyone’s contribution is respected; collaborate with some of the world’s best people and feel like you belong
    • Pursue your ambitions and develop your skills with a global business – our staggering size and scale provides endless opportunities to progress
    • Take pride in delivering our promise to society: to improve the lives of a billion smokers

 

PMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.