Associate Director, International Business

About us

Novugen is a wholly owned subsidiary of SciTech International, a UAE-based group with over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. We specialize in venturing into strategic healthcare businesses and developing world-class healthcare facilities across the globe. With operations in multiple countries across continents, our global presence and expertise empower us to meet the complex challenges of delivering hard-to-source, technology-intensive pharmaceutical products to market.

Our manufacturing facilities in Bandar Enstek, Negeri Sembilan, are the first USFDA-approved pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. We are also the first pharmaceutical company in the region to be vertically integrated from R&D to manufacturing, giving us greater control over the supply chain and reflecting our commitment to meeting a wide range of stringent regulatory standards.

At Novugen, we are united by a shared vision, with a team of talented individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities working together towards one common goal. We are driven by a passion for science and innovation, striving to accelerate the launch of pharmaceuticals that lack robust generic alternatives due to their complexity. Our continued investment in R&D and dedication to excellence aim to provide early access to affordable, high-quality medicines, impacting lives across the world.

Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare and changing lives everywhere.

About the role

The position will serve as a key strategic leader within Novugen's global commercial

organization. This role is instrumental in spearheading the expansion of Novugen's

international footprint with a focus on sustainable market development, cross-border growth,

and operational excellence. The incumbent will be accountable for defining and executing

regional strategies, optimizing performance across geographies, and driving commercial

outcomes in line with Novugen's global aspirations.

With full P&L accountability and oversight of regulatory, financial, and market dynamics, the

candidate will lead cross-functional and cross-cultural teams in high-growth and high compliance

markets. The position demands a forward-thinking leader with hands-on

commercial experience, deep regulatory knowledge, and proven expertise in structured

market access, particularly across LATAM, MENA, and ASEAN, with a strategic preference for

LATAM exposure.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop and lead the execution of a scalable international business strategy anchored in long-term growth, regulatory pathways, and therapeutic portfolio expansion. Prioritize new market entries and product launches in high-value geographies, with a focus on LATAM as a strategic priority.
• Own full P&L responsibility for all international markets. Drive top-line growth and margin optimization through localized commercial levers, performance management frameworks, and data-led decision-making.
• Integrate closely with Regulatory, Market Access, Business Development, Legal, Supply Chain, and Medical Affairs to ensure seamless product registrations, commercial readiness, and regulatory compliance across regulated territories such as LATAM, MENA, and ASEAN.
• Lead international portfolio planning with a sharp focus on Oncology and Cardio-Metabolic therapies. Evaluate high-potential molecules and ensure alignment with Novugen's global therapeutic priorities and regional unmet needs. Optimize multi-channel go-to-market models to maximize market reach, penetration, value delivery, and ROI.
• Drive access strategies in reimbursed markets by leveraging a deep understanding of government frameworks, pharmacoeconomics, and tender evaluation systems. Partner with local stakeholders to enhance institutional engagement and shape market policy navigation.
• Drive robust distributor and partner identification, evaluation, and onboarding processes. Establish structured performance review mechanisms to ensure alignment, transparency, and long-term value creation.
• Lead market due diligence for new business setups, including regulatory feasibility, pricing/access dynamics, and partner capability assessments. Embed risk mitigation, compliance, and pharmacovigilance standards across all geographies.
• Oversee international forecasting, budgeting, and financial planning cycles. Deliver executive-level dashboards and strategic recommendations leveraging market intelligence, competitor benchmarking, and risk/opportunity analysis.
• Build and empower high-performing international teams by deploying targeted coaching, succession planning, and sales force effectiveness tools. Instil a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational discipline across all geographies.
• Architect agile and fit-for-purpose governance models to monitor market-level execution. Establish KPIs and KRAs aligned with commercial excellence and market dynamics. Challenge legacy models and institutionalize a culture of innovation and operational discipline.
• Travel to key international markets to engage with stakeholders, including government bodies, strategic partners, and customers to strengthen Novugen's brand equity and shape market-specific strategies.
• Champion cross-border knowledge transfer to replicate regional success models. Align country-level execution with Novugen's global expansion roadmap and establish Novugen as a Malaysia-headquartered Multinational Corporation (MNC).

About you

• Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences, International Business, or a related field; an MBA or equivalent advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive leadership experience in international business development, commercial operations, or general management within the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, or healthcare sectors.
• Demonstrated success in market expansion and P&L management across emerging and regulated markets, with proven expertise in LATAM and working knowledge of ASEAN and MENA regions.
• In-depth understanding of regulatory frameworks in regulated markets and related fast-track processes.
• Hands-on experience with pharmaco-economic evaluations, market access strategies, and government procurement systems.
• Solid grounding in product portfolio assessment, preferably within Oncology and Cardio-Metabolic domains.
• Exceptional leadership capabilities with experience managing cross-functional, crosscultural teams. Strong negotiation, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills at regional and global levels.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and decision-making abilities. Proficiency in CRM tools, sales analytics platforms, and core business software (e.g., Microsoft Office suite).
• Strong command of English is a prerequisite. Proficiency in additional languages is considered a significant advantage, particularly Spanish, given the strategic focus on the LATAM region. Multilingual capabilities are highly valued to support the global nature of this role.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally to engage with partners, customers, regulators, and internal teams in pursuit of strategic business objectives.