Commercial Director - Japan

*THIS ROLE IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS FROM CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF EAKIN HEALTHCARE ONLY*

At Eakin Healthcare, care is at the heart of everything we do.

We are a family-owned global medical device company driven by a simple vision: Where Care Leads, Hope Follows. For more than 50 years, we've been developing innovative healthcare solutions that make a meaningful difference to the lives of patients around the world.

Today, our team of over 700 colleagues operates across three UK manufacturing sites, 12 international sales and distribution centres, and exports to more than 60 countries worldwide. From market-leading Ostomy and Respiratory therapies to our trusted Respond home delivery service, we're committed to improving lives through innovation, quality and exceptional care.

We don't just care for the people who use our products and services, we care for our colleagues too. That's why we're proud to be recognised as a Great Place to Work®, creating an environment where people can thrive, grow and make a real impact.

If you're looking for a career with purpose, where your work matters and your contribution is valued, we'd love to hear from you.

JOB OVERVIEW

Job Title: Commercial Director

Reporting to: Chief Commercial Officer

Hours per week: 40

Shift Work: No

Travel: Travel within Japan and occasional travel to HQ in Comber, Northern Ireland. Travel to Comber required during first few months of employment

Direct Reports: Japan team: National Sales Manager, Sales team x3, Customer Operation Manager

JOB PURPOSE

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Commercial Director to lead commercial execution and business growth for Eakin KK in Japan. This role will take operational responsibility for the Japan commercial organisation, including sales, marketing and customer service, ensuring strong team and business leadership continuity while building on the strong foundations created over the past decade. The successful candidate will translate global ostomy strategy into local market plans, strengthen commercial effectiveness through focused territory management and increased market coverage, and drive product penetration by ensuring the right portfolio is available and successfully adopted in the Japanese market.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Commercial Strategy & Execution

• P&L responsibility for Eakin KK
• Lead the development and execution of the Japan commercial strategy, ensuring alignment with global ostomy priorities and Eakin KK business objectives.
• Translate global strategy into clear local market plans that reflect Japanese customer needs, market dynamics, reimbursement requirements and competitive conditions.
• Own forecasting, budgeting, performance delivery and business planning for the Japan commercial organisation.

Sales Leadership

• Lead and develop the Japan sales team, ensuring clear accountability for territory management, customer coverage and performance delivery.
• Set sales targets, monitor performance, strengthen commercial discipline and implement corrective actions where required.
• Drive increased commercial effectiveness through improved field execution, pricing discipline, key account development and stronger market coverage.

Marketing and Customer Service Management

• Lead the local marketing function to ensure product positioning, customer messaging and campaign execution are relevant for the Japanese market.
• Oversee customer service performance, ensuring high-quality support for customers, partners and patients while maintaining alignment with commercial objectives.

Product Penetration and Portfolio Development

• Work with global and local teams to ensure the right product portfolio is available for Japan, supported by appropriate launch plans, evidence, customer education and market access activity.
• Maximise penetration of Eakin products in Japan through focused execution, customer insight, KOL engagement and effective coordination across sales, marketing, regulatory and supply functions.

Market Access, Pricing and Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of the Japanese healthcare, reimbursement and procurement environment, ensuring commercial plans reflect local access requirements.
• Manage important customer, partner, distributor, HQ and stakeholder relationships to support growth, trust and long-term business performance.
• Strengthen credibility with KOLs, associations, patient groups, policy influencers and other external stakeholders relevant to ostomy care in Japan.
• Provide insight to global leadership on Japanese market dynamics, customer sentiment, competitive activity and stakeholder priorities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key operational bridge between Japan and global teams, ensuring effective communication, alignment and decision-making across functions.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Regulatory, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain and global commercial colleagues to support coordinated execution in Japan.

Leadership & People Development

• Build and lead a high-performing Japan commercial team across sales, marketing and customer service.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer focus and continuous improvement while maintaining strong business continuity through the leadership transition.
• Identify talent needs, strengthen capabilities and implement development plans to support the next phase of Eakin KK growth.

AS A SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE YOU’LL HAVE:

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Life Sciences, healthcare, or a related field
• 10+ years of commercial leadership experience in medical devices or healthcare, preferably in ostomy, continence, wound care or a related therapeutic area.
• Proven success leading sales, marketing and/or customer service teams in Japan, with a strong track record of delivering growth and performance improvement.
• Strong understanding of the Japanese healthcare system, reimbursement environment, customer landscape and commercial requirements for medical devices.
• Fluent in Japanese and English, with the ability to communicate effectively across local and global teams.
  

Desirable

• Experience working in a Japanese subsidiary of an international medical device or healthcare company.

*THIS ROLE IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS FROM CURRENT EMPLOYEES OF EAKIN HEALTHCARE ONLY*

COMPETENCIES

Drives Results

Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

Business Insight

Applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization’s goals.

Financial Acumen

Interpreting and applying understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions

Customer Focus

Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions

Builds Effective Teams

Building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals

Plans and Aligns

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals

Interpersonal Savvy

Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people

Global Perspective

Taking a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens

*The closing date for applications is: 1st October 2026 at 5PM*

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We value different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and are dedicated to providing equal opportunities for all.

Early Closure Statement

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage early submission.

Right to Work in the UK

Please note that Eakin Healthcare is unable to provide sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.