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Director, Pharmaceutical Sciences Portfolio Strategy Lead

Boston, Massachusetts
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  • Job Level: Senior
  • Travel: 5-10%

The Pharmaceutical Sciences (Pharm Sci) organization is an integral part of global R&D at Takeda, translating science into therapeutic products for patients. When you join Pharm Sci, you become part of a team dedicated to bringing our products to life for our patients through innovation, dedication and talent while minimizing environmental impact.

We work as a member of Takeda’s Global Program Team (GPT) and take full ownership of Chemistry, Manufacturing & Control (CMC) activities — driving product development from bench to bedside.

The Pharm Sci team focuses on executing and enhancing business processes and partnering with key stakeholders and industry leaders to boldly deliver an increasingly complex portfolio. Always looking through a sustainability lens to protect our planet, we are embracing new ways of working, excelling in our data and digital transformation, building differentiated capabilities (CMC Acceleration), delivering innovative medical devices, and advancing an inclusive, innovative culture.

It is an exciting time to be in Pharm Sci. Join our journey and change the lives of patients!

Job ID R0143097 Date posted 01/23/2025 Location Boston, Massachusetts

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’sPrivacy Noticeand Terms of Use. I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.

Job Description

Objectives:

  • R&D CMC Strategy & Pipeline Insights: Develops mechanism for and drives project prioritization decisions, CMC governance, and milestones reporting. Ensuring access to relevant portfolio and program data for proactive conversations with CMC Leadership Team. This role is the primary point of contact with strategy organizations in R&D, Global Manufacturing and Commercial supporting steps necessary to enable CMC strategy are understood and aligned with across Takeda.

  • Head of R&D CMC Governance Office: In collaboration with Head of Pharm Sci, R&D Therapeutic Area Units Strategy Leads, R&D Portfolio and other key stakeholder, deliver on the imperatives of the CMC Strategy Review Board by ensuring programs are coming ahead of key inflection points, teams are prepared with clear business plans, and decisions are clearly communicated and maintained.

  • CMC Digital Portfolio Enablement: Lead the CMC efforts for leveraging digital and AI tools to translate complex insights into actionable recommendations related to program and portfolio deliverables. Collaborate with the R&D digital transformation team (AF) to leverage digital and AI to enhance portfolio prioritization, decision-making, and analytics. Deliver competitive intelligence and industry benchmarking to assess CMC's position in key areas and work with portfolio teams to optimize top-tier development cycle times to accelerate drug to patients.

Accountabilities:

  • Leverage digital and AI tools to provide insights based on analytical and qualitative assessments, translating complex insights into simple, actionable recommendations.

  • Collaborate with R&D digital transformation team (AF) to establish new ways of real-time and effective portfolio prioritization, decision making and analytics on key performance indicators to support individual asset and portfolio-level decision making, including at CMC Strategy Review Board

  • Deliver competitive intelligence and industry benchmarking exercises to examine where Pharm Sci is relative to the industry in key areas: performance metrics, CMC process (al la in silico), application of technology, etc.

  • Optimize R&D CMC portfolio development cycle times in collaboration with Pharm Sci Teams

  • As a key advisor to CMC leadership, you will play a critical part in shaping our future portfolio strategy, driving the operational execution and implementation of our portfolio strategy

  • Head of R&D CMC Governance Office Accountabilities include:

    • Tracking of portfolio milestone progression and strategy across R&D – Interface with R&D Governance Office on evolving program strategy and communications to ensure programs consult CMC governance for key program planning and decision making

    • Leading and facilitation of the R&D CMC Governance Office Forums & Operations to deliver valuable strategic decision making across CMC portfolio

    • Providing strategic CMC development guidance and influence to program leads to ensure productive and effective CMC governance process and outputs/clear and timely decisions.

  • Deliver continuous improvements and expand awareness of CMC Governance throughout R&D, Commercial, Global Manufacturing and Quality

  • Collaborate with the Pharm Sci PMO to Develop and maintains portfolio management tools, methodologies and dashboards to facilitate effective decision making and communication across the organization

  • Lead and Support R&D and Pharm Sci strategic initiatives to improve portfolio management, program/portfolio strategy and/or execution to meet business objectives

  • Connect CMC & R&D/Commercial strategy and operations to understand explain pipeline changes including potential risks, impacts and mitigations supported by long term strategy

  • Drive the data collection, analysis summary and communications of R&D pipeline metrics (portfolio aggregation assessment of prioritization and probability of success tracking metrics, etc.)

  • Accountable for annual CMC team goal setting strategy, process, execution tracking and routine reporting on CMC KPIs related to pipeline

  • Lead external benchmarking exercises with outside agencies and drive CMC & R&D leadership discussions around data insights and opportunities for improvement

  • Facilitate coordination for major governance interactions outside of R&D CMC with Program Leaders and CMC Leadership Team

  • Identify internal strategic imperatives and develop mechanisms to effectively respond to evolving business needs

  • Ensure R&D CMC leverages the most effective AI/Digital tools to enable leadership portfolio decision making

  • Drive communications of on-going strategic initiatives, portfolio updates, & CMC Town Halls meetings

  • Primary point of contact and interface for all pipeline metrics (budget, resources, timelines, etc.), portfolio business insights and analytics for strategic planning with key CMC stakeholders (R&D, Commercial, & Research).

Qualifications:

Education/Experience:

  • Bachelor's degree 25+ years relevant industry experience

  • Master's degree 21+ years relevant industry experience

  • PhD and 15+ years relevant industry experience

Technical Skills/Competencies:

  • Has in-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical development across modalities: drug development, process chemistry, biologics, formulation development, analytical development, and/or statistics

  • In-depth knowledge of End-to-End drug development from research to commercial

  • Outstanding communication skills including the ability to interact with all levels of management including the most senior leaders in R&D

  • Must be able to directly link, and articulate to others, project/program and portfolio management capability to strategy.

  • Must have people management experience

  • Must be familiar with relevant digital portfolio systems. Ideal candidate is familiar with the use of digital and AI tools to provide pharma portfolio insights based on analytical and qualitative assessments, translating complex insights into actionable recommendations.

  • Functions well under pressure in a changing environment. Uses independent judgment to identify, plan, prioritize, and organize diversified workload as required.

  • Technical, data sciences or natural sciences degree beneficial

  • Ability to work well in a cross-functional team environment and drive resolution of issues while maintaining positive working relationships across functions

  • Exercises exceptional time management skills and can successfully manage multiple tasks simultaneously

  • Keen sense of continuous learning and improvement

  • Strong external CMC industry connectivity

  • Up to date on latest industry trends and technology

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$169,400.00 - $266,200.00

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/or long-termincentives. U.S.based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S.based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Boston, MA

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

Yes

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
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Where you fit in

Our teams are experienced in medicinal chemistry, multi-step synthesis, multimodal genetics, genomics datasets, pharmacokinetics and more. So wherever your expertise and passion lie, your work will have tangible outcomes, advancing an innovative pipeline that serves unmet needs.

We're delving deeper than ever inside the human body and its microbiome, implementing innovative approaches to deliver high-quality products that treat a range of illnesses, including IBD and cancer.

In our diverse, forward-thinking culture, we're constantly embracing new ways of working:

  • Partnering with research teams, GPTs, business development and our commercial partners in GMS/GQ
  • Supporting all stages of pre-clinical and clinical development
  • Providing enabling technologies, including formulation and delivery strategies, analytical expertise and IP
  • Developing processes to manufacture high-quality Clinical Trial Material and other
  • Focusing on broad therapeutic areas on multiple device platforms: Advanced Delivery Devices, Home & Point-Of-Care Diagnostics, Software & Connectivity for eHealth devices and state-of-the-art Medical Devices & Combination Products

On our team in Pharmaceutical Sciences, you’ll notice a big difference in your own life, too. You’ll be supported to develop your career. You'll connect with brilliant minds and be recognized for your accomplishments. Your curiosity, skills and dedication will have a place and a purpose. So even when you’re exploring the smallest of details, your world will be bigger than ever.

  • Perform cell processing operations

  • Support clean room activities

  • Ensure equipment maintenance

  • Support investigations in deviations

Along with incredibly passionate colleagues, there’s a clear commitment to invest in the best facilities and the right equipment needed to successfully perform world-class science.
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The heart of our work

Leading with innovation

Our pipeline

Our internal research capabilities and external partnerships contribute to an R&D engine that has produced exciting new molecular entities (NMEs) across our core Therapeutic Areas. Check out our pipeline and see how we’ll continue delivering a steady stream of next-generation therapies.

Learn more

What we believe in

Our values of Takeda-ism are Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance, with Integrity as the core. These are brought to life through actions based on Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business, in that order.

Our belief in putting people first extends beyond our patients — it includes their families and communities, as well as our Takeda colleagues and their families.

We are committed to embracing our differences, valuing different perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and empowerment.

Our embedded Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy enables us to attract and retain exceptional talent, drives innovation, and helps address systemic inequalities in our communities.

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Honesty

  • Perseverance

Working at Takeda

  • Inclusion

    Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as a vital contributor to our global team.
  • Collaboration

    A strong, borderless team, we strive together towards our priorities and inspiring mission.
  • Innovation

    Bold initiatives, continuous improvement, and creativity are at the heart of how we bring scientific breakthroughs from the lab to patients.
  • Top Workplace

    Recognized for our culture and way of working, we’re one of only 17 companies to receive Top Global Employer® status for 2024.
  • Work-Life

    Our people-first mission extends beyond patients to include their families, communities, and our own Takeda family.
  • Empowerment

    Through trust and respect, you will have genuine support from leaders, managers, and colleagues to do your best work.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

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About our location

Boston, Massachusetts


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