Drug Discovery Lead - Cell Therapy

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Job Description

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a (Title) in our Cambridge office.

At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

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

Objective / Purpose:

The Drug Discovery Lead (DDL) serves as a strategic leader within the Oncology Drug Discovery Unit (ODDU) and is a member of the ODDU Leadership Team reporting into the Global Head of the ODDU.  This pivotal role entails overseeing the entire drug discovery continuum, from target identification, concept validation, asset generation, and clinical positioning in collaboration with internal and external research partners and in alignment with the Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit including translation strategy.  The DDL’s global strategic leadership, scientific expertise, and business acumen are essential for advancing Takeda’s Oncology pipeline through early clinical proof of concept for both internal and external assets with a particular emphasis on assets leveraging innate cell therapies.

Accountabilities:

• Drive the strategic evolution, direction and leadership for an established Solid and Heme Tumor Cell Therapies team in the Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and objectives that deliver game-changing, highly differentiated, therapeutic opportunities for patients.
• Lead and manage multiple drug discovery projects, overseeing the entire drug development process from target identification to preclinical development.​
• Collaborate and enable teams to collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Global Biologics, Cell Therapy Technology and Product Engine, along with other research partners within and external to Takeda. to develop and execute drug discovery strategies.​
• Drive the identification and validation of novel approaches to maximize cell therapy platforms through the application of cutting-edge technologies and scientific approaches aligned with the iDAS (integrated disease area strategy).​
• Foster a culture of innovation and scientific excellence within the drug discovery team, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.​
• Evaluate and prioritize potential drug candidates based on scientific, medical, and commercial considerations.​
• Oversee the design and execution of experiments, data analysis, and interpretation to guide decision-making and optimize drug discovery efforts.​
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in drug discovery, emerging technologies, and industry trends, and apply this knowledge to enhance drug discovery strategies.​
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners.​
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and development.
• Represents Takeda externally and plays a key role in evaluating external opportunities (e.g. serve on critical pipeline-enabling partnerships
• Be an effective ambassador for the Takeda global business development brand to ensure Takeda is perceived as a “Partner of Choice” with outside organizations, companies, etc.
• Create BD opportunities that meet the strategic scientific, therapeutic and commercial needs of the organization or specific Therapeutic Area (TA). 
• Working with the CEI Therapeutic Area Leads and other key functions outside of business development, help design and implement processes for opportunity assessment and due diligence to ensure competitive superiority.
• Establish and maintain a broad network of relationships internally and external to Takeda; liaise effectively with other individuals in global business development and leverage the Takeda organization at large (scientists, clinicians, commercial managers in oncology and other therapeutic areas) to ensure maximal sourcing capability for the assigned area.
• Effectively motivates and retains top talent and, where needed, builds new expert teams
• Is recognized as an international subject matter expert and identified as a global Takeda thought leader

Education & Competencies:

• Advanced degree in health or life sciences (e.g., Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M.) with 15 years industry and 15 years management experience.
• Extensive experience in leading drug discovery teams and managing drug development projects, preferably in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting.
• Extensive experience leading multiple assets from preclinical into development
• Proven track record of successful drug discovery programs, including the identification and optimization of lead compounds.
• Deep understanding of the drug discovery process, including target identification, hit-to-lead optimization, and preclinical development.
• Strong subject matter expertise in immune-oncology, cell therapy drug discovery and development including CMC considerations, CAR design, engineering and armoring strategies, innate immune cells such as NK and gamma delta for the purposes of leading drug development projects from start to the clinic.
• Strong knowledge of various drug discovery techniques, such as high-throughput screening, molecular modeling, and structure-activity relationship analysis, and CMC awareness.
• Excellent leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving ambitious goals.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including regulatory requirements and commercial considerations.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on data-driven approaches.
• Extensive knowledge of drug development regulations and processes, including IND and NDA submissions
• Demonstrated success in building and managing high impact strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry collaborators.
• Experience in leading drug discovery programs targeting specific therapeutic areas.
• Knowledge of drug development regulations and processes, including IND and NDA submissions.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry collaborators.
• Takeda’s high-engagement and ONE Research DEI culture is an important factor in our success; we seek team members who will contribute to and further strengthen that culture in all ways of working.

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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.

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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.

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Job Exempt