Job Posting

Global Launch Excellence Lead (Director)

Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Job Level: Senior
Travel: Minimal (if any)

Takeda has been translating science into breakthrough medicines for 240 years. Every step of the way, our teams have worked together to tackle some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. Today, we’re a driving force behind innovative therapies that make a lasting difference to millions of patients around the world.

In R&D, all of our history and potential comes together in an environment that welcomes diversity of thought and amplifies every voice. Working closely with colleagues, you’ll play a key role in bringing our rich pipeline of products forward to help patients. Come join a team that’s earned trust for more than two centuries, and find out how advancing transformative therapies at Takeda will shape your bright future.

Job ID R0151463 Date posted 05/16/2025 Location Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Job Description

Job Summary:

Takeda is preparing to launch several innovative medicines globally. We are looking for a leader who is highly collaborative and results-oriented to support a specific product launch and champion our GPLS Launch Community of Practice (CoP). As the Global Launch Excellence Lead, you will work with a Product Strategy Lead (PSL) to develop and monitor an integrated global launch plan that aligns with our asset and brand strategies. Your role will be key in facilitating cross-functional engagement with stakeholders across Clinical Development, Global Regulatory Affairs, Global Manufacturing Sciences, Global Product & Launch Strategy, Global Communications, and Global Medical Affairs, as well as regional launch leads in the US, Japan, China, EUCAN, and GEM to ensure an on-time, quality launch.

Additionally, you will lead the GPLS Launch Community of Practice (CoP), promoting innovation and excellence in our global launch processes among our community of launch excellence professionals. This position will focus approximately 80% of your time on supporting a specific global product launch and 20% on leading the Launch Community of Practice. Over time, as a launch completes, you will transition to another launch product based on evolving needs. The ideal candidate should have exceptional project management skills, outstanding communication abilities, excellent facilitation skills, and a proven track record of successful commercial launches on a global scale.

Key Responsibilities:

Planning: Support Global Launch Activation Workshops to define the integrated global launch plan. Oversee Launch Team Meetings and Commercial Sub-Team to track progress. Organize Launch Summits to prepare regions. Guide the annual integrated Commercial Sub-Team goal-setting process for the asset.

Launch Timelines: Manage overall global launch timelines in line with asset and brand strategies, focusing on critical path tactics. Collaborate with the Global Program Manager (GPM) and regional launch leads to align timelines and tactics. Responsible for tracking detailed GPLS functional tactics.

Risk Management: Guide the team in identifying and mitigating risks, scenario planning, decision criteria, and milestone stage gates to ensure teams stay on track. Identify, communicate, and escalate program-wide interdependencies, issues, and key decisions to senior leadership and governance.
Integration: Act as an integrator for the GPLS functions and Commercial Sub-Teams, driving clarity and removing barriers to enable the operational execution of launch priorities.
Reporting and Communication: Establish and track Launch Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Manage scheduled and ad-hoc program status reporting. Coordinate the development of impactful presentations to facilitate strategic planning and decision-making, as well as preparing launch status updates for key governance committees.
Financial Oversight: Partner with the Finance representative and GPLS functions to provide financial oversight of the GPLS brand budget. Monitor potential budget variances; proactively bring forward options for tradeoffs within the overall budget, timeline, and strategy.

Team Ways of Working and Culture: Foster a positive team culture through expert meeting facilitation, team health checks, collaborative and values-based decision-making, clear ways of working and team engagement. Support the onboarding of new launch team members as needed.
Continuous Learning: Facilitate After Action Reviews to identify and share key best practices and opportunities from launches.
Community of Practice: Champion the GPLS Launch Community of Practice (CoP) to develop processes, tools, and standards to execute our future launch readiness. Drive continuous process improvement initiatives, integrating GPT and regional ways of working and best practices.
Leverage Technology: Build and maintain tools to plan and track launch progress, enhancing team collaboration and agility.

Qualifications and Skills:

Education: BA/BS degree required; Master's degree or PMP certification preferred
Experience: 12-14 years in pharma/biotech drug development or commercial in strategic or tactical roles supporting launch readiness, with 5 years in project/program management preferred.
Technical Skills: Proficient with MS Office Suite, Teams, and project management software
Industry Knowledge: Understanding of pharmaceutical development, regulatory requirements and commercial launch excellence
Cross-Functional Knowledge: Understanding of essential global launch activities across key areas in cross-functional program team
Organizational Skills: Exceptional planning and organizational abilities to manage competing priorities
Agility: Self-motivated and adaptable professional, capable of handling multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with minimal oversight
Risk Management: Proactive in identifying risks, proposing solutions, and delivering mitigation plans
Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to provide context, articulate views, drive clarity, and address barriers. Excellent facilitation skills
Decision-Making: Ability to drive value-based decisions within a cross-functional, cross-cultural, global team structure

Preferred Qualifications:

Leadership: Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships
Influence: Ability to inspire and influence in a matrix environment to maximize launch success and address barriers
Digital Tools: Experience with implementing digital collaboration tools, project management and use of AI
Languages: Multilingual capabilities
Global Experience: Experience with global launches

Working Conditions:

Environment: Fast-paced with a large stakeholder base spanning countries and functions
Travel: Domestic and international travel may be required
Hours: Flexible working hours to accommodate global time zones
On-Site: Minimum in-person days per month required to enhance team collaboration

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:

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$174,500.00 - $274,230.00

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

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

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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During my 20-year journey here, I’ve been fully supported by my colleagues, and I can’t say enough about our rich internal talent and the long-standing values that drive our decisions as we work to develop important medicines for the patients we serve.

Doug Coffman - Head, R&D Asset Transition & Integration Office, R&D Regional & Business Operations

When making any type of decision, the first thing we ask is 'how will this impact patients?’ Ultimately, we’re laser focused on the best interests of the patient, and I truly believe we follow through on that.

Meredith Culp - VP, Head of Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Strategy & Operations and Head of Global Development Integration Office

Alison Handley, Head, Center for External Innovation

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