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Medical Therapy Area Lead – GI/HAE, East Gulf & Levant

Dubai
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  • Job Type: Full Time
  • 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 R0162913 Date posted 09/15/2025 Location Dubai

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Job Description

About the Role

The Medical Therapy Area Lead is the most senior role on the Medical Affairs team and reports directly into the country Medical Head. The TA Lead is responsible for developing and executing Medical Affairs strategies for the East Gulf and Levant cluster in the Gastroenterology and Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) therapeutic areas. This role plays a pivotal part in shaping and implementing strategic medical plans that support Takeda’s mission of delivering better health and a brighter future. Success will depend on strong cross-functional collaboration with Commercial teams, alignment with Area and Regional Medical functions, and building trusted partnerships with external stakeholders.

How you will contribute:

Scientific Leadership

  • Craft and execute the medical communication plan. This includes delivering medical education and developing scientific platforms,

  • Earn and maintain credibility through continuous learning, thought leadership, and presence in professional forums

  • Provide strong medical insights to inform clinical research activities and contribute to evidence generation strategies.

Stakeholder engagement

  • Identification & Segmentation: Define specific objectives and determine which stakeholder groups can help achieve them.

  • Segment stakeholders, including KOLs, HCPs, payers, regulators, patient groups, and digital opinion leaders, by their roles and influence level.

  • Conduct mapping exercises to understand each stakeholder’s interests and potential impact.

  • Develop and implement TL engagement programs, particularly in pre-launch and launch phases.

  • Build strong partnerships with healthcare professionals, scientific societies, and patient groups (where applicable).

  • Drive advisory boards, scientific partnerships, and publication strategies to shape treatment pathways and patient care.

  • Support product registration, and formulary inclusion.

  • Ensure robust pre-approval and launch readiness activities in collaboration with Commercial and cross-functional teams.

Organizational Excellence:

  • Approve promotional and non-promotional materials, activity, and engagement requests

  • Establish and maintain a culture of compliance, ensuring adherence to Takeda’s Code of Conduct, local regulations, and industry best practices.

  • Oversee implementation and compliance with Medical Affairs SOPs

  • Ensure timely follow-up, tracking, and reporting of adverse events in accordance with PV standards.

  • Serve as a strategic bridge for aligning priorities across functions

  • Lead Medical Affairs input into Named Patient Programs and early access initiatives.

  • Design and execute regular audits of Medical Affairs processes to ensure compliance and operational excellence.

  • Implement corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as required

  • Use virtual tools: online forums, digital opinion leaders (DOLs), webinars, AI-powered chatbots, and e-learning modules.

  • Adhere to allocated budget and ensure funds are directed toward high-value activities that advance scientific and patient objectives.

Major Challenges

  • Supporting multiple new product launches and indications in a fast-paced environment.

  • Building medical capabilities in new therapeutic areas

  • Ensuring effective cross-functional collaboration and alignment across local, regional, and global teams.

  • Establishing Medical Affairs as strategic business partners across the organization.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Medical advisor level and above

  • Medical degree (PharmD, PhD, or MD or equivalent) required; relevant postgraduate degree (e.g., Master’s degree in a specialty) strongly preferred.

  • Experience in gastroenterology or rare diseases strongly preferred

  • Experience managing multiple countries with diverse healthcare systems, strongly preferred

  • Minimum 10 years’ professional experience, including at least 5–6 years in Medical/Scientific Affairs within a reputable mid- to large-sized organization.

  • Demonstrated experience leading teams, driving medical strategy, and managing stakeholders across complex healthcare environments.

Required Capabilities

  • Strategic thinker with strong innovation and execution capabilities.

  • Proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives under pressure.

  • Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team development skills.

  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building abilities.

  • Goal-oriented, energetic, and resilient.

  • Highly process- and compliance-oriented.

As an expert professional within the organization, you develop innovative solutions to complex problems aligned with organizational objectives. Your work involves addressing intricate issues, requiring in-depth analysis and judgment. You also engage with key contacts outside your expertise area and contribute to the development of new concepts and standards. Operating with considerable autonomy, you serve as a consultant to management and an external spokesperson on major matters, often working independently and leading function teams or projects. Additionally, you play a role in training and mentoring junior staff.

Locations

Dubai, UAE

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time
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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

Our culture and shared values make us like a family here at Takeda. It doesn't feel like work when you're doing something you love with people you love, and when your outcome is really fantastic.

Alison Handley, Head, Center for External Innovation

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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.

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

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