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PDT Commercial Lead (Associate Director)

Rome, Latium
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The Europe & Canada (EUCAN) Business unit supports Takeda's mission at a regional level and as the leader in rare diseases and specialty care, we champion better health and a brighter future for patients, healthcare providers and our people.

Across the EUCAN BU, patients come first in every decision we make. We develop strategic partnerships which deliver value for society and create a culture within which our people can thrive and reach their full potential.

Our mission is to empower and enable our people to fulfill their potential by embracing diversity and creating a high-performance, collaborative working environment. In the EUCAN region integrity is one of our key values. We put patients, trust and reputation before business and this is one of the main reasons why our people choose to work here.

Job ID R0164078 Date posted 09/30/2025 Location Rome, Latium

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Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity as Commercial Lead PDT for our Rare Business Unit in Italy. In this role office-based role, you will be responsible to design and plan all business activities for our PDT Business at LOC level. The successful candidate will drive execution & performance of our PDT portfolio, its brand plan and achievement of commercial targets, including tracking for defined KPIS and cross functional team accountability. As Commercial Lead PDT you will develop and execute the commercial strategy by conducting and executing tailored marketing programs and commercial activities to maximize growth as well as launch a new neurological indication (CIDP) for HyQvia.

ROLE OBJECTIVE

  • Lead PDT cross functional team setting accountability and monitoring progress of key activities.

  • Liaise with all Rare BU, leveraging internal capabilities and knowledge. Identify synergies within PDT assigned portfolio and with other BUs and functions.

  • Work with all cross functional departments, ensure forecast accuracy, top class delivery service as well as optimal Patient Service approach.

  • Lead Marketing and Sales Teams focusing on different territory dynamics and developing a clear strategy to differentiate our products.

  • Deliver a superior patient experience, exceed expectations of key customers and become best-in-class in PDT Area.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Supervise and monitor Integrated Brand Team activities and budget ensuring proper allocation of resources among products and functions, respectful of budget constraints.

  • Enhance objectives with focus on predictive analytics, omnichannel orchestration, and responsible AI governance.

  • Supervise and challenge sales forecasts and sales targets ensuring a constant monitoring.

  • Develop PDT portfolio analysis collecting insights and recommendations, for all Takeda Italia internal PDT stakeholders (e.g. Rare BU Head, Italian Leadership Team).

  • Maintain and reinforce valuable relationships with key customers, KOLs, and scientific societies as well as with Industry associations.

  • In collaboration with Data & Analytics team understand market trends in the PDT environment, Government regulations and dynamics and national PDT strategies and patterns, in order to deliver accurate forecasting to guarantee the right plasma allocation for the need of the Country.

  • Design and review the field force structure, encourage integration with other business functions to improve collaboration.

  • Continuously monitor field activities and partner with direct reports or other team members, to ensure goals and objectives are met in a customer-focused, compliant, sustained and scalable manner.

  • Motivate Teams to excel by leveraging personal strengths and coaching to improve areas for development.

  • Work closely with the Medical Team and the L&D Department to design, build and deploy role-based training & development to guarantee an optimal preparation.

  • Together with the HRBL and Incentive Compensation teams of DD&T department, design and recommend performance plans consistent with Takeda’s Policy on Field Incentive Compensation and manage teams in relation to those plans and periodically- determined goals.

  • Ensure recommendations, communications and decisions are only made in manners consistent with Takeda policies - The PDT Commercial Lead is not only accountable for his/her own compliance but also for the compliance of all individuals in his/her team and leads the way by example, demonstrating full knowledge and commitment to all applicable policies, monitoring adherence to Takeda policies and guidelines.

  • Participate in key customer congresses and events for latest research updates, interact with KOLs/HCPs.

  • Drive cross-functional key account management (KAM) process and follow up at regular intervals.

  • Manage the assigned team of employees to keep high motivation and assure their professional development in line with the company policy.

  • Implement KPI framework (forecast accuracy, plasma allocation, market share, tender win rate, omnichannel engagement quality)

  • Drive predictive forecasting and scenario planning

  • Ensure CRM excellence and data quality

  • Lead change management and ethical AI governance

SKILLS and CAPABILITIES

  • Education and experience:

  • Full proficiency in Italian and English is mandatory.

  • University degree (science, chemistry, pharmacy, management engineering).

  • Previous experience in the pharmaceutical and/or healthcare sector (min 10 years) in a highly regulated industry, trade association, consultancy or related organization/field.

  • Previous experience to manage Sales team (min 2 years) is mandatory.

  • Marketing experience is mandatory (min 2 years) in complex Therapeutic areas (PDT preferred, or ATMP )

  • Operation management expertise in complex pharmaceutical business to guarantee efficiency and forecast accuracy is preferred.

  • Digital/AI fluency (analytics, visualization, CRM AI-enabled, marketing automation)

  • Data governance and GDPR compliance

  • Adaptive leadership, data storytelling, experimental mindset

  • Ethical AI principles

Technical Expertise:

  • Knowledge of the Plasma and Blood Derivatives sector with specific knowledge of the Plasma Regional Health Care Systems is preferred. Include platforms: IQVIA, BI tools (Power BI, Tableau), marketing automation, adaptive learning systems, change management frameworks (Prosci/Kotter).Experience with the Italian/Regional Health Care System tender process is preferred.

  • Good knowledge of the Italian transfusion System.

  • High professional standing in managing high level relationships including Public Organizations.

Other skills:

  • Personal drive - intrinsically motivated, with high ethical standards.

  • Passionate for challenging goals and excellence, thinks broadly.Fast learner, demonstrates high levels of self-awareness and proactively seek personal development.      

  • Demonstrates a ‘can-do’ attitude striving to find solutions to problems.

  • Strong team player, able to work in cross functional teams.

  • Able to work independently and under pressure, with strong time management skills.

  • Active listener, courageous, empathetic and sensitive.

Physical & Travel Demands:

  • Ability to drive or fly to attend meetings, audits and training.

  • Willingness to travel, being away from home.

  • Valid and clean driver’s license.

AI-AUGMANTABLE VS HUMAN-CENTRIC RESPONISIBILITIES

In alignment with future competencies and digital transformation strategies, the following analysis outlines which activities within the Commercial Lead PDT role could be supported or automated by AI agents, and which remains fundamentally human-centric.

AI-Augmentable Responsibilities

  • Sales forecasting and performance tracking using predictive analytics.

  • Portfolio analysis and insight generation through data mining and visualization tools.

  • Monitoring market trends and regulatory changes via automated data feeds.

  • Customer segmentation and CRM optimization using AI-driven platforms.

  • Designing and deploying personalized training programs through adaptive learning systems.

  • Managing incentive compensation plans using algorithmic performance models.

Human-Centric Responsibilities

  • Strategic leadership and cross-functional team alignment.

  • Motivating and coaching teams with empathy and emotional intelligence.

  • Talent Strategy and Capability Building: Include a clear talent strategy focused on reskilling and upskilling for digital fluency, AI literacy, and cross-functional collaboration. Promote a culture of experimentation, continuous learning, and ethical AI adoption

  • Building and maintaining high-level relationships with key stakeholders and KOLs.

  • Representing the company at congresses and events with professional presence.

  • Making ethical decisions and ensuring compliance with company policies.

  • Driving innovation and differentiation through creative marketing strategies.

  • Content sequencing in omnichannel campaigns with human oversight

Locations

Rome, Italy

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time
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Success profile

What makes a successful team member within EUCAN at Takeda?

  • Agile
  • Analytical
  • Enthusiastic
  • Ambitious
  • Collaborative
  • Entrepreneurial
Believe in your own ability to do things you want to do. If you do that, things will happen.

Heena Howitt - Country Medical Lead Genetic Diseases

  • Global Top Employer 2025 Takeda named Global Top Employer for eighth consecutive year.
  • About Takeda At Takeda, there is an unwavering commitment to putting patients first, and to creating a workplace that is underpinned by empowerment and focused on diversity, collaboration and steadfast values.
  • Europe & Canada Business Unit Takeda in Europe and Canada (EUCAN) is delivering leading innovations in oncology, gastroenterology and rare diseases to provide better health and a brighter future for patients.

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