Job Posting

Manager, Site Start Up

Zurich, Canton of Zurich

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Job Type: Full Time
Job Level: Senior
Travel: Minimal

At Takeda, we exist to create better health for people and a brighter future for the world. While we continually evolve science and technology, our ambition remains steadfast — we move science forward so we can transform more lives. The Global Development Organization (GDO) maintains a laser focus on Study Management and Site Engagement, Clinical Trial Innovation, Clinical Supply Chain and Patient Safety to ensure absolute quality and enable the predictable delivery of our innovative pipeline.

Through its collaborative process, the GDO team leverages data, digital and analytics to improve speed, quality, performance and predictability within every area of clinical development. We’re building a platform to visualize operational data and enable predictive analytics, while leveraging digital technologies to support clinical supply chain and patient safety. GDO also partners with external organizations and leading academic institutions, such as MIT, to spark innovation in AI and Machine Learning focused on better patient outcomes.

At the heart of GDO are our people: we are committed to building a more diverse, equitable and inclusive culture not only within our own walls and our communities, but also across our clinical trials. It is our passion for people that transforms our work into meaningful action. Come join a team that has earned trust for more than two centuries and advances transformative therapies with honesty, integrity and fairness.

Job ID R0145802 Date posted 03/10/2025 Location Zurich, Canton of Zurich

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Job Description

The Clinical Study Startup, Manager oversees and manages the initiation phase of clinical studies. You will ensure that all startup activities are completed efficiently and in compliance with regulatory requirements, contributing to the successful execution of clinical trials.

Objective / Purpose:

The site start up manager defines, develops and delivers the global site start up plan.
Oversee the analysis of clinical trial data and its application to conduct accurate study start up forecasts.
Drive rapid, accurate, and data-driven study start up forecasts, benchmarking assumptions, scenarios and accurate planning.
Develop creative processes, methodologies, data and technologies to ensure ongoing delivery of valued Site Start Up Services.

Accountabilities:

Establish, develop and deliver the Global Site Start Up Plan.
Partner with Clinical Operations teams, and TAU partners to improve overall site start up metrics and implement processes.
Provide guidance, oversight, and training to the Site Start Up team, delivering activities to support Clinical Programs, including data and methodologies for protocol study start up, country and site selection, study start up planning, and modeling.
Ensure standards are applied to the study start up process across project portfolios and support continuous improvement activities while developing TA-aligned strategies.
Guide the collection and analysis of all data to influence site start up timelines.
Leverage leading industry tools and data sources to provide data on start up timelines and performance (data quality, start up cycle time) to assist project teams with site initiation timeline forecasting.
Agree to deliverables on a site-level basis with the SSU team and monitor adherence to these. Promptly recognize and improve potential delays and escalate non-performance.
Lead the site start up team, using the appropriate team members to help implement the Site Start Up Plan.
Drive delivery of all Takeda and CRO supported sites that are "Ready To Enroll"
Resolve escalated issues identified by the site start up team in partnership with the Study Manager

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

BS degree or international equivalent in a life science.
4 or more years of experience in Clinical Operations, Project Management, site start up, and trial optimization with evidence of increasing responsibility within a pharmaceutical company, CRO or relevant industry vendor.
At least 2 years of direct responsibility in site activation and managing the site start up processes of clinical research studies at a sponsor or CRO.
Proficiency with software models and database structures.
Global SSU experience preferred
Ability to explain data, facilitate decision making processes to be data driven.
Expertise in principles driving country/site start up and study start up strategies.
Please submit your CV, motivation letter, copies of your diplomas, and any reference letters.

Locations

Zurich, Switzerland

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

80-100%

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Where you fit in

As a member of GDO, you will play an important role in bringing forward our rich pipeline of life-changing products to help patients. You will find enriching engagement and a mindset of continuous improvement through creativity, innovation and diversity.

We are a global organization present in the U.S., Europe and Asia with colleagues located in several additional countries to strategically support our business needs. But our people, and the culture they build, are the foundation that sets GDO apart. Our belief in putting people first extends beyond patients. It includes their families and communities, and also our Takeda colleagues and our families.

Working closely with GDO colleagues and key stakeholders across R&D, you will leverage our new operating model and innovative technologies to accelerate the development of our current and future portfolio to bring medicines to patients faster.

Advance clinical research
Deliver clinical analytics and study insights using innovative technologies to improve trial accessibility and patient centricity
Enable end-to-end management of clinical supply
Ensure safety management and inspection readiness

One of the main reasons I came to Takeda is because of the people I would be working for.We all use PTRB as our North Star. I think that makes it easier to delegate decisions and empower each level of the organization to contribute in a meaningful way.

Marisa Rackley - Head, Clinical Site Startup & Engagement, Global Development Office

It’s leveraging technology, it’s leveraging data in a very different way. It’s not just about using the data that we generate, but using real world data and having access to a much more holistic set of data in order to drive the way we work and deliver medicines to patients.

Penny Carlson - Head, Global Clinical Development Operations

The heart of our work

Shining a light on new perspectives

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.