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Associate Director, External Scientific Engagement Lead, GMAO

Boston, Massachusetts
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At Takeda Oncology, we aspire to cure cancer, with inspiration from patients and innovation from everywhere. We value employees with diverse perspectives and backgrounds. As a member of our team, you would bring your unique perspective to help us achieve our aspiration and help us demonstrate our commitment to patients on a daily basis.

We ensure a tight connection from research to development to commercialization to rapidly meet the needs of the cancer community, optimizing our ability to bring transformative medicines to patients. Our demonstrated leadership in the treatment of hematologic cancers and solid tumors, combined with cutting-edge science through multiple platforms, partnerships and therapeutic approaches, enable us to bring novel medicines to patients worldwide.

At Takeda, you will have access to the resources of a company with over 200 years of heritage, a diverse and robust pipeline, a values-driven culture and career development opportunities.

Job ID R0170921 Date posted 01/27/2026 Location Boston, Massachusetts

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.

Job Description

Role Objectives:

  • The Associate Director, External Scientific Engagement Lead will be responsible for developing medical and scientific engagement strategies and implementation of plans for engagement with prioritized professional organizations, medical societies, and KOLs.

  • The role will be responsible for overseeing the rollout of the new HCP engagement tool.

  • As a member of the Medical Excellence, Training & Outreach team, the External Scientific Engagement Lead will partner with the Congress Strategy Lead and with the Independent Medical Education and Grants Lead to develop an overarching strategy and ways of working for external engagements.

  • This role will partner with global medical teams to identify and prioritize external engagements across the portfolio, and with Ethics & Compliance (E&C) to ensure agile and compliant execution of activities.

Accountabilities:

  • Initiate and lead the development of a cross-portfolio external engagement strategy and related tactics for prioritized external organizations and HCPs, aligned across Global Medical Affairs Oncology, Commercial, Patient Value, Policy & Access, R&D, Corporate Communications & Advocacy, Health Equity and Patient Affairs, and with other key cross-functional/ex-Oncology partners as needed to ensure a one Takeda approach to external engagement strategy, objectives, and execution.

  • Identify, create, and sustain medical and scientific relationships with prioritized external organizations and HCPs.

  • Acquire, assess, and use knowledge of/insights into healthcare trends, and partner with GMAO colleagues for expertise in cross-portfolio disease states and clinical treatment landscapes to help shape the external medical/scientific environment through strategy, external engagement, and partnerships with prioritized external organizations and HCPs.

  • Identify and influence partnership opportunities, and ensure internal Takeda alignment and coordination of Takeda subject matter experts with these external stakeholders.

  • Partner with GMAO and cross-functional teams to ensure clear points of contact with each external organization and coordination of engagement.

  • Define and measure the impact of Takeda external scientific engagement, and partner with key internal stakeholders to communicate and share partnership updates and insights within Takeda and externally as appropriate.

  • Oversee planning and implementation of the KOL engagement process, and collaborate with cross-functional global teams to identify, develop, and lead impactful KOL engagement activities that support the strategic imperatives of the oncology portfolio, and with optimal utilization of internal tools and systems.

  • Collaborate with Legal, Ethics & Compliance, and other key stakeholders to ensure all activities are conducted in a compliant manner with Takeda’s policies, procedures, and standards, and with local regulatory/legal requirements.

  • Become knowledgeable about Takeda Oncology strategy.

Education, Behavioral Competencies, and Skills
Required:

  • Doctoral degree (PhD, PharmD) in a scientific discipline with a minimum of 5 years of healthcare or related experience, inclusive of 3+ years of experience with the development and maintenance of external scientific/medical relationships, within medical affairs in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry or within a medical communications agency

  • Master’s degree in a scientific discipline with a minimum of 8 years of healthcare or related experience, inclusive of 6+ years of experience with the development and maintenance of external scientific/medical relationships, within medical affairs in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry or within a medical communications agency.

  • Proven leadership/relationship-building skills, strategic problem-solving ability, ability to foster teamwork, drive decision-making, and manage change in a complex, cross-functional, cross-cultural, global team environment.

  • Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for medical engagement and develop a set of strategic medical engagement goals.

  • Strong understanding of pharmaceutical guidelines and regulations.

  • Highly effective written and verbal communications skills.

Preferred Experience:

  • Experience in managing external scientific relationships with major organizations and global key opinion leaders.

  • Experience in medical affairs, medical education, scientific/educational granting, or related experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Experience overseeing and managing budgets, projects, and vendors to ensure performance versus targets.

  • Experience with oncology, with broad product/disease area knowledge.

  • Experience using diplomacy, influence, and negotiation to secure positive outcomes.

Travel Requirements:

  • Ability to travel up to 25% per year including international travel.


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:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$168,700.00 - $265,100.00


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-term incentives. 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

Boston, MA

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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