Associate Director, High-Performance Computing

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Job Description

This role is responsible for the architecture, implementation and management of high-performance computing platforms within the Takeda portfolio and is responsible for the day-to-day development and alignment of delivery to the strategic vision. This role is also focused on understanding and introducing emerging technology that will transform the way we engineer and deliver computing resources through cloud technology and platforms. Responsibilities of this role include the architecture, delivery, and communicating progress to stakeholders.

As a recognized expert within your business or function, you possess comprehensive expertise in high-performance computing and AWS architecture, with broad knowledge across related areas. You excel at anticipating internal/external challenges, recommending improvements, and providing leadership and consultative expertise in HPC across the business, regions, or functions. Your role involves shaping company policies, solving unique, far-reaching problems affecting operations, disciplines, or other business units/functional areas/regions. You frequently interact with equivalent-level managers and customer representatives, conducting briefings and technical meetings. Operating independently, you provide guidance in the most complex situations, lead functional teams or projects, and serve as a best practice/quality resource for scientific computing initiatives.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Architect and implement scalable high-performance computing (HPC) solutions on AWS for computational chemistry, molecular dynamics, and large-scale genomics workflows.

• Lead the planning, execution, and integration of HPC projects, ensuring timely, within-budget delivery and alignment with enterprise systems.

• Partner with strategy, architecture, and business teams to analyze requirements, identify opportunities, and drive technology enhancements in scientific computing.

• Guide the implementation, enhancement, and ongoing maintenance of HPC platforms, guiding support to maximize uptime and reliability.

• Drive experimentation and proof-of-concept initiatives to explore innovative features, automation techniques, and platform enhancements.

• Provide leadership for evaluating and recommending advanced frameworks, platforms, and tools for HPC solutions.

• Create reference architectures, documentation, guides, and training materials for HPC on AWS cloud infrastructure

• Establish requirements of management processes to identify, verify, and document business, functional, and technical requirements to support robust, technology-led solutions.

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

• Deep expertise in architecting cloud-based high-performance computing resources using AWS ParallelCluster, AWS Batch, AWS Healthomics

• Hands-on experience deploying and optimizing cloud storage solutions using Amazon S3, EFS, FSx for Lustre for high-throughput data access

• Extensive expertise in Linux system administration, HPC schedulers (SLURM), and parallel computing technologies (MPI, OpenMP)

• Strong proficiency with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform and Cloudformation

• Experienced with multi-account AWS environments and CI/CD workflows for IaC deployments

• Applies strategic planning techniques to align HPC projects with business objectives, capable of guiding teams in complex, large-scale scenarios.

• Experienced in monitoring, optimizing, and scaling compute resources to ensure robustness, high performance, and reliability for large data workloads.

• Effective in managing relationships with stakeholders at all levels, ensuring clear communication and alignment on data-centric goals and strategies.

• Capable of working across functional boundaries to promote teamwork and achieve shared objectives in computing initiatives.

• Experienced in fostering an environment of collaboration, accountability, and innovation in data-driven projects.

• Proficient in overseeing large-scale HPC projects from inception to completion, ensuring delivery within budget and timeline constraints.

• Manages and oversees integrations of data systems, ensuring seamless connectivity and high functionality across platforms.

• Innovative thinker, able to apply creative and cutting-edge solutions to cloud computing challenges.

• Strong business acumen, including mapping emerging computing technologies to business priorities while understanding cost-benefit trade-offs.

• Skilled in technical communication, adept at simplifying complex computing concepts for non-technical stakeholders.

• Exceptional writing skills, setting standards for technical documentation and coaching others to ensure consistency.

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures

• Functional level leadership with the ability to inspire, motivate and drive results

• Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, verbally and in writing

• Proven skills as an effective team player who can engender credibility and confidence within and outside the company

• Ability to distil complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms

• Demonstrates leadership presence and confidence

• Embraces and demonstrates a diversity and inclusion mindset and role models these behaviors for the organization

• Invests time in helping others to enhance their skills and perform at a higher level

Decision-making and Autonomy:

• Decision making responsibilities:  Provide input to highly complex decisions that impact the functional area. Accountable for decision making for designated function. Ability to seek diverse input from multiple constituents and stakeholders to drive innovative solutions. Ability to incorporate feedback and ensure decisions are implemented swiftly to yield flawless execution 

• Accountable for providing input to and implementing vision and strategy for designated scope

Interaction:

• Effectively navigates the changing external and internal environment and leads others through change by creating and inspiring and engaging workplace

• Cultivates a broad network of relationships throughout Takeda, with affiliates and external partners, in the industry and area of expertise.

• Effectively represents function in negotiations with the ability to resolve conflict in a constructive manner

• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with other interfacing Takeda functions

Innovation:

• Forward thinking with the ability to recommend, influence and implement organizational change and continuous innovation

• Comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions

• Ability to take risks implementing innovative solutions, accelerating time to market

• Identifies opportunities and anticipates changes in the business landscape through an understanding and ongoing assessment of the environment affecting the business.

• Role models respect and inclusion, creating a culture that fosters innovation

Complexity:

• Ability to work in a global ecosystem (internal and external) with a high degree of complexity

• Deep expertise required

• Ability to see and understand broader, enterprise level perspective 

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• A Bachelor's Degree (Computer Science, Computational Science or equivalent) or a Master’s Degree

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in a technology-focused role developing and deploying technology and process change, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.

• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion in a timely and efficient manner.

• Recognized for meticulous attention to detail, enhancing quality and precision across projects.

• Direct experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related field required

• Previous experience leading a medium to large organization and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders is a plus

• Proven track record of leading and driving business process transformation and organizational culture change as well as delivering on programs with complex business deliverables

• Track record of successful leadership, management, and development of large, multi-disciplinary globally dispersed teams. Strong judge of talent with the ability to make tough talent decisions.

• Health care business acumen with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry

This position is currently classified as "hybrid" in accordance with Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

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:

$153,600.00 - $241,340.00

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.