Director, Computational Biology

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Job Description

At Takeda, we are a forward-looking, world-class R&D organization that unlocks innovation and delivers transformative therapies to patients. By focusing R&D efforts on three therapeutic areas and other targeted investments, we push the boundaries of what is possible to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide.

Objective / Purpose:

The Director, Oncology Computational Biology will be a key scientific leader within the Computational Biology and Human Genetics (CBHG) team. This individual will serve as a hands-on expert in cancer genetics/genomics and computational approaches to oncology, driving the discovery and prioritization of novel oncology targets and therapeutic concepts across Takeda’s Oncology portfolio.

The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in cancer biology and human genetics with advanced computational approaches, including statistical genomics, machine learning, and multimodal data integration, to generate rigorous, biologically grounded insights from complex high-dimensional datasets.  The candidate will be fluent in, and bring a vision for, methods for accelerating target discovery through AI.  Working closely with oncology researchers, translational scientists, AI/ML experts, and data scientists, the Director will help shape Takeda’s oncology pipeline through innovative and scientifically robust target identification and validation strategies.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as a scientific leader in cancer genetics/genomics and computational oncology, driving AI/ML-enabled target identification, prioritization, and validation strategies to advance a differentiated oncology discovery portfolio
• Lead the application of advanced computational approaches to oncology target discovery and validation, integrating multimodal datasets to uncover novel biological mechanisms, therapeutic opportunities, biomarkers, and patient stratification hypotheses
• Develop and apply rigorous computational frameworks that integrate genomic, transcriptomic, functional dependency, clinical, proteomic, and other high-dimensional datasets to generate actionable insights supporting oncology target identification and validation
• Establish scalable AI/ML-driven ways of working for oncology target discovery, enabling systematic hypothesis generation, target evaluation, and evidence integration across diverse internal and external data sources
• Partner closely with oncology biology, target validation, translational, and drug discovery teams to ensure computational insights are biologically grounded, experimentally testable, and directly aligned with target validation and portfolio progression activities
• Collaborate with AI/ML, data science, and data engineering teams to build scalable analytical capabilities, reusable workflows, and high-quality oncology data assets that accelerate target discovery and validation across the Oncology Research organization
• Help shape Takeda’s oncology computational and data strategy, identifying opportunities to enhance target discovery and validation capabilities through external collaborations, strategic partnerships, emerging AI technologies, and novel data resources
• Influence scientific and portfolio decisions through clear communication of complex computational, biological, and translational findings to cross-functional teams and senior leadership
• Lead and contribute to complex, multidisciplinary oncology discovery programs in a highly collaborative matrix environment, serving as a key computational driver of oncology target ID/validation efforts

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

• PhD in Computational Biology or a related discipline, plus 10+ track record of scientific innovation and impact
• Recognized expert in cancer genetics/genomics and oncology computational biology
• Expertise in machine learning and complex algorithms required, with experience in AI/LLMs/biological foundation models strongly preferred
• Industry experience supporting oncology target ID
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects in a matrix environment
• Strong organizational skills; ability to set priorities and meet program objectives and timelines
• Strong written and oral communication skills to diverse audiences

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The position will be based in Cambridge, MA.  This position is currently classified as “hybrid” by 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:

$177,000.00 - $278,080.00

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

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.