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Director, Development ADME Lead

Boston, Massachusetts
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  • Job Level: Senior
  • Travel: Minimal (if any)

At Takeda, we strive to provide transformational opportunities for every member of our team, and we empower our people to take charge of their futures. In an environment that fosters lifelong learning and a growth mindset, you’ll have the support you need to thrive — at work and beyond.

Job ID R0154624 Date posted 06/10/2025 Location Boston, Massachusetts

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Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

The ADME Sciences team at Takeda plays a critical role within the global DMPK&M organization, integrating deep scientific expertise across enzymology and transporters, biotransformation, and biodistribution areas. Together, these functions shape and drive ADME strategies across all stages of drug discovery and development. We are seeking a Development ADME Lead to provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership across Takeda’s development-stage ADME portfolio. This role is pivotal in advancing programs through thoughtful design, oversight, and execution of ADME strategies, while maximizing the efficiency of internal capabilities and external partnerships. 

  • Provide strategic direction and scientific leadership for development ADME activities from candidate nomination through IND-enabling studies and regulatory submissions (e.g., IND, NDA, BLA).
  • Serve as the primary point of accountability for outsourced development ADME deliverables, including in vitro ADME, biotransformation, and biodistribution studies.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives by optimizing development ADME processes and promoting scalable, agile, and sustainable operations.
  • Strengthen global ADME collaboration by implementing effective communication strategies and fostering alignment across geographically distributed teams.

Accountabilities:

  • Define and lead the external innovation strategy for ADME Sciences. Oversee scientific and operational aspects of external partnerships and CRO collaborations to support early- and late-stage development projects.
  • Serve as subject matter expert for development ADME in regulatory submissions, guiding protocol development, troubleshooting studies, reviewing data, directing report generation, and managing timelines.
  • Collaborate with internal ADME scientists and DMPK project representatives to enhance global ADME infrastructure, streamline reporting workflows, and improve timeline management.
  • Partner with DMPK representatives to prepare and refine ADME sections of regulatory submissions, ensuring clarity, scientific rigor, and compliance with global regulatory standards.
  • Manage development ADME resources efficiently to support global ADME objectives and optimize the balance between internal and external capabilities.
  • Develop tools and frameworks to enhance global collaboration, ensuring alignment and seamless communication between Takeda’s global ADME teams (e.g., TBOS and TSHO).

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

Education Background

  • Bachelor’s degree with 18+ years of DMPK experience, specializing in development ADME, with a primary focus on CRO management and direct CRO work; MS with 16+ years of experience; or PhD with 10+ years of experience.

Technical Expertise

  • 10+ years of hands-on experience in in vitro development ADME, including report writing for regulatory submissions.
  • 10+ years managing preclinical and clinical mass balance and biotransformation studies, with a strong regulatory track record.
  • 5+ years of direct regulatory submission experience for DMPK sections (IND, NDA, BLA) with a proven track record of success on multiple approved small molecules and biologics. Advanced knowledge of regulatory guidance for industry applicable to the design and analysis of ADME studies.
  • 5+ years managing and conducting preclinical PK/TK studies including NCA analysis and authoring corresponding reports.
  • 5+ years of direct experience in regulatory filing with cross-functional interfaces including key partners such as Research, Drug Safety, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Medical Writings.

Project and People Management

  • 10+ years of project management and coordination experience, demonstrating the ability to drive complex initiatives to completion.
  • 5+ years of people management experience including direct supervision of a subfunctional ADME or other DMPK teams.

Analytical and Communication Skills

  • Strong analytical abilities to interpret complex data and present findings clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to multitask, prioritize, and execute efficiently in dynamic environments.
  • Executive presence and excellent communication skills, with a collaborative and solution-oriented mindset.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement

  • Proven ability to lead innovation initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and impact of internal and external ADME and DMPK operations.

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:

$174,500.00 - $274,230.00

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-termincentives. 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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Where you fit in

Our team at Takeda is tackling some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. As the newest member of our Research team, you’ll conduct purposeful, meaningful work on groundbreaking modalities that may lead to breakthrough drugs.

With our deep investment in next-generation technologies, you’ll have the resources and support to do your best work. As a part of our team, you’ll connect with brilliant minds inside and outside of Takeda. We are committed to collaborating with academia and emerging biotech companies to expand our reach and impact in cell therapy, gene therapy and data sciences.

Our team’s wide-ranging expertise includes medicinal chemistry, genomics datasets, immunofluorescence, high content imaging, flow cytometry, transcriptional profiling, multi-step synthesis, multimodal genetics, pharmacokinetics and much more. Whatever area inspires you, your work will support the progression of an innovative, industry-leading discovery pipeline and make an impact that matters to patients and society.

A career in Research at Takeda will give you everything you need to succeed professionally — and make a difference to patients, people and the planet.

  • Design and carry out experiments

  • Manage multiple projects

  • Document data

  • Mentor other scientists

Along with incredibly passionate colleagues, there’s a clear commitment to invest in the best facilities and the right equipment needed to successfully perform world-class science.

Christina Alves - Head of Biotherapeutics Process Development

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.

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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.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

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About our location

Boston, Massachusetts


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