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Director, Product Pod Lead

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

Within Takeda’s Data Sciences Institute, we harness the insight of data and digital to speed the development of new medicines to patients. The Data Sciences Institute (DSI) is primarily focused on getting medicines to patients faster through innovation and efficiencies driven by data and analytics.

We nurture a culture that encourages disciplined risk-taking, supports innovation, values diversity and emphasizes implementation.

We want to hire and develop the best talent to join us on our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine!

Job ID R0164311 Date posted 10/14/2025 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

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

The Product Pod Lead is a senior technology and product leader responsible for defining and executing the vision, strategy, and delivery of technology solutions that enable global R&D, Regulatory, or Global Development functions.


This role owns a portfolio of platforms and products—such as Regulatory Information Management (RIM), Clinical Operational, Clinical Data Products, and supporting integrations—and drives innovation to accelerate regulatory submissions, ensure compliance, and enhance operational efficiency  This role will coordinate with Business Systems Owners to identify value and business cases at the portfolio/pod level.

Product Strategy and Vision: Develops and conveys portfolio level strategy and vision in collaboration with stakeholders, aligning with business goals and technology directions. Maintains and communicates the integrated portfolio product roadmap to ensure team alignment and delivery of value.  

  • AI Native – Consistently challenge how processes and therefore products can evolve to exploit AI and drive towards the workforce and products of the future.  

  • Oversee a portfolio of products and services with end-to-end accountability for vision, backlog, budget, and lifecycle management, in collaboration with their product managers.

  • Establish portfolio KPIs, success metrics, and performance dashboards to track value delivery.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Drive platform rationalization, data quality, and master data management strategies across Regulatory and Development functions.

  • Lead cross-functional product teams (product managers, solution architects, engineers, data stewards, and external vendors) using Agile or hybrid methodologies.

  • Oversee system implementation, integration, and enhancement projects ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to quality standards.

  • Ensure all systems meet regulatory requirements (21 CFR Part 11, GAMP 5, GDPR, FDA/EMA guidelines).

  • Manage and mentor a team of senior product managers, business analysts, and technical leads.

  • Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, encouraging professional development and cross-functional learning

  • Lead strategic vendor relationships within the portfolio, as applicable

CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE:

  • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate regulatory and R&D business needs into technology capabilities.

  • Inspires trust and collaboration across business and IT teams.

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

  • Strong knowledge of data governance, master data management, and regulatory compliance.

  •  Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills at the senior executive level.

  •  Demonstrated success in Agile product management, technology strategy, and vendor management.

  •  Experience with cloud-based platforms (Veeva, Salesforce, AWS, Azure) and emerging technologies such as AI, NLP, and process automation.

Leadership:

  • Collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Business System Owners and key business stakeholders, Solution Architecture and other stakeholders on a Ecosystem of Products, Platforms, Analytics and Microservices to give Takeda a modern footprint. 

  • Collaborate with the broader product management and enterprise on transformational initiatives

Decision-making and Autonomy:

  • Ability to evaluate and recommend the right technology platforms and software products to solve business problems. 

Interaction:

  • Embeds with product teams as needed to ensure full transparency and no surprises, keeping product stakeholders up to date with the latest on delivery status, product risks and scope changes.

  • Reconciles perspectives on portfolio strategy and priorities into a consensus that all stakeholders can support

Innovation:

  • Stay on top of new trends in the industry and understand how these new technologies may be applied to the product roadmap.

Complexity:

  • Is effective at conveying the portfolio vision and other messages requiring action, in a way that brings people on board with the vision and builds their enthusiasm about fulfilling it

  • When required to evangelize the vision into target communities or ecosystems, is effective in representing the product or platform within that community in a way that ensures all ecosystem partners feel heard, and well-served by the product vision.

  • Strong executive level presence and communications

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Life Sciences, or related field (Master’s preferred).

  • 10+ years of IT leadership experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or regulated life sciences industry.

  • Minimum of 8 years of people leadership experience leading a medium to large organization and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders

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

  • Ability to set priorities, deliver on deadlines and develop workflow processes and tasks in an evolving, dynamic marketplace. 

  • Strong analytical skills and budget management.

  • Previous organizational change management experience

  • Ability to demonstrate strategic and critical thinking, as well as problem solving skills

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

  • Deep expertise in Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Development, and R&D technology ecosystems (e.g., Veeva Vault RIM, CTMS, eTMF, QMS, IDMP, product master data).

  • Proven track record of managing multi-million-dollar technology portfolios and delivering complex global programs.

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-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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Where you fit in

When you join our Data Sciences Institute team, you’ll connect with a diverse and talented group of scientists, engineers and analysts. Together, you’ll define cutting-edge algorithms, conduct pharmacology-based modeling and explore new approaches to data services. In a collaborative environment marked by strong, open and honest leadership, you’ll take charge of your professional advancement as you work on important projects that grow your skills and lead to ongoing opportunities.

A career within the Data Sciences Institute at Takeda will give you everything you need to succeed professionally. You’ll see up close that what you do with information and insight has the power to impact the lives of patients — today and for generations to come. Working here, you’ll understand that our people-first perspective extends beyond patients to include our Takeda team, our families and the communities where we all work and live.

  • Work with various data sources

  • Apply a breadth of methodologies

  • Develop analysis pipelines

  • Design studies

We’re using the newest technology and methods, like wearable devices and machine learning, to better understand the health of patients participating in our trials.
headshot of ariel dowing

Ariel Dowling - Head, Sensing & Measurement, Digital Health Sciences

The energy, professionalism and commitment that I experienced in every encounter, starting from the interview process, to meeting with the hiring manager, through to receiving an offer, left me feeling a certain level of consistency and thoughtfulness. That made me really feel enthusiastic.
headshot of brian johnson

Brian Johnson - Head, R&D Technology, Data Sciences Institute

Being able to predictably deliver on our portfolio priorities is where we have laser-focus each and every day. By doing this, we keep our eye on the prize of bringing new medicines to patients, and show the value that these treatments can bring to their lives.
headshot of simon davies

Simon Davies - Head of R&D Data & Quantitative Sciences

How you'll shine

Many talents one goal

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 2025.
  • 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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