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Head, Business Development and Licensing - Pharmaceutical Sciences (Director)

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

Takeda has been translating science into breakthrough medicines for 240 years. Every step of the way, our teams have worked together to tackle some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. Today, we’re a driving force behind innovative therapies that make a lasting difference to millions of patients around the world.

In R&D, all of our history and potential comes together in an environment that welcomes diversity of thought and amplifies every voice. Working closely with colleagues, you’ll play a key role in bringing our rich pipeline of products forward to help patients. Come join a team that’s earned trust for more than two centuries, and find out how advancing transformative therapies at Takeda will shape your bright future.

Job ID R0141109 Date posted 05/07/2025 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’sPrivacy Noticeand 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

How you will contribute:

  • Manage the Business Development and Licensing process in Pharmaceutical Sciences including, organizing material for senior leadership review and endorsement, leading a council of senior members in the functions to strategically plan for inbound programs, manage DD teams and hold teams accountable for deliverables along the entire BD process.

  • Lead the confidential review and CMC due diligence assessment process to evaluate potential partnering opportunities, including collaborations, platform technologies, preclinical and clinical stage assets, that are aligned with Takeda's therapeutic areas and global or regional business development strategies

  • Manage and communicate complex business development and diligence subject matter focused on CMC assessments related to the opportunity including the development of a diligence report, risk evaluation and mitigation strategy, governance presentations, and contract review

  • Create and revise processes to ensure high- functioning project management of CMC Business Development & Licensing activities. Process improvements include training and developing a network of Pharm Sci subject matter experts across all teams, modalities and therapeutic areas to support and lead diligence, partnering, in-licensing/out-licensing, divesting, and M&A

Accountabilities:

  • Work with partners and lead teams to guide due diligence assessments , efficient decision-making, and completion of transactions promptly. Report on progress and important risks to senior leadership

  • Form partnerships with the Global and Functional Business Development Teams to promote prioritized partnering opportunities to non-binding and binding term sheets, agreement negotiation, and deal execution stages

  • Communicate business strategies and capabilities internally and externally, present single and team recommendations and promote collaboration

  • Have basic knowledge of business development practices, e.g. basic understanding of legal frameworks such as CDAs, MTAs, NBTS, and agreements, and understanding of deal frameworks, and financial modeling

  • Connect unrelated concepts, obtain insights for informing decision-marking under uncertainty, with limited time, and with imperfect information

  • Lead within area of expertise and help build internal know how to establish best practices and standardized approach for the execution and delivery of evaluation results when called upon for evaluating BD deals and ensuring continuous improvement in their processes and standards

  • Be a role model for Takeda-ism, the Leadership Behaviors and the 4 commitments (PTRB) in everything that is done.

Technical/Functional Expertise:

  • Experience in Pharmaceutical CMC Development

  • Experience with the full drug development process across modalities (biologics, small molecule, plasma derived therapy, gene therapy, and cell therapy)

  • Understanding of deal structure; financial input to business cases including COGS, CapEx, and Opex estimates

  • Experience managing, and negotiating contracts agreements

  • Experience in Business development in the Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology industry

  • Commitment to creating/developing efficient processes and contributing to a high-performing team

  • Work collaboratively, has a high degree of planning, coordination, and project management skills


Leadership:

  • Focus on team work, collaboration, and driving results

  • Inspire and building trust

  • Develop partnerships with all partners


Decision-making and Autonomy:

  • Ensure a culture of teamwork and cooperation where it is self-evident to talk openly about necessity of change, to bring new solutions and to stand for their implementation all together


Interaction:

  • Experienced in working in an intercultural / global teams

  • Provide effective feedback, ensuring that joint leaning occurs; act as a leader in an encouraging way by balancing both support and demand

  • Structured in communication and presentation to senior management and external partners

  • Close collaboration and understanding of all components of a CMC team (PS/GMS/GQ) and Takeda ways of working within a Global Program Team (GPT)


Innovation:

  • Creative competence: is not satisfied with the obvious, is constantly looking for different and surprising solutions and paths forward.

  • Experience dealing with business development projects, finding important items and suggesting solutions on how to overcome them

  • Bring new proposals to break up conventions and processes


Complexity:

  • Experience must include managing complex projects and both leadership / coordination

Education, Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

  • Scientific or engineering graduate (PhD preferred) and extensive Pharmaceutical/Biotech industry knowledge (10+ years)

  • Direct experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related field

  • Stakeholder management and trust building with internal / external teams desired

  • Intercultural experience desired

  • Track record of successfully operating within large, multi-disciplinary globally dispersed teams

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

  • Comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions

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

  • 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 distill complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms

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

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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During my 20-year journey here, I’ve been fully supported by my colleagues, and I can’t say enough about our rich internal talent and the long-standing values that drive our decisions as we work to develop important medicines for the patients we serve.

Doug Coffman - Head, R&D Asset Transition & Integration Office, R&D Regional & Business Operations

When making any type of decision, the first thing we ask is 'how will this impact patients?’ Ultimately, we’re laser focused on the best interests of the patient, and I truly believe we follow through on that.

Meredith Culp - VP, Head of Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Strategy & Operations and Head of Global Development Integration Office

Our culture and shared values make us like a family here at Takeda. It doesn't feel like work when you're doing something you love with people you love, and when your outcome is really fantastic.

Alison Handley, Head, Center for External Innovation

The heart of our work

Shining a light on new perspectives

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.

Exterior of Takeda Building

About our location

Boston, Massachusetts


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