Job Posting

Head of Digital Portfolio and Change Management , Research

Boston, Massachusetts

Apply Now

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 R0147083 Date posted 03/14/2025 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’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

Overview:

As the Head of Digital Portfolio and Change Management for Research, you will be responsible for the operational management and execution of Takeda's digital transformation in Research. You will translate high-level digital strategies into actionable project plans, manage cross-functional teams, monitor progress via key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensure that all initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. In addition, you will be responsible for defining training and upskilling curricula for our workforce, ensuring adoption and implementation of digital solution into pipeline endpoints. This role requires collaborating with and fostering relationships across multiple disciplines and teams to ensure alignment of Research Digital Strategy with Takeda’s core values of patient-centricity, innovation, and integrity.

How you will contribute:

Provide program management support for major lighthouse initiatives
- Provide strategic guidance and operational oversight for lighthouse programs, ensuring effective alignment with Takeda’s digital and organizational goals. Monitor program milestones via KPIs, address escalations, and foster cross-functional collaboration to drive success.
Manage the Research digital portfolio
- Oversee the digital portfolio, ensuring all initiatives deliver measurable value and are aligned with governance frameworks. Regularly evaluate and prioritize projects, addressing risks, dependencies, and opportunities for synergy to ensure timely and effective execution.
Act as a cross-functional liaison for integration with the broader R&D strategy
- Bridge the Research digital strategy with Takeda’s divisional R&D strategies, encouraging collaboration between Research, other R&D functions, and data-driven technology teams to drive seamless integration.
Interface with CMC and Research Data Digital &Technology (RDDT) to ensure an end-to-end digital product development continuum
- Partner with the CMC function to maintain digital connectivity across the product lifecycle. Support efforts to enable pipeline genealogy and ensure a data-driven approach from discovery to product launch and beyond.
- Partner with RDDT to ensure the deployment of technology solutions that will enable integration and interoperability of dataset across R&D organizations
Champion governance, leadership and change management in digital transformation
- Engage with governance bodies such as the R&D Management Committee and the R&D DD&T council to represent Research digital initiatives. Advocate for scalability, innovation, and patient-centric outcomes, ensuring alignment with enterprise-wide strategies.
- Define training curricula to upskill Takeda’s workforce, ensuring digital dexterity across our Research endpoints
Facilitate the development of a forward-looking Research digital strategy
- Lead the creation and implementation of an agile digital strategy tailored to Research needs, emphasizing business impact and innovation rather than traditional IT approaches. Collaborate with leadership teams to ensure strategic alignment with Takeda’s R&D priorities and broader corporate objectives.
Foster an inclusive and innovative culture
- Drive a culture that encourages experimentation and collaboration, empowering teams to explore new digital approaches. Represent Takeda’s commitment to its values of patient-centricity, trust, reputation, and business by promoting transparency, accountability, and a focus on outcomes.
Engage with external industry networks and partners
- Actively engage with industry leaders, regulatory bodies, and technology providers to anticipate emerging trends, shape corporate strategic direction, and position the company as a leader in digital advancements. Cultivate strong vendor relationships to drive strategic partnerships, secure favorable deals, and enhance vendor support.
- Build relationships with key partners across the organization, including R&D, pharmaceutical sciences, and global quality, to enhance alignment and operational effectiveness. Stay ahead of industry trends by engaging with external partners, regulatory bodies, and technology providers.

Educational Requirements and Experience:

PhD degree in a scientific discipline with 15+ years experience , or MS with 21+ years experience, or BS with 23+ years experience
Degree in a relevant field such as life sciences or computational sciences
Proven experience managing large-scale digital portfolios in the pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical R&D space
Expertise in digital strategy development, program management, and cross-functional governance
Strong understanding of R&D processes and the integration of digital technologies across the research lifecycle
Exceptional communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills aligned with Takeda’s core values
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, foster collaboration, and drive organizational alignment

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:

$205,100.00 - $322,300.00

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.

Apply Now

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.

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 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.