Associate Director

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

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as an Associate Director, Global Program Management in our Cambridge, MA office.

At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

OBJECTIVES:

Provides global program management and matrixed leadership to global, cross-functional, cross-divisional teams to drive development and deliver results in early to late-phase major development and/or lifecycle management programs (including established/marketed products) to meet Takeda strategic objectives.

• Responsibilities include providing strategic direction and translating the cross-divisional, integrated Global Product Team (GPT) strategy into an efficiently executable plan; predicting and planning solutions to achieve program goals and objectives; driving clarity and removing barriers to ensure team success; interfacing with management and influencing decision-making, proactive management and mitigation of development risks, and ensuring appropriate communication and interface with internal governance.

• Works closely with the Global Program Leader (GPL), as well as other R&D and Commercial functions to ensure that the scientific and commercial strategies are incorporated into the asset strategy and integrated development plan.

• May lead key initiatives that have cross-functional or cross-divisional impact that are critical to the objectives of the Therapeutic Area Unit (TAU), Center of Operational Performance (CoOP), CMSO and/or global business objectives.

• Play a key role in ensuring team effectiveness, partnering with GPL and CoOP to administer team health checks to generate insights, plan & execute appropriate follow-up actions.

• Identifies and drives innovative process improvements with significant organizational impact and manages, as needed, non-project responsibilities, which can include processes and system optimizations.

• May have direct people management responsibilities.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategic Direction

• Partners with GPL to coordinate and facilitate GPT or joint Program Team (for partnered Alliance programs) and/or other cross-functional teams to develop and maintain the asset strategy and integrated development plan in conjuction with TAU and commercial strategy, lifecycle management requirements, and evidence generation/publication needs.

• Proactively identifies resource requirements necessary to progress asset development in alignment with TAU or enterprise business objectives.

• Drives clarity with GPT and other relevant stakeholders to communicate asset strategic imperatives to ensure appropriate prioritization.

Program Execution

• Identifies ways to optimize program execution without compromise to patients or compliance.

• Accountable to maintain the integrated program level plan, ensuring delivery of critical path activities to progress asset development.

Program Operational Excellence

• Ensures asset strategy and integrated development plan are aligned with the GPT, have a patient-centric focus, incorporate innovative approaches that are meaningful to patients, HCPs, regulators & payers, and adhere to the highest standards of operational excellence in drug development and life cycle management.

• Manages the strategic GPT forum and assigned subteams to ensure progress of asset development. This includes establishing meeting agendas, facilitating effective team discussions, driving to clear and timely team actions and decisions, driving and holding team members accountable for action follow-through. 

• Ensures team effectiveness through team health checks with development and appropriate follow-through on action plans to boost team productivity.

• Partners with the GPL to provide financial oversight of the program including  global, cross-divisional budgets.  Includes consolidation, vetting and prioritization of GPT spending to deliver critical path activities.

Risk Management

• Proactively addresses and removes barriers to program progress, keeping leadership informed of critical considerations (e.g., resources, performance). 

• Proactively identify potential issues or obstacles and achieves resolution or plans contingencies.  Follow issues through to resolution ensuring that all key stakeholders are informed of outcomes and program implications.

• Provides clarity and direction in urgent or unexpected situations.  Independently resolves complex issues and competing priorities that may impact achievement of goals, creates mitigation plans and drives to resolution.

Communication and Reporting

• Manages scheduled and ad-hoc program status reporting, citing progress to program goals/KPIs, proactively identifying risk with planned mitigation(s), and providing rationale for timeline and budget variances.

• Participate in annual portfolio analyses to communicate program development progress, opportunities, and risks to Senior & Executive Management.

• Responsible for coordinating preparation efforts for governance engagement to support and drive asset objectives and deliverables.

• Practively manages key stakeholders and facilitates relevant communications to appropriate cross-regional, cross-functional, cross-divisional and Alliance partners

Other Accountabilities

• Provides direction and mentors junior colleagues to work strategically and drive results; identifies opportunities for junior PMs to demonstrate their abilities; uses effective coaching techniques to refocus energy and address barriers to success; leads by example

• May have responsibility for line management of Sr. Manager and/or Associate Director level GPMs as well as contractors within the GPM function.

• May support Business Development in-licensing activities to ensure appropriate technical assessment, including development costs and timelines, to support the business case of potential in-licensed compounds.

EDUCATION, BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree science or business-related field

• Advanced degree in science or business is preferred

Experience

• Minimum of 8-10 years of strong pharmaceutical industry experience and drug development in all phases of development with significant experience within related functions (e.g. Clinical Science, Clinical Operations, Research, Regulatory, CMC, Marketing)

• Minimum of 5 years program management experience leading complex pharmaceutical projects in a multi-disciplinary, global environment

• Demonstrated ability to positively influence outcomes, key project decisions, and strategic problem-solving

• Proven ability to communicate clearly and present key information objectively to all levels of the organization including executive management

• Substantial experience in intercultural cooperation

• Modest people management experience and/or proven leadership experience in managing global, matrix teams

Knowledge and Skills

• Matrix program leadership and management skills are required

• Therapeutic Area preferable but not required

• Strong influencing skills

• Ability to predict risks and independently propose solutions and appropriate mitigation plan

• Highly effective presentation, written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to drive decision-making within cross-functional & cross-cultural, global team structures

• Simultaneous management of multiple tasks of varied complexity

• Flexibility, tolerance and diplomacy to best manage change and differing opinions

• Ability to work in a virtual setting/across time-zones, i.e., making effective use of communication tools (WebEx, TelePresence, telephone and video conferencing, etc.)

• Ability to work in a highly complex, multi-cultural, environment

• Excellent organizational skills

• Experience with Microsoft Project Professional, Excel, PowerPoint & Word

• Fluent in English

This position is currently classified as “ hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

Empowering Our People to Shine

Discover more at takedajobs.com

No Phone Calls or Recruiters Please.

#LI-JV2

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:

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$154,400.00 - $242,550.00

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

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

YesIt 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.