Neuchâtel NPI Program Lead

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Neuenburg; On-site; CHF 159,000 - 219,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Neuchâtel, Switzerland seeks an NPI Program Lead to steer the site’s portfolio of new product introduction programs, including transfers, validations, and launches, coordinating across manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, regulatory affairs, and external partners.

Reporting to the Site Engineering Head, you will align site priorities with network goals, manage risks, and drive on-time, compliant program delivery within budget, while coaching project

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotechnology manufacturing environments.
• Experience leading large cross-functional programs and managing transfers/launches.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPI programs from feasibility through commercial implementation, including transfers and launches.
• Build and manage integrated program plans with milestones, governance and budgets.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, regulatory affairs, and finance to resolve issues.
• Guide portfolio priorities and resources by assessing capacity, business cases, and program performance.
• Manage program risks and changes; develop mitigation plans and ensure inspection readiness and compliance.
• Improve program delivery by standardizing methods, governance, and reporting; share learnings.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Bilingual proficiency (French &English

Program management

Budget management

GMP knowledge

Technology transfers

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or related discipline

Job description

Job Description

About the Role

Join us as our NPI Program Lead. You will lead the Neuchâtel site’s portfolio of new product introduction programs, helping bring new drug substances and drug products through transfer, implementation, and launch. You will connect teams across manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, regulatory affairs, and other functions, as well as external partners, to support safe, compliant, and timely program delivery within approved budgets.

How You Will Contribute

Reporting to the Site Engineering Head, you will play a key role in aligning site priorities with broader network priorities, guiding decisions across complex programs, and supporting successful commercialization and product lifecycle execution. Your work will help the site coordinate its resources, manage risks, and deliver outcomes that support both business objectives and cross-functional teams. Your responsibilities are to:

• Lead new product introduction programs from feasibility through commercial implementation, including technical transfers, validation campaigns, and launches.
• Build and manage integrated program plans by setting milestones, governance, critical paths, scope, schedules, budgets, and resource plans.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, regulatory affairs, finance, and other functions to resolve issues and make decisions.
• Guide portfolio priorities and resources by assessing capacity, supporting business cases, and reporting program performance.
• Manage program risks and changes by developing mitigation plans, escalating critical issues, and supporting inspection readiness and compliance.
• Improve program delivery practices by standardizing methods, strengthening governance and reporting, and sharing lessons learned.
• Coach project managers and functional leads to build program management capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, life sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology manufacturing environments.
• Significant experience leading large, cross-functional programs.
• Experience in drug substance or drug product manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing technology transfers, capital projects, or new product introductions.
• Advanced knowledge of good manufacturing practice requirements.
• Ability to manage program and portfolio priorities, risks, resources, and change.
• Strong stakeholder management, influence, leadership, and executive communication skills.
• Full proficiency in French and English.

Locations

CHE - Neuchâtel

Base Salary Range:

CHF159,300.00 - CHF219,010.00

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.

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time