Transition Wave Manager

POL - 6999 Takeda SCE; Łódź; Hybrid; PLN 170,000 - 233,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda in Lodz, Poland, is seeking a Transition Wave Manager to lead day-to-day execution of transition waves across planning, knowledge transfer, and ramp-up. You will coordinate with the Transition Functional Lead and global teams to ensure on-time delivery, issue resolution, and continuity of critical operations.

The role requires 5+ years in project/transition management, strong planning and governance skills, and fluent English.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in project management, program management, transition management, or operational change initiatives in global orgs.
• Proven experience leading end-to-end transition waves covering planning, knowledge transfer, ramp-up, go-live and stabilization.
• Strong PM skills with critical path, integrated transition and wave planning capabilities.
• Ability to apply transition methods, readiness assessments, and stage-gate governance.
• Financial and commercial understanding, with ability to manage transition costs and value realization.
• Excellent coordination and ability to manage multiple workstreams in a matrix setup.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, English fluency required.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end execution of individual transition waves, ensuring scope and timelines.
• Maintain detailed wave plans across knowledge transfer, ramp-up, go-live and stabilization.
• Track and report wave progress, risks, and issues to leadership and PMO.
• Maintain continuity of critical business operations across the assigned wave.
• Own wave-level activity tracking and milestone delivery within scope and timelines.
• Coordinate with knowledge transfer PMO to keep activities on schedule.
• Track SME availability, knowledge transfer completion, and sign-offs.
• Escalate delays or readiness gaps to Transition organization.
• Serve as day-to-day coordinator between business units, SMEs, site leads, and capacity teams.
• Support governance through stage-gate reviews and provide status for go/no-go decisions.
• Coordinate wave-level hypercare and stabilization to monitor service performance.

Skills

Project management

Program management

Transition management

Knowledge transfer

Stakeholder coordination

Risk and issue management

English fluency

Budget and cost management

Planning and scheduling

Stage-gate governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Description

About the role: The Transition Wave Manager is accountable for managing the day-to-day execution of individual transition waves within the assigned business unit or business function scope. You will ensure delivery of scope, timelines, and issue resolution. The role coordinates wave activities across planning, knowledge transfer, and ramp-up phases, working closely with the Transition Functional Lead and global capacity management delivery teams to support seamless and compliant transition execution, aligned with global capacity management execution standards and ensuring continuity of critical operations.

How you will contribute:

• Manage the end-to-end execution of individual transition waves, ensuring adherence to scope, timelines, milestones, and issue resolution
• Support and maintain detailed wave plans across knowledge transfer, ramp-up, go-live, and stabilization
• Track and report wave progress, risks, and issues to the Transition Functional Lead, Project Management Office, and relevant teams
• Support the Transition organization in maintaining continuity of critical business operations across the assigned wave
• Own wave-level activity tracking and milestone delivery, ensuring commitments are met within the defined scope and timelines
• Coordinate with the knowledge transfer Project Management Office to ensure knowledge transfer activities stay on schedule and are completed in line with wave milestones
• Track subject matter expert availability, knowledge transfer completion rates, and documentation sign-offs
• Escalate delays or readiness gaps to the Transition organization
• Act as the day-to-day coordination point between business unit or business function teams, subject matter experts, site leads, and global capacity management delivery teams for all wave activities
• Support compliance and governance through stage-gate reviews and provide wave-level status inputs for go or no-go decisions
• Coordinate wave-level hypercare and stabilization activities to track service performance against agreed service-level agreements and key performance indicators
• Support the smooth handover of wave activities into steady-state operations

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• 5 or more years of experience in project management, program management, transition management, or operational change initiatives within global organizations
• Proven experience leading end-to-end transition waves or major operational change initiatives, covering transition planning, knowledge transfer, ramp-up, go-live, stabilization, and cutover phases
• Strong project management skills with the ability to develop and maintain critical path management, integrated transition, and wave plans
• Ability to apply transition methods and frameworks, including knowledge transfer, readiness assessments, and stage-gate governance
• Financial and commercial understanding, with the ability to manage transition costs, assumptions, and value realization
• Strong coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams at the same time in a matrix organization
• Ability to work under pressure in fast-paced, time-sensitive transitions
• Clear and proactive communication with strong interpersonal skills across diverse, global teams
• Results-focused mindset with strong attention to delivery commitments and accountability
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Fluent in English

More about us:

At Takeda, we are transforming patient care through the development of novel specialty pharmaceuticals and best in class patient support programs. Takeda is a patient-focused company that will inspire and empower you to grow through life‑changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, Takeda offers stimulating careers, encourages innovation, and strives for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

This position is currently classified as "hybrid" following Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

Locations

Lodz, Poland

Base Salary Range:

zł169,600.00 - zł233,200.00 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. For information about our benefits, please click here.

Worker Type

Employee Worker Sub-Type Regular Time Type Full time

Takeda is an industry-leading, global pharmaceutical company with an unwavering dedication to putting patients at the center of everything we do. We live our values of Takeda-ism – Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance – and are united by our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine.

Here, everyone matters and you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission. At Takeda, you will make an impact on people’s lives – including your own.

Takeda is an equal opportunity employer.

For applicants of U.S and Puerto Rico positions: Click here to learn about our commitment to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).

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