Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy

Takeda; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 243,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda in Cambridge, MA is seeking an Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy to shape the trial performance intelligence strategy and lead BI capabilities, reporting to the Executive Director, GDO Business Operations.

You will translate data into actionable insights for R&D, drive study planning, and build partnerships with CSSE, GCDO, and CROs to ensure adoption of insights across global teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or related quantitative field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years in BI or drug development, global experience
• Leadership experience with global teams
• Translating business needs into data requirements
• Strategic thinking and communication skills
• Global collaboration experience
• Pharma development exposure
• Industry knowledge advantageous

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the trial performance intelligence strategy for GDO with KPI and benchmarks.
• Lead analysis of trial performance at portfolio level to identify trends and actions.
• Oversee operational trial intelligence, reporting, and data visualization for internal initiatives.
• Surface tactical and long-term trial performance needs with stakeholders.
• Assess value and feasibility of insights initiatives and drive adoption across GDO and R&D.
• Embed insights into study planning and reporting to improve cost, quality, and speed.

Education

Bachelor's Degree or international equivalent in Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, or similar quantitative discipline

8 or more years of applicable business intelligence, and/or drug development experience; global experience and experience in drug development strongly preferred

Experience in people leadership, managing global teams and coordinating collaboration with cross-functional teams

Experience working directly with business stakeholders to translate between business requirements and data required

Strong strategic thinking, planning, execution, and communication skills, ability to act at operational and strategic levels

Global/international experience required, including ability to collaborate with colleagues and staff in other locations

Operational experience in pharmaceutical drug development with significant direct exposure to clinical development

Healthcare business acumen with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry highly advantageous

Job description

Job Description:

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company to inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as an Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy based in Cambridge, MA reporting to the Executive Director, GDO Business Operations.

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 work towards their potential through life-changing work. We offer stimulating careers, and work toward excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to provide Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

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

GOALS :

• Partner in shaping and executing the trial performance intelligence strategy for GDO by contributing to prioritized KPI, benchmark, and measurement frameworks that support trial delivery and portfolio decision-making.
• Lead the development and refinement of business intelligence capabilities and reporting approaches that improve data ingestion, integration, interpretation, and usability for trial performance insights.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and leadership-ready outputs that support timely decision-making by R&D stakeholders and study teams.
• Drive the operational application of insights within study planning and execution to: improve cost, quality, and speed outcomes within the assigned scope.
• Build effective partnerships across internal stakeholders such as CSSE, GCDO, CSCS, TAUs, CROs, and related R&D functions to align on priorities, encourage adoption, and sustain use of insights.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Support the execution of trial performance intelligence strategy by contributing to the definition and application of standardized KPIs, benchmarks, and success measures aligned to GDO and R&D priorities.
• Lead analysis of trial performance at the portfolio or program level to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and key drivers of outcomes, and recommend prioritized actions to improve performance.
• Lead operational trial intelligence, reporting, and data visualization support for internal initiatives and strategic projects, serving as the escalation point for emergent issues while driving cross-functional coordination, timely execution, and measurable impact through delivery of selected insight and continuous improvement initiatives within defined scope.
• Proactively surface both tactical and longer-term trial performance needs by assessing business impact and partnering with stakeholders to clarify requirements and opportunities.
• Contributes to prioritization of trial performance and intelligence initiatives by helping assess value, feasibility, and alignment to GDO and R&D strategy.
• Embed trial performance insights into study planning, execution, and reporting to improve cost, quality, and speed outcomes within assigned scope.
• Translate business and scientific questions into insight-driven analyses and outputs that are aligned to stakeholder needs and decision-making timelines.
• Generate and apply actionable insights from diverse data sources to support study planning, execution, reporting, and operational decision-making across GDO and R&D.
• Partner effectively with global stakeholders and functional leaders including GDO, DQS, TAUs, CROs, and other R&D functions to align on insights, drive adoption, and ensure consistent use of performance outputs.
• Promote a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement by encouraging data-driven behaviors and adoption of performance insights across teams.
• Partner with data governance teams and business stakeholders to promote data quality, stewardship, and trusted data use in support of decision-making across GDO.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelors' Degree or international equivalent in Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, or similar quantitative discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8 or more years of applicable business intelligence, and/or drug development experience; global experience and experience in drug development strongly preferred.
• Experience in people leadership, managing global teams and coordinating collaboration with cross-functional teams.
• Experience working directly with business stakeholders to translate between business requirements and data required.
• Experience working with IT partners and vendors for business solutions desired.
• Strong strategic thinking, planning, execution, and communication skills, ability to act at operational and strategic levels.
• Global/international experience required, including ability to collaborate with colleagues and staff in other locations.
• Operational experience in pharmaceutical drug development with significant direct exposure to clinical development.
• Healthcare business acumen with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry highly advantageous.

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.

Benefits

For information about our benefits, please click here.

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:

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.