Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy

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

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical in Cambridge, MA seeks an Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy to help operationalize insights that improve trial delivery and reduce costs. You will shape KPI frameworks, lead BI capabilities, and translate data into actionable outputs for R&D stakeholders.

Reporting to the Executive Director, GDO Business Operations, you will partner with CSSE, GCDO, CROs, and other units to drive adoption of performance insights and embed them into study

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or international equivalent in Life Sciences, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, or similar quantitative discipline.
• 8+ years in BI and/or drug development with global experience preferred.
• Experience leading global teams and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to translate business and scientific questions into analyses.
• Experience working with IT partners and vendors for solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and apply standardized KPIs, benchmarks, and success measures for GDO trial performance.
• Lead portfolio-level analysis of trial performance to identify trends and drivers.
• Oversee trial intelligence, reporting, and data visualization for internal initiatives.
• Embed insights into study planning to improve cost, quality, and speed.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders to drive adoption and consistency of outputs.

Skills

Business intelligence

Data translation

Strategic thinking

Leadership experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

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:

The Associate Director, Trial Performance & Intelligence Strategy, will support the operationalization of insights that enhance business decision-making, with the aim of improving trial delivery, helping reduce costs, and strengthening the quality of trial execution. This role will:

• Partner in shaping and executing the trial performance intelligence strategyfor 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 approachesthat improve data ingestion, integration, interpretation, and usability for trial performance insights.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights and leadership-ready outputsthat support timely decision-making by R&D stakeholders and study teams.
• Drive the operational application of insights within study planning and executiontoimprove cost, quality, and speed outcomes within the assigned scope.
• Build effective partnerships across internal stakeholderssuch 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.

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 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.