Director, Innovation, Global Regulatory Information Data & Systems

Regulatory Toolkit; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 177,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda seeks a Director of Innovation to lead the GRIDS Innovation Program within Global Regulatory Affairs (GRA). This role establishes a disciplined framework to capture, assess, prioritize, and deliver strategic initiatives across regulatory and digital domains.

The position drives governance, transparency, and value realization across the innovation lifecycle, aligning efforts with GRA and Digital strategy while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in Regulatory Affairs, Operations, or Regulatory Technology/Data.
• Experience establishing or leading innovation or governance frameworks in GxP environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end innovation lifecycle, from idea intake to implementation.
• Establish standardized intake channels and governance for innovation management.
• Capture ideas from regulatory teams, audits, inspections, and external inputs.
• Facilitate cross-functional prioritization governance aligned to value, complexity, and strategy.
• Define delivery pathways (system roadmap, rapid implementation, interim solutions).
• Monitor progress and report KPIs to leadership on pipeline health and performance.
• Drive adoption of innovation processes and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Governance forums

Data-driven mindset

Executive storytelling

Agility with structure

Cultural change

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

The Director, Innovation leads the GRIDS Innovation Program, establishing and operationalizing a structured framework to capture, assess, prioritize, and deliver innovation and continuous improvement initiatives across Global Regulatory Affairs.

This role ensures that innovation is managed as a disciplined capability, enabling both rapid improvements and strategic system advancements aligned with GRA and Digital strategy. The position drives transparency, governance, and value realization across the innovation lifecycle, strengthening organizational capability and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Accountabilities:

• Lead and govern the end-to-end innovation lifecycle, including idea intake, assessment, prioritization, routing, and implementation
• Establish and operationalize standardized intake channels and governance structures for innovation management
• Ensure systematic capture of ideas from regulatory teams, audits, inspections, and external inputs
• Facilitate cross-functional prioritization governance, ensuring alignment to value, complexity, and strategic objectives
• Define and govern delivery pathways (e.g., system roadmap, rapid implementation, interim solutions)
• Monitor implementation progress and ensure alignment with delivery teams and organizational priorities
• Define and track KPIs to measure innovation outcomes, including efficiency, quality, and risk reduction
• Deliver transparent reporting to GRA and Digital leadership on pipeline health and performance
• Drive adoption of innovation processes and reinforce innovation behaviors across the organization
• Promote recognition and engagement to strengthen a culture of innovation and continuous improvement

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

• Education & Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
  • 10+ years of experience in Regulatory Affairs, Operations, or Regulatory Technology/Data
  • Experience establishing or leading innovation or governance frameworks in GxP environments
• Technical Competencies
  • Strong understanding of regulatory systems and data (RIM, submissions, IDMP, etc.)
  • Experience with governance, prioritization, and portfolio management frameworks
  • Knowledge of regulatory compliance considerations (GxP vs. non-GxP)
  • Ability to align innovation initiatives to strategic and operational priorities
• Behavioral & Leadership Competencies
  • Strong executive stakeholder engagement and influence
  • Ability to lead cross-functional governance forums and decision-making processes
  • Data-driven mindset with focus on measurable outcomes and value realization
  • Ability to balance structure and agility in innovation delivery
  • Strong communication and storytelling capabilities for senior audiences
  • Proven ability to drive cultural and behavioral change

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:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$177,000.00 - $278,080.00

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

Boston, MA

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.