Global Discovery Scale-Up & Route Optimization Leader

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 177,000 - 278,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work option

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited seeks an experienced scientific leader to head Discovery Scale-Up and Optimization on the Global Chemistry Leadership Team. The role owns chemistry optimization and scale-up for the discovery organization, ensuring safe, reliable, gram-to-kilogram supplies to support lead optimization and development transitions.

Leading a ~10-person team across Boston and Shonan, you will collaborate with Pharm Sci, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and toxicology, while

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or related discipline with 10+ years experience, or MS with 16+ years, or BS with 18+ years in process chemistry, route optimization, or scale-up, including significant leadership experience.
• Proven track record delivering scalable routes and gram-to-kilogram supply for preclinical or clinical candidates.
• Leadership experience managing high-performing teams across sites and time zones.
• Deep expertise in synthetic route design, reaction optimization, impurity control, and process safety.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and priorities for discovery scale-up and optimization aligned with Global Chemistry priorities.
• Lead design and optimization of scalable, cost-effective synthetic routes for advanced leads and candidates.
• Deliver gram-to-kilogram supplies for optimization, in vivo pharmacology, toxicology, and formulation studies.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemistry to assess synthetic tractability and suggest improvements for scalability.
• Partner with Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical, and CMC for technology transfer and sourcing strategies.
• Lead and develop a cross-site team across Boston and Shonan; manage external CROs with budget and timelines.
• Contribute to program strategy, risk assessment, resource planning, and governance; manage group budget.
• Introduce enabling technologies such as flow chemistry, biocatalysis, high-throughput experimentation, and automation.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Route design

Scale-up

CRO management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

MS in Chemistry with 16+ years

BS in Chemistry with 18+ years

Tools

Flow chemistry

Biocatalysis

Analytical methods

Job description

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited seeks an experienced scientific leader to head Discovery Scale-Up and Optimization on the Global Chemistry Leadership Team. The role owns chemistry optimization and scale-up for the discovery organization, ensuring safe, reliable, gram-to-kilogram supplies to support lead optimization and development transitions.

Leading a ~10-person team across Boston and Shonan, you will collaborate with Pharm Sci, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and toxicology, while