Global Head of Ethics & Compliance, R&D Business Partner

Takeda Pharmaceutical; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 259,000 - 407,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Boston, MA seeks Head of Ethics & Compliance for Global R&D to set strategy, advise executives, and lead the E&C Business Partner team across regions.

You will embed Takeda’s standards into R&D governance, guide risk responses, and partner with Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, and Finance.

A senior leader with 15+ years in ethics, compliance or life sciences, you will advance responsible innovation and AI governance in a complex matrix.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in ethics and compliance, legal, risk, governance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or related field.
• Experience supporting global R&D, clinical development, regulatory, medical, or life sciences functions.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct matters.
• Strong understanding of R&D risk areas including clinical development, research collaborations, patient engagement, data use, scientific exchange, and third-party partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a global team, set priorities, build advisory capability, and develop talent in a matrixed environment.
• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and ability to translate complex risk topics into practical guidance.
• Advanced risk judgment and strategic problem-solving skills for emerging risks and pragmatic mitigation.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Experience partnering across Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, Finance, and other enterprise functions.
• Strong data and insights orientation for monitoring outcomes, risk indicators, and audit findings to inform priorities.
• AI-forward leadership, applying AI within the function and advising the business on responsible AI use.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in law, compliance, life sciences, healthcare, public policy, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead global E&C strategy and business partner model for Global R&D.
• Serve as primary E&C advisor to R&D President and senior leadership on complex matters.
• Develop and lead the global R&D E&C Business Partner team and set operating standards.
• Embed E&C considerations into R&D strategy, governance, and execution.
• Identify and mitigate emerging risks across the R&D lifecycle including data use and third‑party partnerships.
• Represent E&C risks in relevant forums and ensure proper escalation of cross-area matters.
• Partner with Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, Finance, and other functions for integrated support.
• Translate enterprise standards into practical guidance for responsible innovation and consistent execution.
• Use monitoring outcomes and trend analysis to set compliance priorities and interventions.

Skills

Ethics & Compliance

Risk Management

Governance

Strategic Advisory

Executive Stakeholders

AI in E&C

R&D Knowledge

Leadership

Cross-functional Collaboration

Communication Skills

Global Team Leadership

Industry Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in law, compliance, life sciences, healthcare, public policy, or related field

Job description

Job Description

About Us:

The Head Ethics & Compliance Business Partners for Global Research & Development leads the Ethics & Compliance strategy and business partner model for Takeda’s global R&D organization. As the primary E&C advisor to the R&D President and senior R&D leadership team, this role provides strategic counsel on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct risks. The role embeds Takeda’s values, standards, policies, and external regulatory expectations into R&D strategy, portfolio decision-making, innovation, and execution.

How you will contribute:

• Reporting to the Head E&C for R&D, GMA & SPD, this role is accountable for leading the global R&D E&C Business Partner team and ensuring consistent, risk-based support across R&D functions, regions, and governance forums. The role requires strong executive judgment, enterprise influence, and the ability to anticipate, assess, and guide responses to complex risks across a highly matrixed global R&D environment.
• Lead the Ethics & Compliance strategy and business partner model for Global R&D, aligned with Takeda values, enterprise E&C priorities, and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Serve as the primary E&C advisor to the R&D President and senior R&D leadership team on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct risks.
• Lead and develop the global R&D E&C Business Partner team, setting priorities, advisory standards, and operating expectations across R&D functions and regions.
• Embed E&C considerations into R&D strategy, portfolio governance, operational execution, innovation models, external collaborations, and key business decisions.
• Anticipate, assess, and guide senior leaders on emerging risks across the R&D lifecycle, including clinical development, research collaborations, data use, patient engagement, scientific exchange, and third-party partnerships.
• Represent R&D E&C risks, priorities, and insights in relevant R&D and Legal, Ethics & Compliance forums, ensuring appropriate escalation of significant or cross-area matters.
• Partner with Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, and other functions to ensure integrated, risk-based support for Global R&D.
• Translate enterprise E&C standards, policies, and controls into practical guidance that enables responsible innovation and consistent execution across R&D.
• Use risk insights, monitoring outcomes, investigations, trends, and business intelligence to identify R&D compliance priorities, capability gaps, and targeted interventions.
• Oversee risk-based E&C initiatives, communications, training, and engagement strategies tailored to the scale, complexity, and needs of Global R&D.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in ethics and compliance, legal, risk, governance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another applicable experience.
• Experience supporting global R&D, clinical development, research, regulatory, medical, or related life sciences functions.
• Proven ability to advise senior executives on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct matters.
• Strong understanding of R&D risk areas, including clinical development, research collaborations, patient engagement, data use, scientific exchange, third-party partnerships, and regulatory interactions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a global team, set priorities, build advisory capability, and develop talent in a matrixed environment.
• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and ability to translate complex risk topics into clear, practical business guidance.
• Advanced risk judgment and strategic problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate emerging risks and guide pragmatic mitigation strategies.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive accountability without direct authority across global, cross-functional teams.
• Experience partnering across Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, Finance, and other enterprise functions.
• Strong data and insights orientation, with the ability to use monitoring outcomes, risk indicators, audit findings, and trend analysis to inform priorities.
• AI-forward leadership, with the ability to apply AI within the function and advise the business on responsible AI use.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in law, compliance, life sciences, healthcare, public policy, or a related field preferred.

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: $259,000.00 - $407,000.00

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.

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.