Global Launch Excellence Lead, Immunology

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Kendall Square (MA); Hybrid; USD 177,000 - 278,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda is seeking a Global Launch Excellence Lead for a hybrid role in Cambridge, MA. You will partner with PSLs and global leads to develop and monitor an integrated global launch plan, aligning with asset and brand strategies across Clinical Development, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Communications, and Medical Affairs.

You will guide timelines, risks, and governance for on-time, high-quality launches. The ideal candidate has exceptional project management, strong communication, and facilitation

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree required; Master's degree or PMP certification preferred.
• 12+ years in pharma/biotech drug development or commercial roles supporting launch readiness.
• At least 5 years in project/program management preferred.
• Proficient with MS Office Suite, Teams, and project management software.
• Understanding of regulatory requirements and commercial launch excellence.
• Cross-functional knowledge across global launch activities.
• Exceptional planning and organizational abilities to manage competing priorities.
• Self-motivated and adaptable in a fast-paced environment with minimal oversight.
• Proactive in risk identification, mitigation, and decision making.

Responsibilities

• Planning: Support Global Launch Activation Workshops to define the integrated global launch plan.
• Oversee Launch Team Meetings and Commercial Sub-Team to track progress.
• Organize Launch Summits to prepare regions.
• Guide annual integrated Commercial Sub-Team goal-setting process.
• Launch Timelines: Manage global launch timelines focusing on critical path tactics.
• Collaborate with GPM and regional launch leads to align timelines and tactics.
• Responsible for tracking SPD functional tactics.
• Identify, communicate, and escalate interdependencies and key decisions to senior leadership.
• Integrate SPD functions and Commercial Sub-Teams to enable execution.
• Establish and track Launch KPIs and governance updates.
• Coordinate development of presentations for strategic planning and governance meetings.
• Provide financial oversight of the brand budget and monitor variances.
• Foster a positive team culture with effective meetings and clear ways of working.
• Support onboarding of new launch team members.
• Facilitate After Action Reviews to share best practices.
• Champion Global Launch Excellence processes and tools for future launches.
• Drive continuous process improvements and regional best practices.
• Leverage technology to plan and track launch progress and collaboration.

Skills

MS Office

Teams

Project management

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Facilitation

Risk management

Global launch experience

Budget oversight

Education

BA/BS degree

Master's degree

PMP certification

Tools

MS Project

Job description

About the role:

Takeda is preparing to launch several innovative medicines globally. We are looking for a leader who is highly collaborative and results-oriented to support a specific product launch and champion our Global Launch Excellence community. As the Global Launch Excellence Lead, you will work with a Product Strategy Lead (PSL) and Global Commercial Leads/Global Brand Leads to develop and monitor an integrated global launch plan that aligns with our asset and brand strategies. Your role will be key in facilitating cross-functional engagement with stakeholders across Clinical Development, Global Regulatory Affairs, Global Manufacturing Sciences, Global Communications, and Global Medical Affairs, as well as launch leads in the US and International Business Unit to ensure an on-time, quality launch. Additionally, you will promote innovation and excellence in our global launch processes among our community of launch excellence professionals. The ideal candidate should have exceptional project management skills, outstanding communication abilities, excellent facilitation skills, and a proven track record of successful commercial launches on a global scale. This is a hybrid role based in Cambridge, MA.

How you will contribute:

• Planning: Support Global Launch Activation Workshops to define the integrated global launch plan.
• Oversee Launch Team Meetings and Commercial Sub-Team to track progress.
• Organize Launch Summits to prepare regions.
• Guide the annual integrated Commercial Sub-Team goal-setting process for the asset.
• Launch Timelines: Manage overall global launch timelines in line with asset and brand strategies, focusing on critical path tactics.
• Collaborate with the Global Program Manager (GPM) and regional launch leads to align timelines and tactics.
• Responsible for tracking detailed SPD functional tactics.
• Risk Management: Guide the team in identifying and mitigating risks, scenario planning, decision criteria, and milestone stage gates to ensure teams stay on track.
• Identify, communicate, and elevate program-wide interdependencies, issues, and key decisions to senior leadership and governance.
• Integration: Act as an integrator for the SPD functions and Commercial Sub-Teams, driving clarity and removing barriers to enable the operational execution of launch priorities.
• Reporting and Communication: Establish and track Launch Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Manage scheduled and ad-hoc program status reporting.
• Coordinate the development of impactful presentations to facilitate strategic planning and decision-making, as well as preparing launch status updates for key governance committees.
• Financial Oversight: Partner with the Finance representative and SPD functions to provide financial oversight of the brand budget.
• Monitor potential budget variances; proactively bring forward options for tradeoffs within the overall budget, timeline, and strategy.
• Team Ways of Working and Culture: Foster a positive team culture through expert meeting facilitation, team health checks, collaborative and values-based decision-making, clear ways of working and team engagement.
• Support the onboarding of new launch team members as needed.
• Continuous Learning: Facilitate After Action Reviews to identify and share key best practices and opportunities from launches.
• Community of Practice: Champion the Global Launch Excellence community to develop processes, tools, and standards to execute our future launch readiness.
• Drive continuous process improvement initiatives, integrating GPT and regional ways of working and best practices.
• Leverage Technology: Build and maintain tools to plan and track launch progress, enhancing team collaboration and agility.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Education: BA/BS degree required; Master's degree or PMP certification preferred
• Experience: At least 12 years in pharma/biotech drug development or commercial in strategic or tactical roles supporting launch readiness, with at least 5 years in project/program management preferred
• Technical Skills: Proficient with MS Office Suite, Teams, and project management software
• Industry Knowledge: Understanding of pharmaceutical development, regulatory requirements and commercial launch excellence
• Cross-Functional Knowledge: Understanding of essential global launch activities across key areas in cross-functional program team
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional planning and organizational abilities to manage competing priorities
• Agility: Self-motivated and adaptable professional, capable of handling multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with minimal oversight
• Risk Management: Proactive in identifying risks, proposing solutions, and delivering mitigation plans
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills to provide context, articulate views, drive clarity, and address barriers.
• Decision-Making: Ability to drive value-based decisions within a cross-functional, cross-cultural, global team structure

Preferred Qualifications:

• Leadership: Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and managing stakeholder relationships
• Influence: Ability to inspire and influence in a matrix environment to maximize launch success and address barriers
• Digital Tools: Experience with implementing digital collaboration tools, project management and use of AI
• Languages: Multilingual capabilities
• Global Experience: Experience with global launches

Working Conditions:

• Environment: Fast-paced with a large stakeholder base spanning countries and functions
• Travel: Up to 25% domestic and international travel may be required
• Hours: Flexible working hours to accommodate global time zones
• On-Site: Minimum in-person days per month required to enhance team collaboration
• This position is currently classified as "hybrid" in accordance with Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

• For Location: Cambridge, 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.

Company Culture

Takeda is an industry-leading, global pharmaceutical company with an unwavering dedication to putting patients at the center of everything we do. We live our values of Takeda-ism – Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance – and are united by our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine. Here, everyone matters and you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission. At Takeda, you will make an impact on people’s lives – including your own.

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.

Other Information

Locations Cambridge, MA 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.