Head of Discovery Scale-Up and Optimization

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

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Boston, MA seeks a scientific leader to head Discovery Scale-Up and Optimization, owning chemistry optimization and material supply for lead candidates.

You will lead a ~10-person team across Boston and Shonan, partner with Pharm Sci, medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, and toxicology, and oversee CROs to deliver material on time while advancing development readiness.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or related discipline with 10+ years in process chemistry
• Proven track record delivering scalable routes and gram-to-kilogram supply for preclinical or clinical candidates
• Leadership experience across sites, time zones, and cultures
• Deep expertise in synthetic route design, reaction optimization, impurity control, and process safety
• CRO management including vendor oversight, budgets, and data quality
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Willingness to travel between Boston and Shonan

Responsibilities

• Set the vision, priorities, and operating model for discovery scale-up and optimization
• Lead design and optimization of scalable, efficient synthetic routes
• Deliver gram-to-kilogram supplies for medicinal chemistry and related studies
• Collaborate with medicinal chemistry to assess tractability and route changes
• Prepare for technology transfer and sourcing strategies
• Lead and develop a ~10-person team across sites
• Select and manage CRO partners with budget and timeline oversight
• Contribute to portfolio strategy and governance
• Introduce enabling technologies to accelerate route development

Skills

Leadership

Strategy

Route Design

Scale-Up

CRO Management

Project Management

Communication

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

MS in Chemistry

BS in Chemistry

Job description

Job Description

About the role:

We are seeking an experienced scientific leader to serve as Head of Discovery Scale-Up and Optimization on the Global Chemistry Leadership Team. In this role, the successful candidate will own chemistry optimization and scale-up for the discovery organization, ensuring that advanced leads and candidates can be made safely, reliably, and in the quantities needed to support lead optimization, candidate selection, and the transition into development. They will lead a team of approximately 10 scientists across Boston and Shonan, partner closely with Pharm Sci, medicinal chemistry, biology, DMPK, and toxicology, and oversee external partners, including contract research organizations (CROs) to deliver high-quality material on time.

How you will contribute:

• Leadership and Strategy: Set the vision, priorities, and operating model for discovery scale-up and optimization, aligned with Global Chemistry priorities.
• Route Design and Optimization: Lead the design and optimization of scalable, efficient, and cost-effective synthetic routes for advanced leads and candidates, applying route scouting and process safety
• Scale-Up and Material Supply: Deliver (or coordinate the delivery) of gram-to-kilogram supplies of compounds and key intermediates for medicinal chemistry optimization, in vivo pharmacology, toxicology, formulation studies, etc. meeting agreed purity and timeline commitments.
• Medicinal Chemistry Partnership: Work with medicinal chemistry teams early in lead optimization to assess synthetic tractability and recommend structural or route changes that improve scalability.
• Development Readiness: Partner with Pharmaceutical Sciences, Analytical, and CMC colleagues to prepare for technology transfer and sourcing strategies.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of approximately 10 scientists across Boston and Shonan, building a cohesive, collaborative team across sites and time zones.
• External Partnerships: Select, manage, and hold accountable CROs including technical oversight, budget and timeline management, data-integrity standards, and protection of intellectual property.
• Portfolio and Governance: Contribute to program strategy, risk assessment, resource planning, and portfolio decisions alongside biology, DMPK, toxicology, and project leadership, and manage the group's budget.
• Innovation: Introduce enabling technologies, such as flow chemistry, biocatalysis, high-throughput experimentation, and automation, to accelerate route development and reduce cycle time.

Qualifications:

• Expected education and experience: PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related discipline, with 10+ years experience, or MS with 16+ years experience, or BS with 18+ years experience in process chemistry, route optimization, or scale-up, including significant leadership experience.
• Proven track record of delivering scalable routes and gram-to-kilogram supply for preclinical or clinical candidates.
• Leadership Skills: Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, ideally distributed across sites, time zones, and cultures.
• Technical Expertise: Deep expertise in synthetic route design, reaction optimization, impurity control, and process safety, with working knowledge of solid-form characterization and supporting analytical methods.
• CRO Management: Experience managing external partners for scale-up and manufacturing, including vendor oversight, budget and resource management, and data quality.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Problem-Solving and Adaptability: Ability to prioritize across multiple programs, adapt to changing priorities, and make sound decisions with incomplete or evolving data.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel between Boston and Shonan.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience: Leadership experience within a large pharmaceutical or biotechnology company, including managing multi-site or global teams.
• Modalities: Experience across small-molecule modalities, including complex or macrocyclic structures, peptides, or degraders.
• Development Transition: Track record of enabling a program's transition from discovery into IND-enabling development.

This position is currently classified as “hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

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.