Head of Media Relations & Issues Communications

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 333,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Cambridge, MA is seeking a Sr. Director to define Takeda's global media relations approach and to lead issues management and crisis communications.

This leader will partner across Communications, Public Affairs, Legal and Investor Relations to shape narratives and protect trust. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Communications, the role builds enterprise capabilities, governance, and readiness for proactive engagement and rapid, coordinated responses to emerging

Qualifications

• 15+ years of communications and media relations experience, preferably in biopharma.
• Experience leading enterprise media relations programs and integrated reputation strategies.
• Experience building relationships with top national and international media.
• Proven crisis communications leadership, planning and execution.
• Cross-functional collaboration with Legal, Investor Relations, Public Affairs and executives.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead global enterprise media relations strategy and proactive storytelling.
• Partner with functions to maximize opportunities across milestones and risk narratives.
• Oversee media relations, issues management and crisis frameworks across the globe.
• Lead Centers of Excellence to standardize practices, training and measurement.
• Coach senior leaders on media engagement and executive visibility.
• Ensure spokesperson readiness and effective crisis response.

Skills

Media relations

Crisis communications

Executive communications

Stakeholder engagement

Global collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or related field

Job description

Job Description

*This role can be based in Cambridge, MA, Washington, DC or NYC.

About the Role:

A Sr. Director leadership role responsible for defining and advancing Takeda's brand and reputation globally through enterprise media relations, external stakeholder engagement, issues management and crisis communications strategy. This leader serves as the architect of Takeda's corporate media approach, strengthening stakeholder trust, building strategic external relationships with key global, pharmaceutical and policy-based media, and helping ensure the company can effectively navigate an increasingly complex operating environment. Working in close partnership with Communications, Public Affairs, Legal, Investor Relations and business leaders around the world, this role will build the capabilities, governance and readiness required to proactively shape Takeda's reputation through proactive media engagement and respond with speed, consistency and confidence to emerging issues.

Reporting to the Head of Corporate Communications, the Head of Media & Issues leads a global team of communications professionals and serves as a key member of the Corporate Communications leadership team. This role is responsible for establishing enterprise-wide media relations, issues management and crisis communications strategies and capabilities that protect and enhance Takeda's reputation, support business priorities and enable coordinated communications approaches across the organization.

How You Contribute:

Media Relations

• Define and lead Takeda's global, integrated enterprise media relations strategy through the execution of proactive approaches that advance Takeda's business priorities and narrative, strengthen corporate reputation and elevate awareness of the company's purpose, innovation, unique culture and patient impact.
• Partner across communications, public affairs and business functions to identify and maximize opportunities that enhance Takeda's profile at key corporate, business, scientific and societal milestones, as well as create high‑impact opportunities to tell unique and compelling stories that highlight Takeda’s science, brands and values. Ensure Takeda's policy point of view is part of the conversation in key centers, including D.C., New York, Brussels, London and Tokyo.
• Work closely with the social and digital team on integrated content.
• Build and maintain consistent and strong relationships with key journalists, editors, influencers and media organizations globally to strengthen Takeda's credibility and visibility.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and communicators on media engagement, thought leadership, executive visibility and reputation management.
• Act as the company's primary spokesperson on enterprise topics and ensure appropriate spokesperson readiness and training across the organization.

Issues & Crisis Communications

• Lead Takeda's enterprise global issues and crisis communications capability, ensuring the success of the vision, governance, frameworks and standards that support effective management of reputation-sensitive situations.
• Oversee enterprise application and ongoing improvement of Takeda's Issues and Crisis Communications Framework, ensuring consistent approaches to risk assessment, stakeholder engagement, message development, activation, response management and post‑incident evaluation.
• Ensure global readiness and rapid response capability through clear governance, follow-the-sun operating models, training programs, simulation exercises and regional support models.
• Provide strategic counsel to executive leaders on issues preparedness, crisis management, stakeholder expectations and reputational risk mitigation.

Media Relations and Issues Centers of Excellence

• Establish and lead Media and Issues Communications Centers of Excellence to strengthen capabilities, consistency, and best practices across Takeda globally.
• Define the operating model, governance structure, accountabilities, services and consultation framework that support communications teams across the company.
• Develop enterprise-wide media relations, issues management and crisis communications standards, methodologies, tools and training programs that improve organizational effectiveness and preparedness.
• Establish measurement frameworks and performance indicators that assess impact, effectiveness and sentiment.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying emerging trends, industry best practices, new technologies and innovative approaches that enhance Takeda's media and issues capabilities.

Enterprise Leadership

• Lead and develop the Media Relations & Issues Communications team, fostering a high‑performing global team and community of communications professionals that drives measurable impact through media engagement and issues management.
• Serve as a member of the Corporate Communications leadership team, contributing to enterprise communications strategy, organizational effectiveness, talent development and long‑term capability building.
• Partner closely with communications leaders across locations, functions and business areas to ensure alignment and consistency of processes, procedures, global messages, and best practices, and to support execution of communications activities.
• Champion Takeda's values, culture ambition, and ways of working through leadership, communications strategies and role modeling.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in communications, journalism, marketing or a related field.
• 15 years of communications and media relations experience, preferably within the biopharmaceutical industry, including leading a team of media relations professionals.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise media relations programs and building integrated reputation strategies across large, complex, global organizations.
• Deep media relations expertise, with existing relationships with key top‑tier national, international, business, healthcare and trade media, Proven experience leading issues and crisis communications in the pharmaceutical industry, including proactive planning, executive preparedness, stakeholder engagement, simulation exercises and hands‑on crisis response.
• Experience working across and collaborating with multiple functions and senior stakeholder groups, including Business communications teams, Legal, Investor Relations, Public Affairs and executive leadership teams.
• Proven success leading and developing global, geographically distributed communications teams and building organizational capability.
• Strong executive presence and demonstrated ability to advise, influence and partner with senior leaders, including C‑suite stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through complexity, influence without direct authority and align diverse stakeholders across functions, regions and cultures.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex business, reputational, scientific and industry issues into clear, compelling strategies and narratives.
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking, with the ability to connect communications outcomes to enterprise priorities, organizational performance, stakeholder trust and corporate reputation.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a company spokesperson and provide credible, confident counsel to executives during high‑stakes situations.
• Exceptionally high degree of integrity, confidentiality, professionalism, judgment and discretion, with experience managing sensitive business and financial matters.

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:

Cambridge, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$212,000.00 - $333,190.00

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

Cambridge, MA, Washington DC, USA

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.