Sr. Director Transformation Lead

USA - 3316 Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc.; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 212,000 - 333,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda in Boston, MA seeks an Executive to lead the AI and Data-Driven Path to Approval (AIDPA) initiative within R&D of the Future. You will shape strategy, oversee cross‑functional execution, and drive measurable value through data and technology transformations across development programs.

You will ensure integrated delivery, manage interdependencies, and align leaders to ROI outcomes while advancing agile, scalable processes that accelerate timelines and improve quality in drug development.

Qualifications

• 12 years of leadership experience across R&D functions.
• Ability to make key program decisions, hold partners accountable, and build trust across R&D.
• Experience leading complex, multi-workstream portfolios requiring sequencing, prioritization, and trade-off management across competing demands.
• Proven success leading enterprise-scale, cross-functional transformations with measurable value realization.

Responsibilities

• Own AIDPA initiative strategy, including ambition, outcomes, and KPI framework.
• Translate the vision into actionable use cases and redesigned ways of working.
• Drive value realization and sustain momentum for AIDPA, including leadership accountability and ROI discipline.
• Drive senior stakeholders to be accountable for decisions, commitments, and outcomes across the AIDPA portfolio.
• Initiative Management, Use Case Delivery, Process Transformation and establish agile, fit-for-purpose decision pathways.
• Coordinate across workstreams, provide leadership visibility to progress and milestones, and facilitate prioritization.
• Evolve agile ways of working to support AIDPA evolution over time.
• Integration across AIDPA Workstreams and the R&D of the Future Program to maximize delivery momentum.
• Enable transparent communication across workstreams for visibility and coordination.
• Coordinate AIDPA input into end-to-end lean process redesign incorporating technology.
• Change Leadership, Communications, Adoption Champion adoption and leadership endorsement of new technologies.
• Influence development of AIDPA messaging and communications.
• Partner with R&D of the Future central team and enterprise transformation teams to embed AIDPA into broader narratives.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

Cross-functional experience

Portfolio management

Agile

Education

Advanced degree

Job description

About the Role

The AI and Data-Driven Path to Approval (AIDPA) Initiative Lead is accountable for the strategy, execution, and value realization of the AI and Data transformation in development. This is a cross-functional Initiative, is part of Takeda’s R&D of the Future program, and aims to reimagine the drug development paradigm through building an interoperable, scalable, and future-ready data and technology landscape for R&D. The objective is to truly reimagine drug development and drive tangible value in accelerated timelines, increased quality, and improved efficiencies. The role requires a visionary, ambitious thinker who can deconstruct processes of today to reinvent the future. This role is also accountable to integrate with other R&D of the Future Initiatives, other cross-functional transformations, such as R&D’s Global Capability Model (GCM) transformation, and other functional transformations within Global Regulatory Affairs. This includes being accountable for integrating the AIDPA strategy and execution with Data and Technology Initiatives within R&D of the Future, such as developing the R&D business priorities that will inform the data and tech strategic priorities. The role requires deep development and regulatory expertise, strong data/AI acumen, deep understanding of global capability models, and the ability to lead complex, cross-functional change—connecting business objectives, data, and technology to deliver measurable impact.

How you will contribute

The role operates as the cross‑R&D point of accountability for AIDPA strategy, integration, and delivery. It provides a strong central voice to align leaders and manage interdependencies, roadblocks, and trade‑off decisions. This leader will work to hold R&D leadership accountable for decision‑making and value realization and to hold teams accountable for delivery. This position reports to Chief Regulatory Officer and partners closely with the Head of R&D of the Future, other R&D of the Future Initiatives, leaders of R&D functions, data and technology teams, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure the initiative vision translates into embedded AI/automation and redesigned processes that drive value for R&D.

Key Responsibilities

• Own AIDPA iInitiative strategy, including ambition, outcomes, and KPI framework, serving as guiding central voice that enables workstreams to execute.


• Ensure the AIDPA vision is translated into actionable use cases and redesigned ways of working, with defined milestones and measurable impact.


• Drive value realization and sustain momentum for AIDPA, including leadership accountability, business case development, ongoing ROI discipline, and visibility to transparent status and performance.


• Drive senior stakeholders to be accountable for decisions, commitments, and outcomes across the AIDPA portfolio.


• Initiative Management, Use Case Delivery, Process Transformation Establish agile, fit‑for‑purpose decision pathways, aligned with R&D of the Future processes, to streamline decision‑making and ensure agility and forward progress.


• Coordinate across workstreams, provide leadership visibility to progress and milestones, and facilitate prioritization, sequencing, and trade‑off discussions.


• Evolve agile ways of working to support AIDPA evolution over time to be future‑ready for changing technology and R&D landscapes.


• Integration across AIDPA Workstreams and the R&D of the Future Program Spearhead cross‑workstream connectivity to manage interdependencies, ensure integrated execution strategy where applicable, and maximize delivery momentum.


• Enable transparent communication across workstreams for visibility to coordinate, share learnings, avoid duplication, and track joint value realization.


• Coordinate AIDPA input into end‑to‑end lean process redesign incorporating technology, to improve cycle time, quality, compliance, and productivity.


• Change Leadership, Communications, Adoption Champion adoption and leadership endorsement of new technologies and ways of working.


• Influence development of AIDPA messaging and communications to articulate strategy, progress, decisions, and realized value.


• Partner with R&D of the Future central team, enterprise transformation teams, and communications teams to embed AIDPA into broader R&D transformation narratives.

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications Required

• 12 years of leadership experience across R&D functions


• Demonstrated ability to make key program decisions, hold partners accountable, and build trust and influence across R&D functions.


• Experience leading complex, multi‑workstream portfolios requiring sequencing, prioritization, and trade‑off management across competing demands.


• Proven success leading enterprise‑scale, cross‑functional transformations with measurable value realization.

Preferred

• Deep strategic and domain expertise in Research & Development and data/digital/AI fluency in an R&D context.


• Experience integrating Data/Technology foundations into business process optimization and reimagined ways of working.


• Previous partnership with data and technology organizations to deliver scalable solutions.


• Knowledge and experience with agile ways of working.


• Advanced degree (PhD, MBA, etc.) or equivalent.

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: $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. For information about our benefits,

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

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.

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. Takeda is an equal opportunity employer.