Pharmaceutical Sciences, Technology & Innovation Lead (Sr. Director)

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use .  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge. Job Description OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE: This is a senior scientific, strategic, and technology leadership role within Pharmaceutical Sciences (PharmSci), R&D, accountable for shaping and advancing an integrated PharmSci technology and innovation strategy with particular emphasis on AI/ML, computational, and in silico-first approaches for CMC applications. The role identifies, prioritizes, and accelerates opportunities where advanced analytics, predictive modeling, AI/ML, and digital capabilities can improve CMC decision-making, development speed, robustness, scalability, and lifecycle outcomes across PharmSci. The role serves as a key PharmSci ambassador for external collaborations and strategic partnerships, representing PharmSci’s data, digital, and AI/ML priorities in joint steering committees, alliance governance forums, and scientific partnership engagements. Working closely with senior internal stakeholders and external collaborators, the role ensures that innovation strategies are grounded in strong CMC fundamentals, aligned to business priorities, and translated into scalable, compliant, and value-generating capabilities. ACCOUNTABILITIES: Define and maintain the integrated PharmSci technology and innovation strategy, with specific focus on AI/ML, data-driven, and in silico-first capabilities that enable CMC advancement across development, industrialization, manufacturing readiness, and lifecycle management. Identify and prioritize high-value use cases where AI/ML, predictive modeling, simulation, and computational approaches can improve CMC outcomes, including speed, robustness, control strategy, process understanding, risk reduction, and right-first-time execution. Serve as a senior scientific and strategic leader connecting CMC domain needs with digital, data science, and computational capabilities to ensure that innovation investments are grounded in practical business value and lifecycle applicability. Act as a primary PharmSci representative and ambassador in external collaborations, alliances, and partnership governance, including participation in joint steering committee (JSC) and related forums focused on data/digital, AI/ML, and in silico innovation. Build, manage, and grow a strong external ecosystem across biotech partners, technology companies, academia, consortia, and other collaborators to expand PharmSci access to emerging computational, AI/ML, and digital capabilities relevant to CMC. Translate external partnership opportunities into actionable internal strategies, pilots, and capabilities by connecting external innovation with PharmSci priorities, scientific needs, governance requirements, and implementation pathways. Partner across PharmSci technical functions, DD&T, data science, and other enterprise enabling teams to ensure AI/ML and digital solutions are scalable, compliant, sustainable, and aligned to enterprise architecture and operating models. Provide leadership for the evaluation, piloting, adoption, and scaling of digital and computational capabilities, ensuring they are supported by appropriate governance, data foundations, change management, and measurable value realization. Ensure that AI/ML and in silico-first approaches are applied with appropriate scientific rigor, CMC context, and regulatory/compliance awareness, supporting inspection readiness, lifecycle robustness, and operational feasibility. Drive performance management across the technology and innovation portfolio by defining success metrics, monitoring value realization, and communicating progress, risks, and opportunities to senior stakeholders. CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE: AI/ML and in silico-first leadership in CMC: differentiates this role through the ability to identify and apply advanced computational approaches to real CMC challenges and opportunities. External ambassador and partnership leadership: acts as a visible PharmSci representative in strategic external engagements, including JSC and alliance settings, particularly for data/digital and AI/ML collaborations. Strong CMC credibility: brings deep CMC understanding and can translate between computational innovation and practical development, industrialization, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory realities. Bridge between science and digital innovation: connects CMC subject matter expertise, business priorities, and modern AI/ML capabilities into scalable, high-value solutions. DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS: Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise: Strong end-to-end understanding of the CMC lifecycle, spanning development, scale-up, tech transfer, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory implications. Deep expertise in the application of AI/ML, advanced analytics, modelling, simulation, and/or in silico approaches to scientific or CMC-related problems. Strong understanding of how digital, data, and computational capabilities can be translated into practical CMC use cases and scalable business value in a regulated environment. Strong computational fluency, including familiarity with modern AI/ML methods, model development and deployment considerations, and the data requirements needed to enable successful use in practice. Ability to evaluate emerging AI/ML and computational technologies critically, including their scientific fit, maturity, scalability, and potential value for PharmSci. Strong understanding of CMC technology strategy and the interplay between scientific innovation, data foundations, digital platforms, implementation pathways, and lifecycle readiness. Leadership: Sets direction and aligns senior stakeholders aro