Takeda

Associate Director, Strategy & Operations, R&D Data & Quantitative Sciences (DQS)

Takeda$154K — $242K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in relevant field with 8+ years of experience, or Bachelor's with 12+ years; equivalent combinations considered.
  • Over 12 years in strategy, operations, or project management in pharma/biotech or similar sectors.
  • Experience in global, matrixed organizations, ideally within R&D or regulated environments.
  • Proven ability to influence without direct authority across various organizational levels.
  • Familiarity with artificial intelligence and technology integration for operational enhancement.

Responsibilities

  • Lead planning and execution of strategic and operational priorities within DQS and R&D.
  • Establish governance structures and decision-making processes for accountability and alignment.
  • Provide leadership in managing complex program and project portfolios, translating objectives into clear plans.
  • Coordinate resource planning activities that balance demand and capacity across projects.
  • Manage organizational change and operational model initiatives, ensuring clear roles and communications.
  • Translate operational data into executive insights to facilitate prioritization and action.
  • Implement continuous improvement efforts to enhance project delivery and simplify workflows.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
  • Professional development opportunities and training.
  • Flexible work environment and remote work options.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

Support the strategic and operational effectiveness of Data and Quantitative Sciences (DQS) by helping leadership translate priorities into coordinated action and consistent execution across a complex, global R&D organization. The role strengthens organizational visibility, decision readiness, resource coordination, and operating effectiveness through cross-functional partnership. The position also supports organizational change, compliance readiness, and sustainable improvements in how work is delivered.

Accountabilities:
  • Lead the planning and execution of strategic and operational priorities across DQS and the broader R&D organization.
  • Establish and maintain governance structures, operating cadences, communication processes, and escalation pathways that support alignment, accountability, and timely decision-making.
  • Provide strategic program, portfolio, and project management leadership for complex, cross-functional priorities, translating organizational objectives into integrated plans, aligned milestones, decision points, dependencies, risks, and actions that enable successful delivery.
  • Lead portfolio and resource-planning activities that integrate demand, capacity, workforce, financial, and timing considerations to support prioritization and informed leadership decisions.
  • Lead or coordinate organizational transition, integration, and operating-model initiatives, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, communication, and implementation plans.
  • Translate complex portfolio, operational, performance, resource, and risk information into executive-level insights, recommendations, and decision materials that support prioritization and timely action.
  • Establish and maintain operating-management practices, including standards, templates, dashboards, trackers, and decision records, that strengthen accountability, transparency, traceability, and effective management of programs, portfolios, and projects.
  • Lead continuous-improvement and change-management efforts that enhance program, portfolio, and project delivery, simplify ways of working, reduce rework, and support sustainable organizational effectiveness.
  • Represent DQS Strategy & Operations in various forums, leadership meetings, and cross-functional working groups; influence outcomes, build trusted partnerships, and support capability development across a global matrix organization.


Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

Desired education qualifications and equivalencies
  • Master's degree in a relevant discipline, such as pharma/biotech, life sciences, public health, healthcare, business, or a related field, with 8+ years of relevant professional experience; or
  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with 12+ years of relevant professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.


Desired minimum years industry experience
  • 12+ years of progressive experience in strategy and operations, program or project management, portfolio management, business operations, organizational effectiveness, transformation, or a related discipline.
  • Experience working in a complex, global, highly matrixed organization in pharma/biotech, preferably within research and development, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated environment.


Preferred Experience
  • Experience leading cross-functional programs, projects, or workstreams and coordinating stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.
  • Experience providing direction, mentoring, or capability development to colleagues is preferred.
  • Formal people-management experience is not required; demonstrated leadership and influence without direct authority are essential.


Desired technical skills
  • Strategy and operations leadership, portfolio governance, resource planning, and operating-model effectiveness.
  • Demonstrated expertise in strategic program, portfolio, and project management, including governance, integrated planning, prioritization, resource alignment, milestone and dependency management, risk and issue management, executive reporting, and delivery oversight.
  • Governance design, leadership reporting, decision support, and executive communications.
  • Organizational transition, integration, change management, and process improvement.
  • Development of standardized operating practices, templates, dashboards, trackers, and decision records.
  • Ability to synthesize complex information, identify key issues, and translate strategic priorities into clear plans and actionable recommendations.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain appropriate documentation, and deliver work within established timelines and quality standards.
  • Applies artificial intelligence, automation, and digital collaboration capabilities to improve operational efficiency, strengthen decision support, streamline information synthesis, and enhance consistency in planning, reporting, and execution.


Desired behavioral competencies
  • Strategic thinker who combines a long-term perspective with strong execution discipline and accountability for results.
  • Influences without direct authority and builds trusted, collaborative relationships across functions, disciplines, geographies, and organizational levels.
  • Demonstrates sound judgment, proactive risk awareness, and the ability to identify, address, and appropriately escalate issues.
  • Communicates clearly and effectively in writing and verbally, including when facilitating meetings and preparing leadership materials.
  • Navigates ambiguity, organizational change, and complex situations with adaptability, resilience, and professionalism.
  • Organizes and prioritizes multiple complex activities while maintaining attention to quality, detail, timelines, and follow-through.
  • Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and appropriate handling of confidential or sensitive information.
  • Promotes collaboration, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and capability building.
  • Demonstrates adaptability, sound judgment, and a continuous-improvement mindset when applying artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to enhance ways of working in a global, matrixed environment.


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:
$154,400.00 - $242,550.00

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.

Locations
Cambridge, MA

Worker Type
Employee

Worker Sub-Type
Regular

Time Type
Full time

Job Exempt
Yes

About Takeda

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a global pharmaceutical company that develops and markets pharmaceutical products. The company's products are used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancer. Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited was founded in 1781 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company has operations in more than 80 countries and employs more than 49,000 people worldwide.
Learn more about Takeda
Size
47,347 employees
Market Cap
$48.2 billion
Industry
Founded
1781
5 Year Trend
+15.6%
NASDAQ

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