Head of Global Medical Affairs Oncology; GMAO Scientific External Engagement

Job Description

About the Role:

The Director, Head of GMAO External Engagement will report to the Head of GMAO Medical Capabilities and will lead the strategic vision, integration, and execution of Takeda Oncology’s global external scientific engagement efforts.

This role will oversee the GMAO external engagement team, ensuring a unified, cross‑portfolio approach to scientific engagement across congresses, professional societies, and key opinion leaders (KOLs).

As a senior leader within the GMAO Medical Capabilities team, this individual will drive alignment across Oncology cross‑functions, regions and LOCs, and to elevate Takeda’s scientific presence and impact externally.

• Strategic Leadership
  • Define and lead the overarching GMAO external scientific engagement strategy, congress strategy, organizational and KOL engagement strategy, and Independent Medical Education strategy.
  • Serve as the senior medical point of contact for external scientific engagement strategy across Oncology functions, regions and LOCs, ensuring alignment with Takeda Oncology portfolio priorities and enterprise goals.
  • Co‑create and implement an integrated, enterprise‑aligned KOL engagement strategy that ensures coordinated, insight‑driven, and compliant interactions across OBU functions, regions, and LOCs—driving consistent execution of shared business objectives at the brand, asset, and disease area levels.
• Team Oversight & Development
  • Directly manage and mentor GMAO external engagement leads across disease areas.
  • Foster a high‑performing, collaborative team culture that can deliver meaningful and measurable results, with innovation, compliance, and scientific excellence.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with Oncology cross‑functions and regional/LOC teams to ensure a “One Oncology” approach to external scientific engagement.
  • Collaborate with Ethics & Compliance, Legal, and Regulatory to ensure compliant execution of all external‑facing activities to meet and exceed key business goals/objectives.
• Operational Excellence
  • Oversee the development of GMAO congress, organizational and KOL engagement plan and business processes, create shared solutions and tools to streamline planning and execution with cost‑effectiveness.
  • Ensure consistent measurement and reporting of engagement impact, insights, and value to internal stakeholders.
• Innovation & Best Practices
  • Identify and implement best practices and emerging technologies to enhance Takeda Oncology’s external scientific engagement effectiveness.

• Master’s degree in a scientific discipline with 10+ years of experience in medical affairs, scientific engagement, strategic operations or related roles in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Proven leadership experience partnering across cross‑functional teams and external engagement strategies at a global level.
• Deep understanding of oncology therapeutic areas and the external scientific landscape.
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical regulations, compliance, and industry standards.
• Exceptional communication, influence, stakeholder management and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience overseeing budgets, vendors, and performance metrics.

Up to 35% international and domestic travel.

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.

Boston, MA

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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.

U.S. based employees may be eligible…