Senior Director, Design & Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Cambridge, MA

Job Description

Objective /

Purpose:

The Head of Design & Delivery, Pharm Sci will lead the global digital product strategy across Takeda’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Digital Data & Technology (DDT) portfolio, driving innovation and operational excellence across the CMC lifecycle.

This leadership role is accountable for shaping and delivering innovative, compliant, and business‑aligned digital solutions. You will manage a global team of product managers and work cross‑functionally to ensure that Takeda’s technology platforms are innovative, modern, scalable, and enable faster delivery of medicines to patients.

• Drive the delivery strategy for multi‑year enterprise impacting programs and products including critical digital transformation initiatives such as Aedificus Fortis (AF), In Silico First and digitization of internal clinical manufacturing projects.
• Elevate the product management teams to be seen as strategic partners ensuring delivery of fit for purpose digital solutions that meet the evolving needs of Pharm Sci and beyond.
• Define and execute the strategic product roadmap across Pharm Sci products including but not limited to Scientific Data products (Tetrascience, ECM, SDMS), GMP Clinical Manufacturing products (MES, ERP, MODA, LIMS), Knowledge management product (PLM, R&D Search), and Drug and Device Management Lab Validation.
• Structure and resource product teams based on demand planning to support strategic roadmaps.
• Ensure platforms are integrated, compliant, and user‑centric across all business areas.
• Build, upskill, and lead a high‑performing global product management team. Foster a product‑driven agile culture to support delivery excellence.
• Collaborate with senior leaders across Pharm Sci, Research and RDDT including Business Partners, Tech Services, Data and AI delivery to align technology strategies with evolving business needs.
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies (e.g., automation, AI/ML, NLP) into the product portfolio to drive operational excellence and innovation in CMC and device design.
• Ensure all products are developed and maintained in compliance with global regulations (e.g., GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, FDA) and Takeda’s quality and risk management standards.
• Work closely with architecture, engineering, quality, and data teams to ensure scalable and interoperable solutions across R&D.
• Represent Pharm Sci product leadership in strategic governance forums, investment planning committees, and external regulatory or industry working groups as needed.
• Ensure alignment of product solutions to Takeda’s short and long‑term goals, both tactical and strategic.
• Lead and mentor Product Oriented Delivery (POD) Leads, Technical Leads, Business Analysts, and Quality Engineers, fostering a collaborative and high‑performing environment.
• Provide guidance and coaching to team members and teams, reviewing and assessing team performance and identifying areas for improvement.
• Drive alignment between POD capacity and evolving business needs ensuring agility in responding to high‑impact initiatives.
• Responsible for stakeholder management, driving cross‑functional collaboration, cross‑enterprise influence and communication to ensure smooth product delivery and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
• Handle risk management, identifying potential project/product risks and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Oversee project budgets, resource allocation, and timelines to ensure timely delivery of projects within budget and in adherence to quality standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS) strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical R&D technology or digital product leadership roles, with deep expertise across Pharmaceutical Sciences.
• Strong understanding of CMC processes, GxP, regulatory compliance and global quality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead product teams through complex, regulated environments using modern product management and agile delivery frameworks.
• Strategic thinker with outstanding leadership, communication, and…