Head of Characterization Small Molecules

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Are you looking for a patient-focused innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine Join us as a Head of Characterization Small Molecules in our Cambridge office.

At Takeda we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer we offer stimulating careers encourage innovation and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive collaborative workplace in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring bold mission.

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

• Establish a clear vision and roadmap for extended characterization that aligns with discovery development and manufacturing needs across small and mid molecules (Oligo small molecules and peptides).
• Implement optimize and apply cutting-edge techniques (e.g. MS NMR microscopy) to strengthen understanding of drug substance and product properties stability and quality.
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies and digital tools to modernize characterization platforms and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Create and sustain a high-performing team through hiring mentoring resource planning and talent development.
• Partner with analytical DS/DP manufacturing and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development and production decisions.
• Build external collaborations and enhance scientific reputation through publications conferences and industry engagement.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Define lead and deliver the extended characterization strategy across the CMC portfolio to support drug discovery development and manufacturing.
• Oversee the implementation optimization and application of advanced analytical platforms (e.g. MS NMR microscopy bioassays) to enable deep process and product understanding.
• Identify evaluate and integrate emerging analytical and digital technologies to modernize characterization capabilities and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Build mentor and lead a high-performing scientific organization including talent development succession planning budgeting and resource allocation.
• Partner with analytical DS DP manufacturing and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development scale-up and production decisions.
• Establish and manage strategic external partnerships and enhance organizational reputation through publications conferences and thought leadership.

CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE:

• Set enterprise strategy for extended characterization across the CMC portfolio
• Enable deep product and process understanding using advanced analytical technologies
• Build and sustain bestinclass analytical capability through talent platforms and innovation
• Embed characterization insights into development and manufacturing decisions

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

• Deep expertise in mass spectrometry (MS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and advanced microscopy applied to drug discovery development and manufacturing.
• Ability to generate indepth understanding of molecular attributes structure stability and quality for small and/or large molecules across the CMC lifecycle.
• Oversight of advanced bioassay platforms to support product characterization and performance understanding.
• Strong grounding in analytical characterization within pharmaceutical CMC including support of development scaleup and manufacturing.
• Capability to evaluate implement and scale emerging analytical technologies to strengthen characterization depth and efficiency.
• Experience with crystallography particle science and physical chemistry applied to pharmaceutical products.
• Handson experience implementing modelling digital tools and advanced data analytics in characterization workflows.
• Experience managing external analytical partners and supporting transfer of methods to manufacturing environments.
• Technical experience supporting regulatory submissions and approval processes from an analytical characterization perspective.

Leadership:

• Strategic and scientific leadership: Set direction for extended characterization and provide credible thought leadership in advanced analytical science
• People and capability building: Build mentor and sustain a highperforming futureready scientific organization
• Crossfunctional influence: Align and partner effectively across CMC DS DP manufacturing and quality to drive impact
• Change and innovation leadership: Lead modernization of analytical platforms and adoption of emerging technologies

Decision-making and Autonomy:

• Full authority to define and drive the extended characterization vision priorities and roadmap across the CMC portfolio.
• Autonomy to select implement and evolve advanced analytical technologies and digital tools.
• Decision rights over team structure hiring talent development budgeting and resource prioritization.
• Authority to establish external collaborations and set the depth and direction of characterization that informs development and manufacturing decisions.

Interaction:

• Work closely with ADQC DS DP manufacturing and quality teams to align characterization efforts with development and production needs.
• Provide direction coaching and prioritization to internal scientific teams to ensure delivery and capability growth.
• Engage with senior scientific and functional leaders to shape priorities strategy and investment decisions through analytical insight.
• Build strategic relationships with external partners and represent the organization through publications and scientific forums.

Innovation:

• Modernize and evolve characterization platforms to maintain cuttingedge analytical depth and efficiency
• Adopt emerging and digital and modelling technologies to enhance data quality insight generation and decisionmaking
• Leverage external innovation through academic and industry partnerships to accelerate scientific advancement

Complexity:

• Enterprise and portfolio complexity: Oversight of extended characterization across diverse programs spanning discovery development and manufacturing.
• High scientific and technical complexity: Integration of multiple advanced analytical platforms applied to varied molecules and modalities.
• Crossfunctional and stakeholder complexity: Managing interdependencies across analytical DS DP manufacturing quality and external partners.
• Change and regulatory complexity: Driving innovation and modernization within a highly regulated risksensitive environment.

EDUCATION BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Ph.D. with 5-7 years MSc with 10-13 years BSc with 12-15 years of industry experience in a relevant life sciences discipline with in analytical development and characterization.
• Deep experience with advanced characterization techniques (e.g. MS NMR microscopy) applied within CMC.
• Strong understanding of analytical development supporting discovery development manufacturing and regulatory submissions.
• Proven scientific leadership strong communication and collaboration skills and ability to manage complex priorities and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions and approval processes.
• Track record in modernizing analytical platforms or introducing new technologies at scale.
• Leadership: Proven track record of leading teams developing talent and driving strategic initiatives.
• Strategic thinking: analyses current and future scenarios disrupts the status quo with innovation while remaining pragmatic and focused on priorities
• Results oriented: Demonstrated ability to drive initiatives from concept to execution
• Structured goal-oriented and highly motivated
• Fluent in English. Japanese is a plus
• Strong and proven ability to work transversally on a local and global level

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

This position is currently classified as hybrid in accordance with Takedas Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

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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.

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U.S. Base Salary Range:

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 actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

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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.

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