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Associate Director, Global Program Management

Boston, Massachusetts
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  • Job Type: Full Time
  • Job Level: Senior
  • Travel: Minimal (if any)

Takeda has been translating science into breakthrough medicines for 240 years. Every step of the way, our teams have worked together to tackle some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. Today, we’re a driving force behind innovative therapies that make a lasting difference to millions of patients around the world.

In R&D, all of our history and potential comes together in an environment that welcomes diversity of thought and amplifies every voice. Working closely with colleagues, you’ll play a key role in bringing our rich pipeline of products forward to help patients. Come join a team that’s earned trust for more than two centuries, and find out how advancing transformative therapies at Takeda will shape your bright future.

Job ID R0136618 Date posted 10/28/2024 Location Boston, Massachusetts

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’sPrivacy Noticeand 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

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a (Title) 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:

Demonstrates excellence in project management in support of one or more drug development programs across all phases of development. Serves as a partner for the Global Project Leader in developing the asset strategy and ensuring efficient execution of tactical plans by the Global Product Team (GPT).

  • Core responsibilities include:
    • Providing strategic direction and translating the integrated GPT asset strategy into an efficiently executable plan; predicting and planning solutions to achieve program goals and objectives; driving clarity and removing barriers to ensure team success;
    • Interfacing with management and influencing asset-level decision-making
    • Proactive management and mitigation of development risks, and supporting appropriate communication and interface with enterprise-level governance.
    • Maintaining up-to-date and accurate key program information in PM business systems and ensuring quality program timelines, team data, and required tools are updated as appropriate.
    • Play a key role in ensuring team effectiveness, partnering with GPL and CoOP to administer team health checks to generate insights, plan & execute appropriate follow-up actions.
    • Accountable for asset-level financial management, budget, forecasting, and monitoring of variance.
  • Considered a department wide PM SME, driving cross-divisional alignment and continuous improvement activities.
  • Participates in innovative departmental process improvement initiatives with significant organizational impact and manages, as needed, non-project responsibilities, which can include process and system optimizations.                         

  • Partners with GPL to lead GPT or Joint Development Team (for partnered Alliance programs) to develop and maintain the asset strategy and corresponding operational development plans in alignment with the ONEOncology strategy, lifecycle management requirements, and evidence generation/publication needs.
  • Drives delivery of critical path activities to progress asset development. Identifies ways to optimize program execution without compromise to patients or compliance.
  • Ensures asset strategy and integrated development plan have a patient-centric focus, incorporates innovative approaches that are meaningful to patients, HCPs, regulators & payers, and adhere to the highest standards of operational excellence in drug development and life cycle management. Serves as facilitator and driver of GPT to ensure progress of asset development. This includes establishing meeting agendas in partnership with GPL and GPT members, facilitating effective team discussions, driving to clear and timely team actions and decisions, holding team members accountable for action follow-through.  Ensures team effectiveness through team health checks with development and appropriate follow-through on action plans to boost team productivity. Partners with the GPL and program finance lead to provide financial oversight of the program including  global, cross-divisional budgets.  Includes consolidation, vetting and prioritization of GPT spending to deliver critical path activities.

Leverages team members to proactively identify potential issues or obstacles and achieves resolution or plans contingencies.  Follow issues through to resolution ensuring that all key stakeholders are informed of outcomes and program implications. Proactively addresses and removes barriers to program progress, keeping leadership informed of critical considerations (e.g., resources, performance).  Provides clarity and direction in urgent or unexpected situations.  Independently resolves complex issues and competing priorities that may impact achievement of goals, creates mitigation plans and drives to resolution.

Manages scheduled and ad-hoc program status reporting, citing progress against program goals/KPIs, proactively identifying risk with planned mitigation(s), and providing rationale for timeline and budget variances. Participate in portfolio analyses to communicate program development progress, opportunities, and risks to Senior & Executive Management. Responsible for leading preparation efforts for governance engagement to support and drive asset objectives and deliverables. Facilitates relevant communications to appropriate stakeholders and in conjunction with Alliance Managers, with Alliance partners.

Considered a department–wide PM SME, driving  cross-divisional  alignment and continuous improvement activities. May participate in initiatives that have cross-functional or cross-divisional impact that are critical to the objectives of the Therapeutic Area Unit (TAU), Center of Operational Performance (CoOP), and/or global business objectives

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

  • Bachelor’s Degree science or business-related field
  • Advanced degree in science or business is preferred
  • Preferred: 5-7 years of in-depth pharmaceutical industry experience and drug development in all phases of development with significant experience within related functions (e.g. Clinical Science, Clinical Operations, Research, Regulatory, CMC, Marketing)
  • 3-5  years program management experience leading complex pharmaceutical projects in a multi-disciplinary, global environment
  • Demonstrated ability to positively influence outcomes, key project decisions, and strategic problem-solving
  • Proven ability to communicate clearly and present key information objectively to all levels of the organization including executive management
  • Matrix program leadership and management skills are required
  • Thorough knowledge of Therapeutic Area preferable but not required
  • Ability to influence and negotiate in a matrix environment to optimize development and address barriers
  • Proactive risk management with ability to propose solutions and deliver appropriate mitigation plan
  • Ability to communicate (written and verbal) with impact to provide appropriate context, articulate views, drive clarity, and address barriers to progress program development
  • Ability to drive decision-making within a cross-functional and cross-cultural, global team structure
  • Flexibility, tolerance and diplomacy to best manage change and differing opinions
  • Ability to work in a virtual setting/across time-zones, i.e., making effective use of communication tools (WebEx, TelePresence, telephone and video conferencing, etc.)
  • Ability to inspire and motivate in a matrix and global, cross-geographical team
  • Ability to work in a highly complex, multi-cultural, environment
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • A solid business background as well as excellent commercial understanding
  • Highly effective presentation skills
  • Experience with Microsoft Project Professional, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint & Word

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 Takeda’s 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.

For Location:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$149,100.00 - $234,300.00

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.

U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/or long-termincentives. U.S.based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S.based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

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.

Locations

Boston, MA

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time
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During my 20-year journey here, I’ve been fully supported by my colleagues, and I can’t say enough about our rich internal talent and the long-standing values that drive our decisions as we work to develop important medicines for the patients we serve.

Doug Coffman - Head, R&D Asset Transition & Integration Office, R&D Regional & Business Operations

When making any type of decision, the first thing we ask is 'how will this impact patients?’ Ultimately, we’re laser focused on the best interests of the patient, and I truly believe we follow through on that.

Meredith Culp - VP, Head of Neuroscience Therapeutic Area Strategy & Operations and Head of Global Development Integration Office

Our culture and shared values make us like a family here at Takeda. It doesn't feel like work when you're doing something you love with people you love, and when your outcome is really fantastic.

Alison Handley, Head, Center for External Innovation

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What we believe in

Our values of Takeda-ism are Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance, with Integrity as the core. These are brought to life through actions based on Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business, in that order.

Our belief in putting people first extends beyond our patients — it includes their families and communities, as well as our Takeda colleagues and their families.

We are committed to embracing our differences, valuing different perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and empowerment.

Our embedded Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy enables us to attract and retain exceptional talent, drives innovation, and helps address systemic inequalities in our communities.

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Honesty

  • Perseverance

Working at Takeda

  • Inclusion

    Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as a vital contributor to our global team.
  • Collaboration

    A strong, borderless team, we strive together towards our priorities and inspiring mission.
  • Innovation

    Bold initiatives, continuous improvement, and creativity are at the heart of how we bring scientific breakthroughs from the lab to patients.
  • Top Workplace

    Recognized for our culture and way of working, we’re one of only 17 companies to receive Top Global Employer® status for 2024.
  • Work-Life

    Our people-first mission extends beyond patients to include their families, communities, and our own Takeda family.
  • Empowerment

    Through trust and respect, you will have genuine support from leaders, managers, and colleagues to do your best work.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

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Boston, Massachusetts


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