Associate Director/Director/Sr. Director, Cell Therapy Program Leader

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Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine?
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
The Oncology Cell Therapy Program Leader (PL) is a seasoned leader fully dedicated, responsible, and accountable for leading the development of one or more than one cell therapy programs from Project Initiation (PI) to Candidate Selection (CS) before transitioning to Global Program Team/Leader. The PL works closely with other Cell Therapy Innovation (CTI) leaders, Research Program Managers and other functional partners. In addition, the PL provides mentorship to the next-generation PL talents if needed.
The guiding frame is defined by Takeda values of Patient-Trust-Reputation-Business.

• May lead key business initiatives Evaluates new opportunities and provides overall support for feasibility studies on potential programs.
• Showcases the PL leadership skills and program team operating model functioning and deliverables through all job attributes defined at Takeda
• Provides matrix management, strategic and tactical leadership to cross-functional members who are responsible for leading the key deliverables of the functional sub-teams for a given program. Team members are directly accountable to the PL on the sub-team objectives.
• Ability to partner with all key functions to drive, deliver and maximize program value
• Stakeholder Relationship
• Inspirational Leadership
• Execution Skills
• Strategic Vision
• For a given program, the PL is the single leader of a cross functional team. The PL ensures through the functional sub-team leaders and their teams all project deliverables achieve defined project scope & objectives, budget and timelines with full functional support, keeping in mind value maximization and strong sense of the time/quality balance.
• For a given program, responsible for an overarching program strategy and execution. The PL leads all activities associated with the program from PI to CS with full accountability.
• Accountable with the responsible Research Program Manager for timelines and impacts on operating budgets within the program; leads budget setting in collaboration with functions and manages variance to budget ensuring overall Takeda financial objectives are met.
• Effective in communicating, decision making and committing to areas of joint decision making
• Promotes organizational reputation by engaging with internal and external stakeholders and collaborating actively to the PL community
• Leads one or more than one programs, depending on the size and stage or the programs.
• Reports on program progress, issues, related updates, new requests for decision related to strategic scope or budget increase (new recommendations, change or buy-up) or timelines change and risks to the Cell Therapy Council (CTC) or Takeda executive management governance committees as per company process.
• Committed to driving activities from early Discovery to Candidate Selection
• Leads the program strategy together with other functional leaders and partners in the context of unmet medical need, competitive landscape, and key TPP attributes required to bring the product to CS and to ensure global access for patients in context of Takeda’s values Patient-Trust-Reputation-Business. This must take into consideration all development and commercial requirements as well as potential local/regional key requirements.
• Strong Analytical Credibility
• PLs must be experienced, versatile and strong enterprise leaders

Program Strategy, Activity Planning and Execution

• Works closely with the Research Program Managers, CTI leaders and other functional partners to provide strategic, process, and operational leadership to multiple program teams and Takeda functions.
• Provides leadership and support to the Cell Therapy Council (CTC) and sub-team leaders to set the vision and direction for OTAU and prioritizes all aspects of projects.
• Reports on progress of projects, plans/plan changes, critical path, possible scenario, and issues/risks/impact to the Cell Therapy Council (CTC) and Takeda executive management through internal or external reviews of programs.
• Leads the Cell Therapy Program in setting program vision, strategy, goals, priorities and long-term plans and schedules. Aligns cross-functional, cross-divisional project goals with Takeda business needs and strategies.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Accountable with the responsible Research Program Managers for project operating budgets within the program; monitor and control expenditures; manages variance between budgeted and actual expenditures of time, cost, and personnel while meeting overall Takeda financial objectives.

Resource and Issue Management

• Proactively and regularly identifies/monitor project risks before they transform into issues and develops contingency plans; communicates timely and proactively project-related issues to senior executive management and manages issues to resolution.
• Works with CTI leaders, Research Program Managers and other functional partners to manage internal and external resources (people, information, technologies, time, and capital); allocates project resources appropriately, given division, function and individual goals and objectives to align with business imperatives.
• Consults with the Cell Therapy Council (CTC) to deliver accurate and timely project status and deliverable information to enable the organization to focus on key priorities and enhance its ability to deliver work (e.g., studies/projects) on-time and on-budget (including proficient use of systems to improve reporting or access to data).

Change Management

• Proactively responds to the dynamics of a changing competitive landscape; directs adjustments in functional or cross-functional plans in response to changes in strategic direction. Change management agent for the program team.
• Contributes to the creation and maintenance of systems/databases for the purpose of tracking key performance indicators (KPIs), trending, learning, and improving decisions regarding program performance and continuance.

Matrix Team Management

• Provides matrix management, strategic and tactical leadership to program team members who are responsible for leading the key deliverables or functional sub-teams within individual projects. Stakeholder management is also an expectation as a result of the highly matrixed work environment.

Required
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Broad business/enterprise orientation
• Advanced scientific degree (MD, or PhD, or PharmD) or MBA
• Minimum 8 years interdisciplinary experience with complex projects including strategy and execution and matrix team management
• Minimum of 10 years related experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with working knowledge of research and development in cell therapy
• Project Management Professional certification
• Passionate about developing others into future leaders

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.
What Takeda Can Offer You

• 401(k) with company match and Annual Retirement Contribution Plan
• Health & Wellness programs including onsite flu shots and health screenings
• Community Outreach Programs
• Tuition reimbursement Company match of charitable contributions
• Generous time off for vacation and the option to purchase additional vacation days

Base Salary Range 194,600 to 278,000. Employees may also be eligible for Short Term and Long-Term Incentive benefits. Employees are eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k), Charitable Contribution Match, Holidays, Personal Days & Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement Program and Paid Volunteer Time Off.
The final salary offered for this position may take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, skills, education, and experience.
Empowering Our People to Shine
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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.
Locations
Boston, MA
Worker Type
Employee
Worker Sub-Type
Regular
Time Type
Full time