Associate Director, High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry

Role Summary

Associate Director High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry (Acoustic MS) within the Lead Profiling / DMTA team, responsible for developing, implementing, and running high-throughput mass spectrometry workflows to support lead profiling and ADME assays. You will be a key technical and strategic contributor enabling high-throughput, high-quality data generation for DMTA (Design–Make–Test–Analyze) cycles and will report to the Head of Lab Automation and Transformation. This role is central to shaping and scaling Takeda’s next-generation, automated screening and profiling capabilities.

Responsibilities

• High-Throughput Mass Spectrometry & Acoustic MS:
  • Lead the design, development, and optimization of high-throughput MS workflows, focusing on acoustic MS platforms for small-molecule and biotherapeutic lead profiling.
  • Own the end-to-end lifecycle of acoustic MS methods—from feasibility and method development through validation, troubleshooting, and routine deployment.
  • Drive continuous performance improvements in sensitivity, robustness, throughput, and cost-per-sample across MS workflows.
• DMTA Lead Profiling & ADME Support:
  • Execute and oversee DMTA lead profiling assays, ensuring reliable, timely delivery of high-quality MS data for project teams.
  • Adapt and translate ADME assays (e.g., solubility, permeability, metabolic stability, protein binding) to high throughput MS formats, leveraging miniaturization and automation to increase throughput and reduce cycle time.
  • Partner with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, biology, and data science functions to align assay design and data outputs with decision-making needs across discovery programs.
• Lab Automation & Lab of the Future:
  • Collaborate with the Lab Automation and Transformation organization to integrate MS platforms into end-to-end automated workflows (sample preparation, plate handling, liquid handling, scheduling, data capture).
  • Provide scientific and technical input into the design and selection of new instruments, automation hardware, and software to support the lab of the future vision.
  • Contribute to digitalization efforts by helping define data standards, metadata capture, and connectivity between instruments, LIMS/ELNs, and analytics platforms.
• Operational Excellence & Quality:
  • Establish and maintain robust QC procedures, SOPs, and best practices for high-throughput MS operations, including system suitability and performance monitoring.
  • Drive root-cause investigations and implement corrective actions when assay performance drifts or system issues arise.
  • Ensure data integrity, reproducibility, and compliance with Takeda quality and safety standards.
• Collaboration, Influence & Leadership:
  • Act as the subject matter expert (SME) for high-throughput and acoustic MS within the lead profiling and automation communities at Takeda.
  • Provide training, mentorship, and technical guidance to scientists and associates on MS methods, data interpretation, and troubleshooting.
  • Communicate clearly with interdisciplinary stakeholders, presenting complex technical topics in an accessible way to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.

Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field with 6+ years of relevant industry/postdoctoral experience; OR M.S. with 12 years of relevant experience; OR B.S. with 14 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D.
• Deep hands-on expertise in mass spectrometry, with a track record of developing and running high-throughput MS assays.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with acoustic MS platforms (method development, optimization, troubleshooting, and routine operation).
• Strong experience in quantitative bioanalytical methods for small molecules and/or biotherapeutics (direct MS, LC–MS, or acoustic MS-based quantitation).
• Proven experience working with DMTA or screening workflows, preferably in lead profiling or DMPK/ADME support.
• Proficiency with MS data analysis tools and software; experience with scripting or data handling (e.g., Python, R, Spotfire) is a plus.
• Adapting ADME assays to acoustic MS, including miniaturization, plate-based workflows, and automation-friendly assay design.
• Experience integrating MS instruments with automated sample preparation and plate handling systems (liquid handlers, robotic arms, plate stackers, schedulers).
• Experience in high-content, high-throughput environments, including design-of-experiment (DoE) approaches for optimization.
• Familiarity with LIMS/ELN systems and data pipeline tools, including integration of instrument outputs into central data lakes or analytics platforms.
• Background in drug discovery lead optimization and understanding of how ADME and profiling data inform structure–activity relationships and project decisions.

Education

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or related field (6+ years of relevant experience) or equivalent combination of education and experience as listed above.

Skills

• Mass spectrometry instrumentation and workflows
• Acoustic MS platforms
• Quantitative bioanalytical methods for small molecules/biotherapeutics
• MS data analysis tools; scripting (Python, R) a plus
• Automation and lab workflow integration
• DoE and high-throughput assay design
• LIMS/ELN and data connectivity