Director, Head of Biochemical Lead Profiling

Role Summary

The Head of Biochemical Lead Profiling leads Takeda’s Lab of the Future initiative, driving AI-integrated DMTA cycles for small and large-molecule discovery. This role owns the strategy, design, and execution of biochemical lead profiling assays on fully automated platforms, emphasizing assay miniaturization and end-to-end digitalization. Partners with disease biology, medicinal chemistry, DMPK, data science/AI, and automation engineering to ensure biochemical testing drives fast, reliable decision-making across the discovery portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Vision:
  • Define and execute the global strategy for biochemical lead profiling to support Takeda’s DMTA cycle, aligned with the Lab of the Future roadmap.
  • Champion automation, robotics, and AI/ML to increase throughput, data quality, and decision speed across biochemical assays.
  • Help establish a fully automated and integrated DMTA cycle by partnering across teams responsible for the process.
  • Refine a vision for fully integrated workflows from assay design to execution, data capture, analysis, and reporting.
• Biochemical Assay Development & Profiling:
  • Collaborate with Drug Discovery Units to design, develop, and validate robust biochemical assays (enzyme, binding, target engagement) for primary, secondary, and mechanistic profiling.
  • Lead a core facility serving multiple modalities, ensuring seamless operation and timely data delivery.
  • Drive assay miniaturization to 384- and 1,536-well formats without compromising data quality, sensitivity, or reproducibility.
  • Implement best practices for assay performance monitoring, QC, and continuous improvement (e.g., Z’ factor, S/B, control strategies).
• Leadership, Collaboration & People Development:
  • Build and develop a high-performing team of scientists and research associates in biochemical assay development, screening, and automation.
  • Foster innovation, scientific rigor, operational excellence, and safety.
  • Represent lead profiling capabilities to internal stakeholders and external partners; influence global standards and best practices.
  • Serve as a key liaison to DDU scientists and leadership, modeling cross-functional collaboration.
• Automation, Robotics & Lab Operations:
  • Oversee deployment and optimization of fully automated, robotic platforms for high-throughput DMTA assays.
  • Partner with automation engineers to design scalable, modular workflows for rapid reconfiguration to new targets and assay types.
  • Ensure rigorous integration of instruments, LIMS/ELN, scheduling software, and data pipelines for end-to-end automation.
• AI-Integrated DMTA & Data Excellence:
  • Collaborate with AI/ML, cheminformatics, and data engineering to ensure assays and data are “AI-ready.”
  • Promote advanced analytics, modeling, and AI/ML to inform assay design, hit triage, SAR development, and portfolio decisions; establish data standards and governance for longitudinal data mining and cross-program learning.

Qualifications

• Education & Experience: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology, or related field with 10+ years in industry/postdoc; OR M.S. with 16+ years; OR B.S. with 18+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D, focused on biochemical assay development and lead profiling.
• Experience embedding AI/ML and advanced analytics into DMTA processes and decision-making.
• Hands-on familiarity with scheduling software, LIMS/ELN, and data pipeline tools used in automated labs.
• Experience in hit-to-lead and lead optimization, interpreting biochemical data in the context of SAR and portfolio strategy.
• Prior leadership in a “lab of the future,” high-throughput screening, or fully integrated discovery platform environment.
• Proven ability to drive change and transformation in complex, global R&D organizations.
• Proven track record of developing and validating biochemical assays for drug discovery (e.g., enzyme kinetics, binding assays, mechanistic profiling).
• Experience running assays on fully automated, robotic platforms in high-throughput settings.
• Demonstrated experience miniaturizing assays to at least 384-well and preferably 1,536-well formats.
• Experience designing and operating integrated workflows connecting lab instrumentation, automation, and informatics systems.
• Strong leadership experience, managing and developing scientific teams at senior scientist/principal scientist level.
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills to partner with chemistry, DMPK/biology, data science, informatics, and automation engineering.
• Clear, concise written and verbal communication with ability to influence at Executive Director and VP levels across diverse teams.

Education

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience as described above.

Additional Information

• The position will be based in Cambridge, MA. Hybrid work arrangement per policy.
• Locations: Boston, MA