Executive Director, Head of R&D of the Future
Takeda
7 months ago
Remote friendly (Boston, MA)
United States
$238,000 - $374,000 USD yearly
Clinical Research and Development
Role Purpose:
The Executive Director, Head of R&D of the Future, leads the strategy, integrated execution, and value realization of Takeda’s R&D of the Future program—a multi-year transformation to build a differentiated, technology-enabled R&D engine across a GCM-aligned multi-hub model.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the R&D of the Future strategy (ambition, outcomes, KPI framework) across R&D functions and initiatives.
- Drive end-to-end value realization (clear business cases, success metrics, leadership accountability, ROI management).
- Establish performance reporting and management routines to sustain outcomes through implementation and evolution.
- Align the portfolio to enterprise priorities via connectivity to enterprise transformation stakeholders/initiatives (e.g., GCM).
- Serve as senior integrator between R&D of the Future and functional priorities; ensure coherence and minimize competing change burdens.
- Lead prioritization, sequencing, and trade-off discussions; proactively remove roadblocks and resolve interdependency risks.
- Set program direction and shared operating mechanisms/common processes to connect initiatives (e.g., governance, finance, strategic priorities).
- Evolve an empowered program management capability/PMO for visibility to progress, milestones, risks, and dependencies.
- Lead end-to-end Lean redesign of priority R&D value streams (cycle time, quality, compliance, productivity) integrating people/process/technology.
- Standardize core workflows, controls, and metrics for multi-hub execution while enabling localization.
- Partner with R&D Functions/Therapeutic Areas/enablement (including data/technology) to embed capabilities into redesigned processes.
- Establish operating rhythms (governance, KPI cadence, continuous improvement) to prevent divergence across hubs.
- Champion adoption of new ways of working and enabling technologies; develop consistent program communications.
- Lead and develop the central R&D of the Future team.
Decision Rights:
- Own program governance, performance management, and value realization; set guardrails/operating mechanisms; drive prioritization, sequencing, and escalation.
- Initiative Leads remain accountable for day-to-day delivery within portfolio guardrails.
Minimum Requirements / Qualifications:
Required:
- 15+ years leadership experience across multiple R&D functions.
- Ability to make key program decisions, hold partners accountable, and build trust/influence across R&D.
- Experience leading complex, multi-initiative portfolios (sequencing, prioritization, trade-offs).
- Proven success in enterprise-scale, cross-functional transformations with measurable value realization.
- People leadership and team management experience.
Preferred:
- Strategic/domain expertise in Development; strong digital/data/AI fluency in an R&D context.
- Experience integrating data/technology foundations into process optimization and redesigned ways of working.
- Enterprise- and R&D-wide mindset coordinating priorities across functions and geographies.
- Advanced degree (or equivalent experience).
Benefits:
- Short-term and/or long-term incentives may be available.
- Medical, dental, vision insurance; 401(k) plan with company match; short-term and long-term disability; basic life insurance.
- Tuition reimbursement; paid volunteer time off; company holidays; well-being benefits.
- Up to 80 hours sick time per calendar year; up to 120 hours paid vacation for new hires.
Work Model / Travel:
- Hybrid (Cambridge, MA).
- 10–20% travel may be required.
Location:
- Boston, MA.
The Executive Director, Head of R&D of the Future, leads the strategy, integrated execution, and value realization of Takeda’s R&D of the Future program—a multi-year transformation to build a differentiated, technology-enabled R&D engine across a GCM-aligned multi-hub model.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own the R&D of the Future strategy (ambition, outcomes, KPI framework) across R&D functions and initiatives.
- Drive end-to-end value realization (clear business cases, success metrics, leadership accountability, ROI management).
- Establish performance reporting and management routines to sustain outcomes through implementation and evolution.
- Align the portfolio to enterprise priorities via connectivity to enterprise transformation stakeholders/initiatives (e.g., GCM).
- Serve as senior integrator between R&D of the Future and functional priorities; ensure coherence and minimize competing change burdens.
- Lead prioritization, sequencing, and trade-off discussions; proactively remove roadblocks and resolve interdependency risks.
- Set program direction and shared operating mechanisms/common processes to connect initiatives (e.g., governance, finance, strategic priorities).
- Evolve an empowered program management capability/PMO for visibility to progress, milestones, risks, and dependencies.
- Lead end-to-end Lean redesign of priority R&D value streams (cycle time, quality, compliance, productivity) integrating people/process/technology.
- Standardize core workflows, controls, and metrics for multi-hub execution while enabling localization.
- Partner with R&D Functions/Therapeutic Areas/enablement (including data/technology) to embed capabilities into redesigned processes.
- Establish operating rhythms (governance, KPI cadence, continuous improvement) to prevent divergence across hubs.
- Champion adoption of new ways of working and enabling technologies; develop consistent program communications.
- Lead and develop the central R&D of the Future team.
Decision Rights:
- Own program governance, performance management, and value realization; set guardrails/operating mechanisms; drive prioritization, sequencing, and escalation.
- Initiative Leads remain accountable for day-to-day delivery within portfolio guardrails.
Minimum Requirements / Qualifications:
Required:
- 15+ years leadership experience across multiple R&D functions.
- Ability to make key program decisions, hold partners accountable, and build trust/influence across R&D.
- Experience leading complex, multi-initiative portfolios (sequencing, prioritization, trade-offs).
- Proven success in enterprise-scale, cross-functional transformations with measurable value realization.
- People leadership and team management experience.
Preferred:
- Strategic/domain expertise in Development; strong digital/data/AI fluency in an R&D context.
- Experience integrating data/technology foundations into process optimization and redesigned ways of working.
- Enterprise- and R&D-wide mindset coordinating priorities across functions and geographies.
- Advanced degree (or equivalent experience).
Benefits:
- Short-term and/or long-term incentives may be available.
- Medical, dental, vision insurance; 401(k) plan with company match; short-term and long-term disability; basic life insurance.
- Tuition reimbursement; paid volunteer time off; company holidays; well-being benefits.
- Up to 80 hours sick time per calendar year; up to 120 hours paid vacation for new hires.
Work Model / Travel:
- Hybrid (Cambridge, MA).
- 10–20% travel may be required.
Location:
- Boston, MA.