Head, Strategy & Operations, R&D DD&T

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Job Description

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

The Head of Strategy and Operations for the R&D Data, Digital and Technology (R&D DD&T) organization will lead and drive strategic alignment, operational excellence, portfolio management, and cross-functional collaboration. As a senior advisor to the Head, R&D Data, Digital & Technology, this role is pivotal to ensuring that DD&T initiatives effectively contribute to the broader R&D strategy. The Head of Strategy and Operations will oversee all governance and operational aspects of the R&D DD&T team, ensuring agility, transparency, and delivery of high-value solutions for key R&D functions.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Portfolio and Resource Management:

• Drive effective management of the R&D DD&T portfolio by prioritizing initiatives, allocating resources, and setting go/no-go project decisions

• Build alignment and facilitate monthly meetings with stakeholders and R&D DD&T business partners, ensuring resource optimization and timely decision-making

• Collaborate with Finance and Procurement teams to align budgeting with project priorities

• Governance of the R&D DDT portfolio, including oversight and planning of R&D DD&T Council

Strategy Development and Alignment:

• Develop, maintain, and communicate the R&D DD&T strategy as part of broader R&D goals, ensuring alignment across Global DDT and R&D to include:  Research, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Global Development, Regulatory, Data & Quantitative Sciences and Therapeutic Area Units (TAUs)

• As a strategic partner to the Head, R&D DD&T helps to define R&D DD&T leadership focus and shape objectives, KPIs, and MRP (Mid-Range Plan) financial goals

• Partner with teams across the organization to define strategic objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling data-driven tracking and continuous improvement throughout the year

• Key leader accountable for driving and enabling R&D DD&T strategic workforce plans

Program and Project Management:

• Provide leadership and expertise in program and project management, ensuring that initiatives are executed efficiently, effectively, and at the highest quality

• Implement best practices for project initiation, delivery, risk monitoring, and issue resolution while working collaboratively with cross-functional teams

• Drive continuous improvement by embedding lessons learned and optimizing processes for future initiatives

Operations and Ways of Working:

• Oversee R&D DD&T Communications & Engagement: drive transparency throughout the organization, facilitate connectivity & belonging, enable within-function and cross-functional collaboration

• Partners with the Head, R&D DD&T to define leadership team agendas, coordinate leadership team meetings, coordinate off-site leadership team meetings with HR focused on leadership development, execute strategic reviews (e.g., capacity, forecasts, special projects)

• Oversee and enhance R&D DD&T's operational model to ensure the team functions as a high-performing organization

• Organize team functions, including meetings, workshops, and collaborative sessions to drive productivity, innovation, and organizational impact

• Establish and maintain DD&T knowledge repositories and communication channels, promoting transparency, collaboration, and the seamless sharing of information

Accountability and KPI Tracking:

• Define, track, and analyze KPIs, goals, and metrics tied to DD&T and R&D objectives

• Develop systems for performance assessment and reporting to promote accountability and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement

• Ensure consistent delivery of measurable value through DD&T initiatives

Global Library Services & Scientific Intelligence:

• Accountability and leadership for these functions, ensuring that it’s mission, initiatives & projects meet R&D DD&T strategy and stakeholder requirements

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures

• Functional level leadership with the ability to inspire, motivate and drive results

• Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, verbally and in writing

• Proven skills as an effective team player who can engender credibility and confidence within and outside the company

• Ability to distil complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms

• Demonstrates leadership presence and confidence

• Embraces and demonstrates a diversity and inclusion mindset and role models these behaviors for the organization

• Builds teams across functions and geographies with individuals who have the right skills and experience to deliver on key organizational initiatives.

• Invests time in helping others to enhance their skills and perform at a higher level

Decision-making and Autonomy:

• Decision making responsibilities: Provide input to highly complex decisions that impact the functional area. Accountable for decision making for designated function. Ability to seek diverse input from multiple constituents and stakeholders to drive innovative solutions. Ability to incorporate feedback and ensure decisions are implemented swiftly to yield flawless execution 

• Accountable for providing input to and implementing vision and strategy for designated scope

Interaction:

• Effectively navigates the changing external and internal environment and leads others through change by creating and inspiring and engaging workplace

• Cultivates a broad network of relationships throughout Takeda, with affiliates and external partners, in the industry and area of expertise

• Effectively represents function in negotiations with the ability to resolve conflict in a constructive manner

• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with other interfacing Takeda functions

Innovation:

• Forward thinking with the ability to recommend, influence and implement organizational change and continuous innovation

• Comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions

• Ability to take risks implementing innovative solutions, accelerating time to market

• Identifies opportunities and anticipates changes in the business landscape through an understanding and ongoing assessment of the environment affecting the business

• Role models respect and inclusion, creating a culture that fosters innovation

Complexity:

• Ability to work in a global ecosystem (internal and external) with a high degree of complexity

• Deep expertise required

• Ability to see and understand broader, enterprise level perspective 

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, MD, or equivalent) in a relevant field such as Life Sciences, Business Administration, or Technology preferred

• A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in R&D, digital development, or a comparable business function, with demonstrated leadership expertise in strategy and operations

• Proven track record in portfolio management, program/project management, and large-scale change implementations at a global, matrixed organization

• Previous experience leading a medium to large organization and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders is a plus

• Proven track record of leading and driving business process transformation and organizational culture change as well as delivering on programs with complex business deliverables

• Track record of successful leadership, management, and development of large, multi-disciplinary globally dispersed teams. Strong judge of talent with the ability to make tough talent decisions

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Hybrid role, based in Cambridge, MA

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:

$208,200.00 - $327,140.00

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

Job Exempt

Yes

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