Senior Technical Lead – R&D Laboratories

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Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

• The Laboratory Systems team within Takeda R&D Data, Digital & Technology (DD&T) is dedicated to enabling scientific innovation through robust, efficient, and secure technology solutions that support Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences laboratories worldwide. In this role, you will combine strategic technical leadership with business analysis expertise to ensure seamless integration of advanced systems and processes across the lab computing environment. Your responsibilities include collaborating with scientists and global stakeholders to understand complex business needs, define requirements, and identify technology solutions that drive operational excellence and compliance. You will lead efforts in troubleshooting, service improvement, and system implementation while proactively managing priorities and change impacts across the organization. Additionally, you will partner with IT business leaders, infrastructure services, and product teams to establish standards, optimize lab operating models, and deploy innovative methods that enhance productivity and data integrity. This position requires strong abilities and mindset to foster collaboration among diverse teams—including Tech Leads, Data Engineers, and Quality and Compliance functions—ensuring that laboratory systems remain at the forefront of Takeda’s drug discovery and development initiatives.

Accountabilities:

• Leads the implementation, optimization, and continuous improvement of Laboratory Systems and associated tools, ensuring alignment with Takeda’s R&D strategic objectives in a cost-efficient and compliant manner.
• Serves as the Process Owner for Laboratory Systems in Japan, establishing clear objectives and delegating responsibilities as needed while being accountable for decisions and outcomes.
• Acts as a subject matter expert in laboratory systems and lab computing, sharing emerging industry trends and driving innovation through proofs of concept and adoption of high-potential use cases.
• Manages requirements gathering, prioritization, and negotiation with business stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet or exceed expectations for mid-size and moderately complex projects.
• Defines and maintains process roadmaps, validates business needs through feasibility studies, and prepares business cases to support strategic improvements and technology adoption.
• Plays a key role in cross-functional IT projects such as system upgrades, cloud migrations, and digital lab initiatives, ensuring successful delivery and integration.
• Oversees daily operations, risk management, and performance monitoring using KPIs, proactively addressing issues and escalating concerns with actionable recommendations.
• Plans and oversees Lab PC asset lifecycle management, including procurement, deployment, and retirement aligned with security and operational policies.
• Coordinates and manages local lab system support vendor teams to ensure service quality and adherence to Takeda standards
• Leads and supports disaster recovery planning and execution for laboratory systems, ensuring business continuity and compliance.
• Collaborates with CyberSecurity teams to identify and remediate vulnerabilities within laboratory systems and associated infrastructure.

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

Required:

Education:

• Bachelor Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Technical:

• 10+ years’ experience as a Business Analyst, IT Management Consultant, and/or with System Development
• Proven experience designing, implementing, and supporting IT systems
• Ability of good writing and verbal communication in the English language for working as a member in multi-regional global projects, as well as the Japanese language in local teams
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, business acumen with problem solving and analytical skills
• Knowledge of business and system solutions and hands-on experience implementing applications across the full lifecycle (requirements, design, validation, deployment, support, and continuous improvement)
• Practical experience in Product Management and Agile methodologies and tools
• Demonstrated ability to work with virtual teams located in different countries around the world, aligning and adapting different work, culture and communication styles
• Ability to support multiple cross functional, local, or global projects
• Ability to communicate complex technical and scientific information in a clear and engaging manner to stakeholders, builds collaborative network of relationships in the business area and outside

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies:

• Strategic and systems thinking & ownership – Translates R&D and laboratory strategies into a clear technology and process roadmap for Laboratory Systems and takes end‑to‑end ownership for outcomes and risk management as Process Owner in Japan.
• Stakeholder collaboration and influence – Builds strong, trust‑based relationships with scientists, site leadership, global R&D DD&T, CyberSecurity, Quality and infrastructure teams, effectively aligning diverse stakeholders toward shared goals.
• Change leadership and continuous improvement – Leads stakeholders through digital and process change (e.g., new systems, upgrades, cloud migrations), manages ambiguity constructively and drives ongoing improvements in workflows, data integrity and user experience.
• People and vendor leadership in a cross‑cultural environment – Provides clear direction to vendor and internal support teams, role‑models respectful and inclusive behavior, and works effectively with multi‑regional teams across different cultures.
• Decision quality, integrity and compliance – Makes timely, data‑driven decisions balancing scientific, technical, security, compliance and business needs, while consistently role‑modelling ethical behavior, data integrity and adherence to relevant regulations.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline
• Experience within the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and/or drug discovery and development environments
• Direct experience working with Laboratory Systems and lab computing in R&D or Pharmaceutical Sciences settings
• General understanding of regulated systems and validation practices (e.g., GxP, data integrity, change control) and ability to work closely with Quality and Compliance functions
• Hands‑on experience applying AI/ML technology adaptations in any business operational excellence

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary:

• Allowances: Commutation, Housing, Overtime Work etc.

• Salary Increase: Annually, Bonus Payment: Twice a year

• Working Hours: Headquarters (Osaka/ Tokyo) 9:00-17:30, Production Sites (Osaka/ Yamaguchi) 8:00-16:45, (Narita) 8:30-17:15, Research Site (Kanagawa) 9:00-17:45

• Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, May Day, Year-End Holidays etc. (approx. 123 days in a year)

• Paid Leaves: Annual Paid Leave, Special Paid Leave, Sick Leave, Family Support Leave, Maternity Leave, Childcare Leave, Family Nursing Leave.

• Flexible Work Styles: Flextime, Telework

• Benefits: Social Insurance, Retirement and Corporate Pension, Employee Stock Ownership Program, etc.

Important Notice concerning working conditions:

• It is possible the job scope may change at the company’s discretion.

• It is possible the department and workplace may change at the company’s discretion.

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