Associate Director, Research Strategy Development

Job Description

Associate Director, Research Strategy Development The Research Strategy Development function is responsible for integrating scientific acumen with strategic and operational capabilities to drive the vision, coherence, and execution of Takeda Research's most critical strategy & transformation priorities, including the flagship initiative “Labs of Tomorrow”. Takeda Research is constructing a Lab of Tomorrow built on AI, automation, new ways of working, and talent with the singular vision of delivering differentiated medicines to the clinic at speed and cost. The Associate Director, Research Strategy Development is a critical member of our Research Strategy Development team, advancing key initiatives and serving as strategic partner to Research leaders in reshaping how research is conceived, organized, and executed as Takeda embarks on the Labs of Tomorrow transformation journey. This role serves as both a multiplier for strategic initiatives, driving towards impact and value realization, as well as partnering with senior leaders in Research to evolve group strategies and priorities in alignment with the Labs of Tomorrow vision. The role requires scientific credibility, strong analytical and strategic skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships with senior Research leaders. Familiarity with AI and emerging technologies in a drug discovery context is a plus. Accountabilities:

• Supports the advancement of key strategic initiatives, serving as a strategic leader - structuring problems, developing analytical frameworks, and ensuring outputs translate into clear, actionable recommendations aligned with enterprise goals.
• Contributes to the execution of Labs of Tomorrow and other strategic priorities, helping to accelerate progress by sharpening strategic recommendations and ensuring workstream efforts remain connected to the overarching vision.
• Supports the development and maintenance of Research's multi-year strategic roadmap, contributing to scenario planning and prioritization frameworks that account for evolving internal and external conditions.
• Partners with senior Research leaders to develop and evolve group-level strategies, ensuring scientific priorities are aligned with and informed by Takeda Research's broader strategic vision.
• Serves as a bridge between individual Research groups and enterprise-wide strategic initiatives - translating strategic direction into concrete implications for each group, while surfacing group-level perspectives that should inform program evolution.
• Partners with operational colleagues embedded within Research groups to ensure seamless transition from strategy to implementation, translating priorities into actionable plans and maintaining strategic intent through the handoff.
• Develops high-quality strategy deliverables in support of both key initiatives and Research group strategy, including situation assessments, option analyses, build/buy/partner strategies, roadmaps, and executive communications.
• Monitors the external landscape for relevant developments in AI, data science, emerging scientific trends, and technology-enabled research models, translating insights into strategic implications for Research group strategy and Labs of Tomorrow transformation priorities.
• Supports the preparation of governance forums, leadership reviews, and other key Research strategy milestones - distilling complex, multi-workstream content into coherent narratives that enable high-quality decision-making.

Education & Competencies:

• Advanced degree in a life sciences discipline required; PhD strongly preferred, with research experience in drug discovery or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech strategy, with meaningful exposure to drug discovery and development processes.
• Experience in management consulting or an internal strategy function with a consulting operating model; ability to structure and solve complex strategic problems independently.
• Deep knowledge of drug discovery and development processes, including preclinical research models, target identification and validation, and competitive dynamics in Takeda's core therapeutic areas.
• Demonstrated ability to drive strategy initiatives from problem definition through to recommendation and execution, with a bias for impact and tangible outcomes.
• Familiarity with AI, data platforms, lab automation, or technology-enabled research models as strategic topics; comfort engaging on these themes in the context of research transformation.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior scientific leaders while also operating effectively as a hands-on contributor within a fast-moving transformation program.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize scientific, competitive, and operational information into clear, compelling strategic recommendations.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills — able to distill complex content into executive-ready narratives, both in writing and in person.
• Collaborative working style with intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and comfort operating in environments where strategy and execution are evolving simultaneously.