Director, AIRx External Partnership Management Lead
Drug Discovery DevelopmentMaster RequiredExecutive Director
About the role
Job Description
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. To catalyze these efforts, Takeda is creating two complementary units: AI Research Accelerator (AIRx) and Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR).AIRx will consist of a dedicated group of experienced drug hunters with the autonomy of a biotech and the resources of a leading pharmaceutical company. It is designed to incubate the future AI-powered operating models and deliver candidates to the clinic at industry leading speed and success rates.
Role Purpose
AIRx executes the majority of its wet-lab work externally — its speed, cost, and quality targets all depend on CROs operating as a true extension of the team. The Director, AIRx CRO & External Partnerships is the single accountable owner of all CRO relationships for AIRx.This is not a contracting role. CROs must be actively managed with clear expectations, frequent direction-setting, real-time performance management, and direct accountability for milestones and quality. This role drives this through daily coordination with CRO teams, regular on-site presence at key partners (including periodic visits to domestic and international CROs), and tight integration with AIRx scientific leads.
This role owns the full external execution lifecycle — partner identification, contracting, data specification, and ongoing performance management — and ensures CRO outputs feed AIRx data systems in a format ready for AI/ML decision-making. The ideal candidate brings deep CRO landscape knowledge, an established external network, and the operational rigor to run multiple parallel partnerships at AIRx's pace and quality bar.
Accountabilities
Active CRO management
- Manage CROs with active oversight — not arm's-length vendor management. Set expectations, drive cadences, and hold partners directly accountable for milestones and quality.
- Maintain regular on-site presence at key CRO partners, including periodic visits to critical domestic and international partners; use site time to deepen relationships, resolve issues directly, and reinforce AIRx ways of working.
- Drive daily and weekly coordination between CRO teams and AIRx scientific leads to ensure tight execution against shared milestones.
- Identify performance issues proactively — at the working level, before they become escalations — and resolve in real time to protect program timelines.
Partner selection & contracting
- Identify and evaluate CRO partners for chemistry, biology, DMPK, and other capabilities required by AIRx programs.
- Own contracts, SOWs, timelines, and quality standards; partner with Takeda procurement, legal, and alliance management as necessary.
- Build and maintain a preferred supplier network capable of responding at AIRx's pace and quality requirements.
Data, budget & landscape
- Coordinate data handoffs to ensure CRO outputs are captured in AIRx data systems (TetraScience, SAIL) in a standardized, decision-ready format suitable for AI/ML pipelines.
- Track and manage outsourcing spend across programs; provide budget visibility to Head of AIRx and Program Manager.
- Monitor the external CRO and innovation landscape for new capabilities, providers, and partnership models that strengthen AIRx execution.
Qualifications & Competencies
- Degree in life sciences or chemistry; advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical outsourcing, CRO management, or alliance management within drug discovery; biotech experience strongly preferred.
- Deep knowledge of the CRO landscape across chemistry, biology, and DMPK capabilities; established personal network of CRO and external partner relationships.
- Proven track record actively managing complex, multi-CRO programs — not just contracting them — with urgency, rigor, and budget discipline.
- Hands-on, operational style; comfortable embedding in scientific team dynamics rather than managing at arm's length.
- Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally on a regular basis.
- Strong contract negotiation, vendor management, and performance oversight skills.
- Experience supporting AI/ML-enabled or digital drug discovery programs strongly preferred; familiarity with data standardization requirements (TetraScience, FAIR data principles) a plus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- The position will be based in Cambridge, MA. This position is currently classified as “hybrid” by Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy
- Travel Requirement includes visits to critical domestic partners and quarterly visits to international partners
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:
$177,000.00 - $278,080.00
The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/or long-term incentives. U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.