Head of Oncology Translational Research

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Boston, MA, USA
Posted on Dec 13, 2024

Head of Oncology Translational Research

Boston, Massachusetts
  • Job Level: Senior
  • Travel: Minimal (if any)

At Takeda, we strive to provide transformational opportunities for every member of our team, and we empower our people to take charge of their futures. In an environment that fosters lifelong learning and a growth mindset, you’ll have the support you need to thrive — at work and beyond.

Job ID R0138528 Date posted 11/11/2024 Location Boston, Massachusetts

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Job Description

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a Head of Oncology Translational Research in our Cambridge office.

At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

OBJECTIVES:

The Head of Oncology Translational Research (OTR) is an exciting role within the Precision & Translational Medicine (PTM) function in the Takeda Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit (OTAU). Oncology Translational Research is a highly innovative, cutting-edge modality agnostic translational research team that develops and provides critical oversight of translational strategies and deliverables for our Oncology programs from project initiation and target identification through the IND process. The team also provides support to clinical stage programs and drives reverse translation to inform early discovery programs and build on platform and disease area learnings. The Head of Oncology Translational Research is a strategic leader, a member of PTM Leadership Team, and accountable for overseeing a team of Translational Research Leads. The incumbent will work closely with partners across the Takeda Oncology enterprise including the Oncology Drug Discovery Unit, Computational Oncology, Clinical Science, Portfolio Strategy, Business Development, and Program Management. Experience working at the interface between discovery and development within the oncology field is essential.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  • Drive strategic priorities and direction of the Oncology Translational Research team ensuring alignment with the company's goals and objectives that deliver game-changing, highly differentiated, therapeutic opportunities for patients.
  • Serve as a core member of the PTM leadership team and contribute to the culture, vision, priorities, and objectives of the OTAU PTM organization.
  • Lead a high performing early translation research team supporting all Oncology discovery programs prior to IND filing.
  • Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and development and grow the team as needed to support the needs of the business.
  • Ensure appropriate innovation, rigor, quality, and excellence for translational deliverables in Takeda’s discovery Oncology programs and enable indication selection and biomarker prioritization for our clinical trials based on preclinical data, established models, and multi-modal real world data.
  • Ensure development and delivery of translational strategies that will generate critical insights (TE, PD, PK MOA/POM, dose selection…etc) to inform program decision making in early clinical development.
  • Establish new external translational partnerships as needed to advance key Oncology science and program initiatives as needed.
  • Key point of contact with the Oncology Drug Discovery Unit on early pipeline programs and with other core research functions for experimental and reagent support.
  • Serve as a thought partner for disease area strategy initiatives to accelerate our pipeline.
  • Stay on top of industry trends to identify future translational gaps and opportunities, develop plans to implement and help programs pivot to ensure future success.
  • Represent PTM in the evaluation and due diligence assessment of external assets and technologies.
  • Represent PTM in governance reviews as needed to provide strategic scientific input into discovery and early clinical development plans.
  • Supports and provides expertise to advance innovative translational capabilities with oncology
    translational research, oncology biomarkers, and strategic innovation.
  • Lead and contribute to the development of internal scientific recommendations, strategy, external consortia, internal/external whitepapers for translational excellence, external publications, as needed.

EDUCATION AND COMPETENCIES

  • PhD or MD/PhD with 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech Research & Development.
  • Strong track record of success developing and implementing preclinical and early clinical translational strategies to support oncology drug development programs, including successful IND filings.
  • Excellent leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving ambitious goals.
  • Strong business acumen and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including regulatory requirements and commercial considerations.
  • Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including academic institutions, research organizations, and industry collaborators.
  • Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a data-driven mentality.
  • Ability to work and drive decision-making within a multi-disciplinary, multi-regional, matrix
    teams with a global perspective with cultural competency.
  • Good fit with Takeda core values and leadership principles, including the highest personal values and ethical standards.
  • Right attitude (agile, curious, positive, open-minded, “can-do” mindset) must be willing and able to be “hands on,” results-oriented mindset.
  • Strong track record of scientific publications desired.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to drive to or travel to conferences, partner meetings, including overnight trips. Some international travel may be required.
  • Requires approximately 5% travel.

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

This position is currently classified as “hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

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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:

205,100.00 - 322,300.00

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-termincentives. 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.

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

Where you fit in

Our team at Takeda is tackling some of the most challenging problems in drug discovery and development. As the newest member of our Research team, you’ll conduct purposeful, meaningful work on groundbreaking modalities that may lead to breakthrough drugs.

With our deep investment in next-generation technologies, you’ll have the resources and support to do your best work. As a part of our team, you’ll connect with brilliant minds inside and outside of Takeda. We are committed to collaborating with academia and emerging biotech companies to expand our reach and impact in cell therapy, gene therapy and data sciences.

Our team’s wide-ranging expertise includes medicinal chemistry, genomics datasets, immunofluorescence, high content imaging, flow cytometry, transcriptional profiling, multi-step synthesis, multimodal genetics, pharmacokinetics and much more. Whatever area inspires you, your work will support the progression of an innovative, industry-leading discovery pipeline and make an impact that matters to patients and society.

A career in Research at Takeda will give you everything you need to succeed professionally — and make a difference to patients, people and the planet.

  • Design and carry out experiments

  • Manage multiple projects

  • Document data

  • Mentor other scientists

Along with incredibly passionate colleagues, there’s a clear commitment to invest in the best facilities and the right equipment needed to successfully perform world-class science.

Christina Alves - Head of Biotherapeutics Process Development

Our pipeline

Our internal research capabilities and external partnerships contribute to an R&D engine that has produced exciting new molecular entities (NMEs) across our core Therapeutic Areas. Check out our pipeline and see how we’ll continue delivering a steady stream of next-generation therapies.

Learn more

What we believe in

Our values of Takeda-ism are Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance, with Integrity as the core. These are brought to life through actions based on Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business, in that order.

Our belief in putting people first extends beyond our patients — it includes their families and communities, as well as our Takeda colleagues and their families.

We are committed to embracing our differences, valuing different perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and empowerment.

Our embedded Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy enables us to attract and retain exceptional talent, drives innovation, and helps address systemic inequalities in our communities.

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Honesty

  • Perseverance

Working at Takeda

  • Inclusion

    Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as a vital contributor to our global team.
  • Collaboration

    A strong, borderless team, we strive together towards our priorities and inspiring mission.
  • Innovation

    Bold initiatives, continuous improvement, and creativity are at the heart of how we bring scientific breakthroughs from the lab to patients.
  • Top Workplace

    Recognized for our culture and way of working, we’re one of only 17 companies to receive Top Global Employer® status for 2024.
  • Work-Life

    Our people-first mission extends beyond patients to include their families, communities, and our own Takeda family.
  • Empowerment

    Through trust and respect, you will have genuine support from leaders, managers, and colleagues to do your best work.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

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About our location

Boston, Massachusetts


View Map of Boston, Massachusetts

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