Associate Director, Strategy & Operations, R&D Data & Quantitative Sciences (DQS)

3316 Takeda Development Center Americas•Cambridge, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Support the strategic and operational effectiveness of Data and Quantitative Sciences (DQS) by helping leadership translate priorities into coordinated action and consistent execution across a complex, global R&D organization. The role strengthens organizational visibility, decision readiness, resource coordination, and operating effectiveness through cross-functional partnership. The position also supports organizational change, compliance readiness, and sustainable improvements in how work is delivered.

Requirements

Master’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as pharma/biotech, life sciences, public health, healthcare, business, or a related field, with 8+ years of relevant professional experience; or Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline with 12+ years of relevant professional experience; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
12+ years of progressive experience in strategy and operations, program or project management, portfolio management, business operations, organizational effectiveness, transformation, or a related discipline.
Experience working in a complex, global, highly matrixed organization in pharma/biotech, preferably within research and development, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated environment.
Experience leading cross-functional programs, projects, or workstreams and coordinating stakeholders across multiple functions and organizational levels.
Demonstrated leadership and influence without direct authority are essential.
Strategy and operations leadership, portfolio governance, resource planning, and operating-model effectiveness.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic program, portfolio, and project management, including governance, integrated planning, prioritization, resource alignment, milestone and dependency management, risk and issue management, executive reporting, and delivery oversight.
Governance design, leadership reporting, decision support, and executive communications.
Organizational transition, integration, change management, and process improvement.
Development of standardized operating practices, templates, dashboards, trackers, and decision records.
Ability to synthesize complex information, identify key issues, and translate strategic priorities into clear plans and actionable recommendations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain appropriate documentation, and deliver work within established timelines and quality standards.
Applies artificial intelligence, automation, and digital collaboration capabilities to improve operational efficiency, strengthen decision support, streamline information synthesis, and enhance consistency in planning, reporting, and execution.
Strategic thinker who combines a long-term perspective with strong execution discipline and accountability for results.
Influences without direct authority and builds trusted, collaborative relationships across functions, disciplines, geographies, and organizational levels.
Demonstrates sound judgment, proactive risk awareness, and the ability to identify, address, and appropriately escalate issues.
Communicates clearly and effectively in writing and verbally, including when facilitating meetings and preparing leadership materials.
Navigates ambiguity, organizational change, and complex situations with adaptability, resilience, and professionalism.
Organizes and prioritizes multiple complex activities while maintaining attention to quality, detail, timelines, and follow-through.
Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and appropriate handling of confidential or sensitive information.
Promotes collaboration, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and capability building.
Demonstrates adaptability, sound judgment, and a continuous-improvement mindset when applying artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to enhance ways of working in a global, matrixed environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing direction, mentoring, or capability development to colleagues is preferred.
Formal people-management experience is not required

Responsibilities

Lead the planning and execution of strategic and operational priorities across DQS and the broader R&D organization.
Establish and maintain governance structures, operating cadences, communication processes, and escalation pathways that support alignment, accountability, and timely decision-making.
Provide strategic program, portfolio, and project management leadership for complex, cross-functional priorities, translating organizational objectives into integrated plans, aligned milestones, decision points, dependencies, risks, and actions that enable successful delivery.
Lead portfolio and resource-planning activities that integrate demand, capacity, workforce, financial, and timing considerations to support prioritization and informed leadership decisions.
Lead or coordinate organizational transition, integration, and operating-model initiatives, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, communication, and implementation plans.
Translate complex portfolio, operational, performance, resource, and risk information into executive-level insights, recommendations, and decision materials that support prioritization and timely action.
Establish and maintain operating-management practices, including standards, templates, dashboards, trackers, and decision records, that strengthen accountability, transparency, traceability, and effective management of programs, portfolios, and projects.
Lead continuous-improvement and change-management efforts that enhance program, portfolio, and project delivery, simplify ways of working, reduce rework, and support sustainable organizational effectiveness.
Represent DQS Strategy & Operations in various forums, leadership meetings, and cross-functional working groups; influence outcomes, build trusted partnerships, and support capability development across a global matrix organization.