Director, Corporate Strategy

Takeda•Boston, MA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Corporate Strategy leads strategic analyses and cross-functional projects that inform Takeda’s long-term direction, enterprise priorities, portfolio choices, and major corporate decisions. Reporting to the Head of Corporate Strategy, the role partners with Strategy & Portfolio Development, R&D, Commercial, Finance, Business Development, External Portfolio Innovation, and other functions to evaluate strategic alternatives, assess external trends, and develop recommendations for senior leadership. The Director leads defined corporate strategy projects and workstreams, supports enterprise scenario planning, conducts industry and competitive benchmarking, and contributes to strategic assessments of corporate development opportunities. The role synthesizes complex scientific, clinical, commercial, financial, and external information into clear insights and executive-ready materials, and applies AI, advanced analytics, and emerging technology tools to enhance research and analysis. The position is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is hybrid, and involves approximately 15% global travel.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in corporate strategy, portfolio strategy, management consulting, business development, investment banking, market analytics, or a related field; significant pharmaceutical or biotech experience is preferred.
Experience leading analytical workstreams and developing recommendations on complex corporate, portfolio, growth, or transaction-related questions.
Experience working effectively in a global, cross-functional, matrixed organization.
BA/BS degree required.
Strong strategic and analytical problem-solving skills, including structuring ambiguous questions, developing hypotheses, identifying relevant analyses, and drawing actionable conclusions.
Ability to integrate scientific, clinical, commercial, financial, competitive, and policy-related information into strategic insights.
Understanding of the global biopharma industry, including drug development, commercialization, portfolio management, business development, market access, and competitive dynamics.
Experience with scenario analysis, market assessment, competitive intelligence, industry benchmarking, or strategic due diligence.
Strong quantitative and financial capabilities, including experience with business cases, valuation concepts, scenario modeling, market forecasting, sensitivity analysis, or portfolio analysis.
Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and external trends, including AI, digital health, geopolitical developments, healthcare policy, and evolving business models.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing clear, concise materials for senior executives.
Ability to synthesize complex information and identify insights, implications, and decisions relevant to leadership.
Strong interpersonal and stakeholder-management skills, with ability to build relationships and influence across functions, cultures, and geographies.
Strong project-management skills, including leading multiple workstreams, managing competing priorities, and delivering high-quality work under tight timelines.
Intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, attention to detail, and willingness to challenge assumptions and established perspectives appropriately.
Ability to use AI and technology responsibly to increase analytical productivity, identify insights, and accelerate strategic recommendations.

Nice To Haves

MBA, PhD, MD, or equivalent advanced degree.
Significant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
Familiarity with mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin-outs, partnerships, licensing, or other corporate development activities.

Responsibilities

Lead corporate strategy projects and analytical workstreams related to long-term strategy, growth priorities, portfolio, geographic presence, capabilities, and competitive positioning.
Support enterprise scenario planning by developing and analyzing alternative future scenarios and assessing implications for strategy, portfolio, investments, and capabilities.
Analyze strategic alternatives, articulating assumptions, opportunities, risks, trade-offs, and potential financial and organizational implications.
Prepare strategic evaluations, recommendations, presentations, written summaries, and other executive materials for senior leadership and Board discussions.
Conduct industry and peer benchmarking across competitor portfolios, R&D and commercial investments, business development, geographic exposure, financial performance, organizational capabilities, and business models.
Monitor biopharma and healthcare business models and evaluate the potential effects of AI, digital health, scientific innovation, geopolitical developments, healthcare policy, market access changes, and other external trends.
Conduct strategic assessments of mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, spin-outs, and other corporate development scenarios.
Develop market, competitor, portfolio, financial, and strategic analyses to support enterprise strategy, annual planning, and capital allocation discussions.
Synthesize scientific, clinical, commercial, financial, and external information into strategic insights, implications, and decision-ready recommendations.
Collaborate with business units, therapeutic areas, and functions to understand their priorities and incorporate relevant insights into enterprise strategy and planning.
Monitor global biopharma trends, competitor actions, policy and regulatory developments, technology disruption, financial-market conditions, and emerging risks and opportunities.
Manage strategy projects from problem definition and analytical design through stakeholder engagement, recommendation development, and final communication.
Apply AI, advanced analytics, and emerging technology tools to improve research, analysis, scenario development, benchmarking, and strategic materials.