Director, Head of High-Throughput in vitro ADME

Takeda•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Takeda, we are a forward-looking, world-class R&D organization that unlocks innovation and delivers transformative therapies to patients. By focusing R&D efforts on three therapeutic areas and other targeted investments, we push the boundaries of what is possible to bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. Objective / Purpose: The Director, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME is a senior scientific and operational leader responsible for building and directing Takeda’s high-throughput in vitro ADME capabilities in support of small- and large-molecule discovery programs. Reporting to the Head of Drug Discovery Lab Automation and Transformation, this Director will define strategy, oversee operations, and drive technology innovation at the interface of ADME science, laboratory automation, and robotics. The organization will operate as a service-oriented group, delivering robust, high-quality ADME data to enable rapid, high-confidence decision-making in Design–Make–Test–Analyze (DMTA) cycles across the portfolio.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Metabolism, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field with 10+ years of relevant industry experience; or M.S. with 16+ years; or B.S. with 18+ years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D.
Extensive expertise in in vitro ADME, including method development, validation, and deployment across core assay types.
Direct experience in an organization providing ADME services (e.g., CRO or internal ADME service group), with a strong service- and customer-oriented mindset.
Proven leadership experience at the Director level, managing scientific teams and complex operations in a high-throughput environment.
Demonstrated strategic and hands-on experience with laboratory automation and robotics, including selection, implementation, and lifecycle managemet.
Successful track record in miniaturizing ADME assays formats, including optimization for data quality, robustness, and throughput.
Experience supporting both small- and large-molecule discovery programs.
Familiarity with LIMS/ELN, instrument integration, and data analysis/visualization tools in a high-throughput setting.
Building or transforming high throughput ADME capabilities (e.g. establishing new platforms, scaling capacity, modernizing legacy workflows.
Understanding how ADME outputs integrate with DMPK, PK/PD and translational strategies and inform decision making
Experience with data science and process optimization approaches to support advanced analytics, and continuous improvement

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision Define and execute the multi-year strategic roadmap for high-throughput in vitro ADME at Takeda, aligned with the broader vision of the Drug Discovery Lab Automation and Transformation organization. Shape an enterprise-level, service-oriented operating model for ADME, ensuring capacity, capability, and flexibility to meet evolving project and portfolio needs. Champion innovation in high throughput assay design, detection technologies, automation, and data workflows to enhance throughput, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Team Leadership & People Development Lead, mentor, and grow a team of scientists and research associates responsible for the routine delivery of a comprehensive suite of in vitro ADME assays. Build a culture of scientific rigor, operational excellence, safety, and customer focus, supported by clear KPIs (e.g., cycle time, success rate, capacity utilization, cost-per-data point). Drive talent development and performance management appropriate for a Director-level organization.
High-Throughput ADME Operations Oversee design, execution, and continuous improvement of a broad high throughout in vitro ADME panel, including but not limited to: Metabolic stability and clearance (microsomes, hepatocytes, S9) CYP inhibition and induction Permeability (e.g., Caco-2, MDCK, PAMPA) Plasma protein and tissue binding Transporter and other mechanistic assays Ensure robust support for both small-molecule and large-molecule modalities, adapting methods for new modalities and platforms as the portfolio evolves. Own and maintain fit-for-purpose validation, QC, and SOP frameworks, including root-cause analysis and corrective actions for assay or system deviations.
Laboratory Automation, Robotics & Miniaturization Provide scientific and strategic leadership for laboratory automation and robotics within the in vitro ADME space, in close alignment with the Head of Drug Discovery Lab Automation and Transformation. Lead assay miniaturization up to 1536-well formats, from feasibility and optimization through technology transfer into robust, routine operation. Oversee integration of liquid handlers, plate handlers, robotic arms, incubators, readers, and scheduling software into end-to-end automated workflows. Partner with internal automation/engineering and informatics teams to ensure seamless connectivity between instruments, LIMS/ELN, data pipelines, and analytical platforms.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Serve as the primary ADME service leader interfacing with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology, translational sciences, and data science. Translate portfolio and project needs into clear ADME assay strategies, capacity plans, and timelines; communicate priorities, risks, and trade-offs with transparency at project and governance levels. Collaborate with external CROs, technology vendors, and academic partners when appropriate, ensuring consistent quality standards and strategic alignment with internal capabilities.
Quality, Compliance & Continuous Improvement Ensure scientific quality, data integrity, and safety in all ADME operations, consistent with Takeda policies and relevant regulatory expectations. Define and monitor KPIs for throughput, on-time delivery, reproducibility, and cost; apply data-driven methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, DoE) to drive continuous improvement. Oversee investigations and CAPA implementation related to assay performance, automation reliability, or data issues.

Benefits

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.

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