Head of Global Chemistry

Takeda•Boston, MA

1d•$352,000 - $484,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Head of Chemistry acts as the strategic leader of the global drug discovery chemistry team and a core member of the Research leadership team that designs and creates innovative assets across the organization’s key therapeutic areas. The Global Head of Chemistry will be a strong drug hunter, with demonstrated experience guiding successful programs. They will manage an international team that is responsible for overseeing all aspects of medicinal chemistry, related to hit identification through to IND filing for small molecule and oligonucleotide therapeutics as well as the preclinical development of target occupancy and disease progression PET ligands. The Global Head of Chemistry employs enterprise thinking, multi-disciplinary scientific rigor and business development creativity to leverage partnerships with specialist internal and external organizations to produce innovative small molecule and oligonucleotide therapeutics that possess the potential to become life improving medicines for diseases that align to the company’s Therapeutic Area Strategy.

Requirements

Advanced degree in organic/medicinal chemistry or related field (e.g., Ph.D.) with 15 years industry and 10+ years management experience
Specialist knowledge in cutting edge drug discovery methodologies including ligand and structure-based drug design, parallel synthesis and machine learning generative AI design to advance drug discovery projects to clinical development
Strong, adaptive leadership skills with demonstrated ability to lead effectively through organizational ambiguity and in environments where end-state models are not fully defined, while continuing to deliver results
Proven capability in leading teams through transformation and disruption, including technology adoption (e.g., automation, AI), reskilling, and changes to team structures and workflows
Leadership style characterized by humility, low ego, and non-territorial behavior, with a strong enterprise mindset and willingness to prioritize broader organizational success over functional ownership
Strong cultural agility and global leadership capability, with the ability to operate effectively across different communication styles and decision-making norms in complex, multi-region environments
Well informed deep understanding of the drug discovery process, including high-throughput screening, hit-to-lead optimization, and preclinical development
Extensive experience in formulating and implementing chemistry strategies for asset and PET ligand generation preferably in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting
Strong business acumen and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including drug development regulations/processes as well as commercial considerations
Proven track record of disciplined decision making that lead to the successful execution of internal drug discovery programs to deliver clinical development candidates
Ability to build effective relationships with key stakeholders to secure support and build successful internal working practices on a global stage to progress multiple oligonucleotide and small molecule assets from program start to IND
Demonstrated success in building and managing external high impact strategic partnerships with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry collaborators that have progressed to clinical development
Excellent leadership, decision making and strategic planning skills with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving ambitious goals
Good external publication record, exceptional communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to diverse audiences internally and externally

Responsibilities

Contribute to the Research leadership team, beyond specialist input on medicinal chemistry, to ensure that research productivity meets therapeutic area unit clinical development needs and the company’s commercial goals.
Embed and empower the One Research mindset into not only the chemistry function, but the global research team, fostering shared ownership and enterprise-wide thinking.
Drive the strategic evolution, direction and leadership of chemistry teams responsible for asset and PET ligand generation for multiple drug discovery programs targeting oncology, neuroscience and gastrointestinal/inflammatory diseases, from hit identification to IND filing.
Lead the chemistry organization through transformation, operating effectively within evolving structures and organizational ambiguity, while helping to define and implement future-state operating models.
Dynamically manage the resourcing and prioritization of each chemistry program based on scientific and therapeutic area priority considerations to deliver clinical development compounds within their agreed timelines.
Continuously evaluate and elevate the productivity and capabilities of the global chemistry team through thought leadership and adoption of cutting-edge technologies and the latest scientific approaches, including building partnerships with key external experts (academic institutions, research organizations and industry partners) and implementing state-of-the-art AI/ML tools and processes.
Drive change across the function by bringing teams along through disruption, including the adoption of automation, new ways of working, and evolving role definitions, ensuring engagement, clarity, and sustained performance.
Be seen as an inspirational international subject matter expert and global thought leader in medicinal chemistry that fosters a culture of innovation and scientific excellence within the global chemistry team, promoting visionary thinking, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning.
Build effective working relationships with internal business partners to enable program teams to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including internal biology, pharmacokinetic, toxicological and pharmaceutical sciences teams as well as external partners, to develop and execute chemistry programs/strategies within each drug discovery program in the Research portfolio.
Share best practices with other groups within Research and deploy enterprise thinking to maximize the success of Research as a whole, demonstrating low ego and non-territorial leadership.
Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and development, retaining top talent and ensuring that everyone can achieve their full potential by establishing an equitable and inclusive working environment that is rich in diversity.
Implement approved ways of working to ensure that the global chemistry team can work in a safe, legally compliant and fiscally accountable environment that provides its members with an industry leading work experience.
Act as a Company Research ambassador at external public events e.g., media events, scientific review committees.