Senior Director, AIRx Program Management

Takeda•Boston, MA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Takeda Research is building a Lab of Tomorrow powered by AI and automation, aiming to deliver differentiated medicines to the clinic with speed and efficiency. To support this vision, Takeda is establishing two new units: AI Research Accelerator (AIRx) and Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR). AIRx will be a specialized group of experienced drug hunters, operating with the agility of a biotech company and the backing of a major pharmaceutical firm. Its purpose is to develop future AI-driven operating models and accelerate the delivery of drug candidates to the clinic with industry-leading speed and success rates. The Program Manager for AIRx is crucial in integrating operations and strategy for this innovative, high-speed drug discovery model, designed to achieve biotech-like speed within a large enterprise. This role focuses on enhancing scientists' decision-making capabilities, making them faster and more effective. The Program Manager will architect a novel drug discovery operating model, setting a new standard for program management excellence within Takeda Research. Key responsibilities include driving clarity, accelerating decision-making, and ensuring execution rigor across AIRx portfolios by integrating planning, governance, external partnerships, and resource management into a unified system. Working within a lean, empowered team, this leader will enable scientific teams to concentrate on discovery by ensuring clear priorities, early risk identification, and swift, high-quality decisions. The role also involves building the AIRx model, documenting best practices, and developing scalable frameworks for future Labs of Tomorrow.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree with 23 years, MS with 21 years, or PhD with 15 years in a Science or Management related discipline.
Expected 8–10 years of program management experience.
Experience in early drug discovery (e.g., target identification, hit-to-lead stages) and late drug discovery (e.g., candidate stage, preclinical/IND enabling stages) in the capacity as a program manager.
Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification required.
Demonstrated success advancing programs from discovery through preclinical stages to IND filing/Ph1 enablement.
Sound scientific knowledge.
Strategic & Operational Leadership: Ability to integrate scientific, operational, and business inputs into coherent program strategies.
Strong systems thinker who can introduce structure without slowing teams down.
Decision Orientation: Drives clarity in ambiguity; prioritizes decisions over data accumulation.
Frames complex problems into actionable insights and trade-offs.
Execution & Accountability: Demonstrated ability to deliver in high-ambiguity, high-velocity environments.
Strong bias for action with disciplined follow-through.
Influence & Communication: Exceptional communicator capable of engaging scientific, operational, and executive audiences.
Able to influence without authority across a complex matrix.
Risk & Problem Solving: Proactively identifies risks early and drives timely escalation and resolution.
Applies structured problem-solving to complex, cross-functional challenges.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: Thrives in building new models and ways of working.
Comfortable operating with limited structure and evolving direction.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating in fast-paced, resource-constrained, or biotech-like environments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Own the integrated program strategy execution framework across AIRx teams, ensuring alignment from concept through candidate nomination.
Translate scientific strategy and functional plans into clear, actionable integrated program plans, including milestones, activity-level planning, clear critical path, and decision points.
Drive decision readiness, ensuring teams operate with clear assumptions, risks, and alternative scenarios to rapidly evolve plans based on emerging data.
Maintain real-time visibility into program health, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks across all program domains (e.g., operational, technical, strategic).
Lead end-to-end program integration, integrating internal teams, CRO partners, and consulting functions (e.g., DMPK, Safety, Structural Biology, IVR).
Drive high-tempo execution through structured forums (standups, sprint reviews, decision meetings) that prioritize outcomes over process.
Ensure on-time, on-strategy decision-making to build or maintain momentum across program inflections and milestones while maintaining flexibility in rapidly evolving environments.
Implement fit-for-purpose tools, dashboards, and workflows to enhance transparency and accelerate execution.
Own governance strategy and execution, including preparation for PRC and executive-level discussions.
Ensure materials are decision-oriented, clearly framing trade-offs, risks, and recommendations.
Drive lean governance, minimizing overhead while maximizing clarity and speed of decision-making.
Act as a trusted partner to the Head of AIRx and senior stakeholders in shaping program narratives.
Establish a culture of early risk identification and escalation, ensuring leadership visibility before issues fully materialize.
Lead structured scenario planning and mitigation strategies to protect timelines and program value.
Serve as the “wide-angle lens” across programs, identifying cross-cutting risks, dependencies, and opportunities.
Oversee coordination with CROs and external collaborators, ensuring clear deliverables, timelines, and accountability.
Optimize data flow and handoffs across internal and external interfaces.
Ensure external partnerships operate at the same pace and standards as AIRx internal teams.
Own AIRx-level and program-level budget tracking and forecasting, ensuring disciplined use of ring-fenced funding.
Partner with the Head of AIRx on resource allocation and prioritization aligned to program value.
Drive transparency in cost-to-milestone and investment efficiency.
Capture and codify AIRx best practices, learnings, and operating principles.
Contribute to the design of a repeatable, scalable Labs of Tomorrow model.
Introduce innovative approaches, including AI/ML, digital tools, and automation, to enhance productivity and decision-making.
Serve as an enterprise leader within Research PM, shaping best practices and raising the bar for program execution & management excellence.
Act as a bridge between AIRx and the broader Research organization, ensuring alignment and knowledge transfer.
Mentor and influence across functions, fostering a culture of accountability, speed, and impact.