Lead, Search & Evaluation, AI and Automation Drug Discovery

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About the Role

Takeda is seeking an experienced and strategic leader director level to identify evaluate and advance external innovation opportunities in AI automation data and digital technologies that can accelerate and differentiate our drug discovery capabilities. This individual will bring a deep understanding of the drug discovery landscape together with strong technical fluency in AI/ML computational sciences and digital platforms to assess opportunities for partnership licensing collaboration and strategic investment.

This role sits withinStrategy and Portfolio Development (SPD)and reports to theHead of External Portfolio Innovation. As part of SPD this role will connect external innovation opportunities to enterprise portfolio priorities and long-term capability building. The successful candidate will help shape Takedas external innovation strategy for AI and Automation in Drug Discovery by proactively scouting emerging capabilities leading technical diligence and partnering closely with stakeholders across Research Data Digital & Technology (DD&T) and Business Development.

This is a highly visible role for a leader who combines scientific credibility strategic insight strong external presence and the ability to translate emerging technologies into meaningful R&D and business impact.

This position is based in Cambridge Massachusetts and requires the employee to be located within a reasonable commuting distance of the Takeda Cambridge office. Employees are expected to maintain a regular onsite presence of two to three days per week with a minimum of eight (8) in-office days per month at the Cambridge office.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively scout and evaluate external innovation opportunities across AI automation computational sciences and digital technologies relevant to drug discovery.

• Identify and assess partnership licensing collaboration and strategic investment opportunities across academia biotechnology companies technology companies venture ecosystems and other relevant external partners.

• Lead or coordinate technical due diligence for external opportunities engaging internal subject matter experts to assess scientific fit technical feasibility strategic alignment risk and value potential.

• Synthesize complex diligence findings into clear actionable recommendations for governance bodies and senior leadership.

• Partner closely with Business Development and cross-functional stakeholders during opportunity assessment and transaction shaping.

• Help define and evolve external innovation priorities aligned to Takedas R&D and DD&T strategy.

• Serve as a key external representative of Takedas strategic interests in AI and automation for drug discovery.

• Build and maintain a strong network across the biopharma technology and venture ecosystem to ensure visibility into emerging trends capabilities and partnership opportunities.

• Support evaluation of how external technologies can be deployed to address high-value scientific and operational challenges across drug discovery.

What Success Looks Like

In this role success will include:

• Building a high-quality pipeline of external opportunities aligned to Takedas strategic priorities

• Enabling efficient rigorous technical diligence and clear decision-making

• Influencing internal strategy for AI- and automation-enabled discovery capabilities

• Strengthening Takedas position as a partner of choice in the external innovation ecosystem

• Helping translate emerging technologies into differentiated R&D impact

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in a scientific or technical field such as Data Science Computer Science Bioinformatics Engineering Computational Biology or a related discipline

• Significant industry experience in pharma biotech healthcare or a closely related innovation environment

• Deep understanding of drug discovery processes including areas such as target identification and validation hit identification optimization and pre-IND research

• Strong understanding of AI/ML data digital technologies and/or automation platforms relevant to drug discovery

• Demonstrated experience evaluating external technologies partnerships or innovation opportunities

• Proven ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives and influence senior stakeholders

• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex technical assessments clearly and effectively to leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD MD or other advanced degree in a relevant scientific or technical discipline

• Experience in search and evaluation external innovation business development support or technology strategy

• Experience spanning computational sciences AI/ML platforms lab automation digital research platforms or related areas

• Strong network across the biopharma digital health AI and technology ecosystem

• Experience operating successfully in matrixed global organizations and influencing across scientific technical and business functions

Leadership Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with strong scientific and technical judgment

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and emerging technology landscapes

• Effective collaborator across research DD&T business and external partner environments

• Able to balance innovation ambition with practical assessment of feasibility risk and value

• Skilled at building credibility and influence internally and externally

• Demonstrates initiative curiosity sound judgment and strong decision-making in a fast-paced environment

Travel

• Approximately 20% travel

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

U.S. Base Salary Range:

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position years of relevant experience specific and unique skills level of education attained certifications or other professional licenses held and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

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EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity gender expression parental status national origin age disability citizenship status genetic information or characteristics marital status status as a Vietnam era veteran special disabled veteran or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal state and local laws and any other characteristic protected by law.

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