Global Head, Strategic Research Outsourcing

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Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

The Head of Strategic Research Outsourcing serves as the enterprise‑level leader responsible for shaping and executing the long‑term external innovation and outsourcing strategy across Research. This role leads the organization’s efforts to design, govern, and optimize a global network of Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to advance Takeda’s discovery and preclinical research portfolio.

Operating at the intersection of science, business strategy, and external partnership management, this leader ensures that Takeda’s outsourced research model is a competitive advantage — enabling scalable innovation, operational excellence, and strategic alignment with evolving research priorities. The role has direct managerial responsibility for the teams overseeing early discovery chemistry, preclinical CRO management, and other outsourced research modalities, ensuring that each team is empowered, high‑performing, and future‑focused.

Accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop, own, and continuously refine Takeda’s long-range Strategic Research Outsourcing vision, ensuring alignment with Research, Therapeutic Area, and enterprise priorities.
• Anticipate emerging industry trends, scientific capabilities, global research hubs, and external innovation models to position Takeda at the forefront of strategic outsourcing.
• Drive the evolution from transactional vendor management to an integrated, strategic partner ecosystem.
• Drive Takeda’s CRO ecosystem towards a fully integrated and seamless operation model that will support an agilely enhanced research organization.

CRO Network Strategy & Governance

• Architect and oversee a global CRO network covering early discovery chemistry, preclinical research, platform technologies, and emerging scientific capabilities.
• Establish enterprise‑level governance frameworks and operating models to ensure quality, compliance, efficiency, and scientific excellence.
• Lead strategic CRO selection based on innovation potential, geographic footprint, scientific strength, risk profile, and alignment with long‑term company objectives.

Partnership Development & Relationship Management

• Serve as Takeda’s senior executive interface with strategic CRO partners, fostering collaboration, transparency, and joint long‑term planning.
• Build high‑level connections between Takeda leadership and CRO executives to strengthen innovation pipelines, capability development, and operational resilience.
• Negotiate strategic agreements and partnership roadmaps that enhance Takeda’s scientific agility and competitive positioning.

Portfolio & Scientific Integration

• Ensure outsourced capabilities are best‑in‑class, scalable, and tightly integrated into internal research workflows.
• Collaborate with scientific leaders to identify capability gaps and determine when externalization is the optimal path.
• Oversee the scientific and operational performance of CROs, ensuring high‑quality data, timely delivery, and alignment with disease‑area strategies.

Risk Management & Operational Excellence

• Identify strategic risks across the CRO ecosystem — including IP protection, dependency risks, geographic concentration, and business continuity — and lead mitigation strategies.
• Establish KPIs and performance frameworks that evaluate CROs on both operational and strategic dimensions.
• Drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance productivity, scientific innovation, and cost‑effectiveness.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, develop, coach and inspire the leaders and teams responsible for CRO management across chemistry, preclinical research, and future outsourced modalities.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, cross‑functional collaboration, and external‑ready execution.
• Build organizational capabilities required for next‑generation outsourced research (e.g., digital integration, data transparency, advanced analytics, new modality CRO ecosystems).
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