Head of Characterization Molecules

Job Description

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a Head of Characterization Small Molecules in our Cambridge office.

At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE
:

• Establish a clear vision and roadmap for extended characterization that aligns with discovery, development, and manufacturing needs across small and mid molecules (Oligo, small molecules and peptides).
• Implement, optimize, and apply cutting-edge techniques (e.g., MS, NMR, microscopy) to strengthen understanding of drug substance and product properties, stability, and quality.
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies and digital tools to modernize characterization platforms and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Create and sustain a high-performing team through hiring, mentoring, resource planning, and talent development.
• Partner with analytical, DS/DP, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development and production decisions.
• Build external collaborations and enhance scientific reputation through publications, conferences, and industry engagement.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Define, lead, and deliver the extended characterization strategy across the CMC portfolio to support drug discovery, development, and manufacturing.
• Oversee the implementation, optimization, and application of advanced analytical platforms (e.g., MS, NMR, microscopy, bioassays) to enable deep process and product understanding.
• Identify, evaluate, and integrate emerging analytical and digital technologies to modernize characterization capabilities and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing scientific organization, including talent development, succession planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Partner with analytical, DS, DP, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development, scale-up, and production decisions.
• Establish and manage strategic external partnerships and enhance organizational reputation through publications, conferences, and thought leadership.

CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE:

• Set enterprise strategy for extended characterization across the CMC portfolio
• Enable deep product and process understanding using advanced analytical technologies
• Build and sustain best‑in‑class analytical capability through talent, platforms, and innovation
• Embed characterization insights into development and manufacturing decisions

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

• Deep expertise in mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and advanced microscopy applied to drug discovery, development, and manufacturing.
• Ability to generate in‑depth understanding of molecular attributes, structure, stability, and quality for small and/or large molecules across the CMC lifecycle.
• Oversight of advanced bioassay platforms to support product characterization and performance understanding.
• Strong grounding in analytical characterization within pharmaceutical CMC, including support of development, scale‑up, and manufacturing.
• Capability to evaluate, implement, and scale emerging analytical technologies to strengthen characterization depth and efficiency.
• Experience with crystallography, particle science, and physical chemistry applied to pharmaceutical products.
• Hands‑on experience implementing modelling, digital tools, and advanced data analytics in characterization workflows.
• Experience managing external analytical partners and supporting transfer of methods…