Lead, R&D Leadership Communications & Engagement

Lead, R&D Leadership Communications & Employee Engagement

The Lead, R&D Leadership Communications & Employee Engagement, Director level, will serve as a strategic partner to the President of R&D and the R&D Management Committee, driving communications and engagement programs that connect employees, amplify leadership voices, and align R&D priorities with enterprise goals. This person will craft compelling, story-driven communications and lead high-impact initiatives of strategic importance to R&D. They will also manage executive thought leadership platforms, oversee internal channels, and champion innovation through emerging technologies like AI and automation – all while fostering a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and continuous improvement.

This position is classified as “hybrid” under Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy. It requires a minimum of eight (8) in-office days per month at our Cambridge, MA office.

• Comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry
• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures
• Enterprise-level leadership with the ability to inspire, motivate, and drive results
• Ability to present complex information clearly and with confidence
• Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, verbally and in writing
• Proven skills as an effective team player who can engender trust, credibility, and confidence within and outside the company
• Ability to distil complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms
• Embraces and demonstrates a diversity and inclusion mindset and role models these behaviors for the organization

• Broad decision-making responsibilities
• Ability to make highly complex decisions that impact the enterprise
• Ability to seek diverse input from multiple constituents and stakeholders to drive innovative solutions
• Ability to incorporate feedback and ensure decisions are made swiftly to yield flawless execution
• Accountable for designing and implementing vision and strategy for designated scope

• Foster solutions-oriented thinking by fostering a culture of performance, accountability, simplicity, empowerment, external orientation, and curiosity
• Effectively navigate the changing external and internal environment and lead others through change by creating and inspiring an engaging workplace
• Effectively negotiate and collaborate with business partners, demonstrating the ability to resolve conflict constructively
• Build strong partnerships and drive role clarity with other Takeda functions, including but not limited to R&D, DD&T, Finance, IT, Procurement, HR, Legal/Compliance, Global Corporate Affairs, Public Affairs, external vendors, and others

• Visionary and forward-thinking with the ability to influence and effectively drive organizational change and continuous innovation; comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions
• Take risks implementing innovative solutions, accelerating time to market
• Identify areas for process and systems innovation and implement change that will enhance overall effectiveness of the team
• Digital-minded leader continually seeking ways to incorporate AI and new technologies into daily work

• Ability to work in a global and highly matrixed ecosystem (internal and external) with a high degree of complexity

• Bachelor's degree – BS/BA, majors in Journalism, Communications, or public policy/public affairs preferred
• A minimum of 10 years with demonstrated increased level of responsibility of professional experience required
• Executive communications experience required
• Strategic business partner with the ability to translate business information into language that employees and customers can understand
• Experience in adopting and driving AI-powered solutions
• Ability to negotiate and form consensus among various parties important
• Experience in the healthcare/bio-pharma industry is preferred
• Strong social media experience preferred
• A naturally creative writer who can write clear, compelling narratives customized for various stakeholders
• Ability to work…