Director, Product Pod Lead

Job Overview

The Product Pod Lead is a senior technology and product leader responsible for defining and executing the vision, strategy, and delivery of technology solutions that enable global R&D, Regulatory, or Global Development functions. This role owns a portfolio of platforms and products—including Regulatory Information Management (RIM), Clinical Operational, Clinical Data Products, and supporting integrations—and drives innovation to accelerate regulatory submissions, ensure compliance, and enhance operational efficiency.

The Product Pod Lead will coordinate with Business Systems Owners to identify value and business cases at the portfolio/pod level.

Product Strategy and Vision:
Develops and conveys portfolio‑level strategy and vision in collaboration with stakeholders, aligning with business goals and technology directions. Maintains and communicates the integrated portfolio product roadmap to ensure team alignment and delivery of value. Consistently challenges how processes and products can evolve to exploit AI and drive towards the workforce and products of the future. Oversees a portfolio of products and services with end‑to‑end accountability for vision, backlog, budget, and lifecycle management, in collaboration with product managers.

Establishes portfolio KPIs, success metrics, and performance dashboards to track value delivery.

• Drive platform rationalization, data quality, and master data management strategies across Regulatory and Development functions.
• Lead cross‑functional product teams (product managers, solution architects, engineers, data stewards, and external vendors) using Agile or hybrid methodologies.
• Oversee system implementation, integration, and enhancement projects ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Ensure all systems meet regulatory requirements (21
  
  CFR Part
  11, GAMP5, GDPR, FDA/EMA guidelines).
• Manage and mentor a team of senior product managers, business analysts, and technical leads.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, encouraging professional development and cross‑functional learning.
• Lead strategic vendor relationships within the portfolio, as applicable.

Strategic thinker with the ability to translate regulatory and R&D business needs into technology capabilities. Inspires trust and collaboration across business and IT teams.

Strong knowledge of data governance, master data management, and regulatory compliance. Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills at the senior executive level. Demonstrated success in Agile product management, technology strategy, and vendor management. Experience with cloud‑based platforms (Veeva, Salesforce, AWS, Azure) and emerging technologies such as AI, NLP, and process automation.

Collaborate effectively with Product Managers, Business System Owners, key business stakeholders, Solution Architecture and other stakeholders on an ecosystem of Products, Platforms, Analytics, and Microservices to give Takeda a modern footprint. Collaborate with the broader product management and enterprise on transformational initiatives.

Ability to evaluate and recommend the right technology platforms and software products to solve business problems.

Embeds with product teams as needed to ensure full transparency and no surprises, keeping product stakeholders up to date with the latest on delivery status, product risks and scope changes. Reconciles perspectives on portfolio strategy and priorities into a consensus that all stakeholders can support.

Stay on top of new trends in the industry and understand how these new technologies may be applied to the product roadmap.

Effective at conveying the portfolio vision and other messages requiring action, in a way that brings people on board with the vision and builds their enthusiasm about fulfilling it. When required to evangelize the vision into target communities or ecosystems, is effective in representing the product or platform…