Associate Scientific Fellow, Process Chemistry

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us in our Cambridge office as we transform the pharmaceutical industry through R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. 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, united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

About the role

The Associate Scientific Fellow in Process Chemistry is a recognized technical leader with deep expertise in process chemistry development for synthetic molecules. They maintain a strong interest in laboratory work and play a critical role in advancing the portfolio by developing and executing complex scientific strategies across multiple late-stage pipeline projects. This role involves leveraging both personal laboratory contributions and leadership of internal and external efforts to drive the design and development of robust, scalable synthetic routes, balancing safety, sustainability, cost, and quality. The Associate Scientific Fellow fosters strong cross-functional partnerships to enable efficient technology transfer and lifecycle process development, and may lead project-focused academic collaborations to generate novel solutions to complex technical challenges.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical expert within Process Chemistry, SMPD, and across Pharm Sci, providing scientific leadership in synthetic molecule process development.
• Provide in-lab mentorship and technical guidance to colleagues, elevating scientific rigor and problem-solving capabilities.
• Lead and execute complex scientific strategies across multiple late-stage programs, contributing directly through personal laboratory work and by guiding internal and external teams.
• Design and advance robust, scalable drug substance manufacturing processes, ensuring alignment with safety, sustainability, cost, and quality objectives.
• Own technical responsibility for one or more programs or key initiatives, ensuring integration of process understanding into development and manufacturing readiness.
• Apply deep technical expertise to identify, assess, and mitigate scientific and process risks, enabling informed decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.
• Develop and implement innovative solutions to complex synthetic and process challenges, incorporating emerging technologies and industry best practices.
• Ensure strong cross-department collaboration across SMPD, Pharm Sci, and commercial manufacturing partners for effective technology transfer and lifecycle process development.
• Lead and manage external partnerships, including CDMOs, academic collaborators, and consultants, to deliver high-quality outcomes aligned with program strategy.
• Analyze experimental data and process trends to build mechanistic understanding, extract key insights, and define forward-looking process strategies.
• Contribute to and influence departmental and functional scientific strategy, including identification and development of new capabilities and technology platforms.
• Initiate and lead cross-functional or discipline-focused initiatives to address technical gaps and enable broader organizational impact.
• Represent the function internally and externally through technical leadership in multidisciplinary teams, publications, patents, and participation in scientific conferences.
• Maintain and expand personal scientific expertise and external network to ensure continued innovation and thought leadership within Process Chemistry.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years relevant industry experience, or
• Master’s degree and 13+ years relevant industry experience, or
• PhD and 7+ years relevant industry experience.
• Extensive experience in CMC pharmaceutical development for active pharmaceutical ingredients and drug products under cGMPs.
• Demonstrated deep technical expertise in synthetic molecule process chemistry and late-stage process development.
• Proven record of significant technical contributions and scientific leadership within pharmaceutical development.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary, cross-functional environments, with accountability for influencing program, departmental, or functional strategy.
• Strong understanding of current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) and their application to process development and manufacturing.

Skills

• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills: Applies advanced scientific reasoning to diagnose complex technical issues, assess risk, and develop effective, data-driven solutions under conditions of uncertainty.
• Technical Expertise: Recognized specialist in one or more areas of process chemistry, with ability to apply deep mechanistic understanding to solve complex synthetic and process challenges.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Effectively partners across global, multidisciplinary teams to integrate diverse perspectives and drive successful program outcomes.
• Communication Skills: Communicates complex scientific concepts clearly and concisely to a range of audiences, including senior leadership; produces high-quality technical documentation suitable for internal and external use.
• Leadership and Influence: Provides technical leadership and uses strong interpersonal skills to influence scientific direction, guide teams, and align stakeholders toward shared objectives.
• Knowledge Sharing and Capability Building: Actively captures and disseminates knowledge, contributing to improved processes, scientific standards, and organizational learning.
• External Engagement: Demonstrates active involvement in the scientific community through presentations, publications, and engagement with external partners; maintains awareness of emerging trends and technologies.
• Organization and Execution: Effectively prioritizes and manages multiple scientific and program objectives, ensuring alignment with project timelines and organizational goals.

Travel

May require approximately 5-10% travel.

Pay

For Location: Cambridge, MA, the U.S. base salary range is $154,400.00 - $242,550.00. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant, 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 job.

Benefits

• Eligibility for short-term and/or long-term incentives.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• Basic life insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Paid volunteer time off.
• Company holidays.
• Well-being benefits.
• Up to 80 hours of sick time per calendar year.
• New hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

Schedule

This position is currently classified as “hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy.