Director, Global Medical Lead, Zasocitinib – Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)

Objectives

• Accountable for development, implementation, and ongoing optimization of the global medical strategy for zasocitinib in PsA, in alignment with the GMUH, Rheumatology, and enterprise strategy.
• Provide Director-level medical leadership and strategic counsel to the GPT, GMUH, Rheumatology, and senior cross-functional stakeholders on product profile, data interpretation, benefit-risk, evidence gaps, and external scientific dynamics.
• Lead the global PsA Medical Strategy Team and coordinate medical sub-teams and matrix partners to deliver integrated, high-quality, and timely execution.
• Define the medical evidence and scientific communications plan; ensure insights from patients, HCPs, and external experts are systematically captured and translated into action.
• Enable consistent global-to-local medical strategy deployment in partnership with regional and affiliate medical teams, while recognizing local practice, access, regulatory, and stakeholder needs.
• Model Takeda values and a culture of scientific excellence, inclusive collaboration, compliance, accountability, and patient focus; mentor and develop matrix colleagues as appropriate.

Accountabilities

• Serve as the global medical lead and single-point medical accountable leader for zasocitinib in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), reporting to the Global Medical Unit Head (GMUH), Rheumatology.
• Partner with the GMUH, Rheumatology, to define and execute a multi-year global medical vision, integrated medical strategy, and evidence plan across the PsA lifecycle, aligned to the Global Project Team (GPT), product strategy, and evolving treatment landscape.
• Translate deep understanding of PsA science, patient unmet need, and stakeholder insights into differentiated medical priorities, including launch preparedness, evidence generation, scientific communications, and lifecycle opportunities.
• Lead and influence a global, cross-functional medical matrix across Clinical Development, Regulatory, Pharmacovigilance, Commercial, Market Access, Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), Digital/Data & Technology (DD&T), regions, and affiliates to ensure medical leadership is embedded in key product decisions.
• Chair or actively lead relevant Medical Strategy Team (MST) workstreams and provide clear medical recommendations, risk assessments, and decision-making input to the GPT and senior governance forums.
• Establish measurable strategic priorities, milestones, and performance indicators; monitor execution, resolve barriers, and escalate material risks or trade-offs to the GMUH, Rheumatology, as appropriate.

Scientific Expertise, Evidence, and External Engagement

• Act as the global scientific steward for zasocitinib in PsA, ensuring scientifically rigorous, balanced, compliant, and patient-centered medical content and external engagement.
• Shape and oversee the integrated evidence-generation strategy, including real-world evidence, investigator-sponsored research, data-generation partnerships, and publication priorities, in collaboration with Evidence Generation, Clinical, HEOR, and Publications colleagues.
• Build and sustain strategic relationships with international thought leaders, centers of excellence, professional societies, patient advocacy organizations, and other stakeholders to inform strategy and advance the scientific agenda.
• Represent Takeda, as delegated, in high-impact scientific, medical, and policy forums; engage external experts credibly on complex PsA and zasocitinib data.

Medical Governance and Innovation

• Provide senior medical review and approval input for global scientific and, where applicable, promotional and non-promotional materials in accordance with applicable policies, codes, and regulations.
• Ensure proactive identification and management of medical, evidence, safety, regulatory, and reputational risks across the PsA program.
• Champion responsible use of digital, data science, and AI-enabled approaches to strengthen insight generation, evidence planning, scientific exchange, and patient/HCP experience, consistent with governance and compliance requirements.

Education & Experience

• Advanced scientific or clinical degree required: MD, DO, MBBS, PharmD, PhD, or equivalent advanced degree in a relevant life-science discipline. Medical degree and/or specialist experience in rheumatology, immunology, dermatology, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Typically 8–12+ years of progressively responsible experience in biopharmaceutical medical affairs, clinical development, or a related medical function, including meaningful global or regional strategic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading medical strategy and execution for an asset, indication, or disease area in a complex, matrixed organization; pre-launch, launch, and/or lifecycle-management experience strongly preferred.
• Proven expertise in rheumatology, immunology, and/or psoriatic arthritis through clinical practice, research, education, or biopharmaceutical experience.
• Experience with evidence generation, publications, scientific communications, external expert engagement, and global medical governance required.
• Working knowledge of global pharmaceutical laws, regulations, industry codes, and medical/commercial boundary requirements.
• Demonstrated experience applying digital, analytics, or AI-enabled approaches to medical strategy or operations is preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Enterprise and strategic mindset with the ability to articulate a compelling medical vision and translate it into executable, measurable priorities.
• Deep scientific acumen and ability to critically interpret clinical, safety, real-world, and competitive data; communicate complex evidence clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead through a global matrix without direct reporting authority.
• Strong judgment, integrity, and command of compliant medical decision-making in a highly regulated environment.
• Proven capability to build trusted partnerships with external experts, patient organizations, investigators, and internal cross-functional leaders.
• Strong business and operational acumen, including resource prioritization, risk management, scenario planning, and delivery against milestones.
• Digital fluency and ability to evaluate responsible applications of data analytics, AI, and emerging technologies to improve medical impact.
• Exceptional written, verbal, presentation, and executive communication skills across cultures and geographies.
• Commitment to patient centricity, inclusion, and scientific excellence.

Pay & Schedule

Hybrid position based in Cambridge, MA. U.S. base salary range: $192,400.00 – $302,390.00, with eligibility for short-term and/or long-term incentives. U.S. employees may participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) with company match, short-term and long-term disability, basic life insurance, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, well-being benefits, up to 80 hours of sick time per calendar year, and new hires may accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.