Director, Head of Predictive Modelling & Biopharmaceutics

About the role

The role provides strategic and operational leadership for the Predictive Modelling and Biopharmaceutics function within drug product development, ensuring capabilities, priorities, and deliverables align with portfolio and business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Builds and develops a high-performing predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics team that works across the Oral Drug Product Development organization to drive modelling excellence and execution.
• Develops and implements predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics strategies to support formulation design, dosage form selection, and product performance evaluation across development stages.
• Ensures the effective application of modelling and simulation approaches to assess biopharmaceutics risks, including absorption, dissolution, bioavailability, and in vivo performance.
• Generates, interprets, and integrates biopharmaceutics data to enable scientifically sound and timely development decisions.
• Provides scientific and organizational leadership in predictive sciences, including PBPK/PBBM, absorption modeling, IVIVC/IVIVR, and related methodologies, to strengthen development outcomes and decision quality.
• Promotes cross-functional collaboration with stakeholders across formulation, analytical, clinical pharmacology, regulatory, and CMC disciplines to incorporate predictive and biopharmaceutics strategies into program plans.
• Directs the contribution of predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics expertise to regulatory strategies and submissions, ensuring scientific rigor and alignment with applicable regulatory expectations.
• Buys and maintains organizational capability through talent development, resource planning, and leadership of a high-performing scientific team.
• Determines standards, processes, and best practices for the use of predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics approaches within drug product development.
• Drives innovation and continuous improvement in predictive sciences to enhance efficiency, reduce development risk, and support successful product advancement.

Dimensions and Aspects

• Technical/Functional (Line): Deep expertise in pharmaceutical development, predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics. Proven track record of successful application of mechanistic and PPBM modelling in drug development. Ability to work in a global ecosystem with a high degree of complexity and address challenges with an enterprise-level perspective. Ability to lead/pool pipeline programs and cross-functional initiatives by aligning different constraints and priorities with relevant stakeholders.
• Leadership: Hires and mentors a group of predictive modelling scientists and engineers to execute Pharmaceutical Sciences in silico Modeling strategy for the oral drug product development department (ODPD). Influences direction through recognized expertise and strong cross-functional partnerships. Mobilizes and leads high-performing, cross-functional teams across multiple programs; driving alignment and disciplined execution. Champions change and inclusive leadership; develops the immediate team through coaching, mentoring, feedback, and deliberate skill building.
• Decision-making and Autonomy: Operates with high autonomy and accountability to execute portfolio/program approaches, scientific plans, resourcing proposals, and partner models within agreed governance. Makes complex, risk-based decisions (or recommendations) on development approach, critical-path trade-offs, and mitigation actions across scope, budget, timeline, and quality; escalates appropriately and ensures decisions are documented and communicated. Anticipates program and capability needs and initiates actions to close gaps with minimal oversight.
• Interaction: Primary internal partners include other ODPD function heads and department members, other Pharmaceutical Sciences department stakeholders in AD and SMPD, Clinical Pharmacology and Drug metabolism (DMPK) Leads/Managers; Global Regulatory; quality; procurement/supplier management; and clinical biomarker development functions. Leads external technical interactions with consultants and development partners; supports contracting and governance interactions in partnership with legal and procurement.
• Innovation: Explores and evaluates emerging predictive modelling and biopharmaceutics technologies; proposes creative solutions to meet stakeholder needs and program constraints. Shares knowledge across the organization through technical reviews, best practices, and mentoring; encourages disciplined experimentation through prototyping and feasibility assessment.
• Complexity: Manages team across multiple interdependent workstreams spanning device development, patient testing services, and clinical research support across a global matrix. Navigates diverse external ecosystems (partners, suppliers, regulators) and varying regional regulatory pathways; balances speed, cost, quality and patient impact while operating under strict compliance and design control expectations.

Education, Behavioral Competencies and Skills

• PhD in Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or related pharmaceutical science and 8-10+ years relevant industry experience
• Master’s degree in Chemistry, Pharmacy, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or related pharmaceutical science and 10-14+ years relevant industry experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering or related pharmaceutical science and 15-18+ years relevant industry experience.

Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. For Location: Boston, MA U.S. Base Salary Range : $177,000.00 - $278,080.00 The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, 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. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/ or long-term incentives. U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Lie Detector Test

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.