Head of Operational Sustainability & Compliance

About the role

Develop and Implement Environmental Programs and Initiatives: Lead the creation and execution of Takeda’s enterprise environmental compliance and management programs, including natural resource conservation (e.g. water, biodiversity, waste, etc.), risk management and hazardous waste management.

Strategic Leadership and Collaboration: Provide EHSS leadership by collaborating with cross-functional teams to integrate best practices into enterprise business processes and continuously improve manufacturing operations while enhancing environmental sustainability.

Regulatory Compliance and Advocacy: Direct environmental due diligence and represent Takeda in regulatory engagements, ensuring compliance with emerging global regulations and fostering sound environmental policies.

Operational Climate Strategy Oversight: Oversee the development, governance, and enterprise deployment of Takeda’s Scope 1 and 2 operational climate strategy and net-zero roadmap to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to operations by FY2035, including renewable energy optimization and internal operating mechanisms across relevant workstreams.

Risk Management, Reporting, and Team Development: Develop and execute environmental risk management and resiliency initiatives and strategies as part of Takeda’s enterprise risk management framework, and mentor a high-performing EHS team while supporting environmental and climate-related reporting, disclosures, and assurance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of Takeda’s enterprise environmental compliance oversight programs, ensuring adherence to applicable significant regulations and corporate policies and serving as lead environmental resource and subject matter expert to the sites when needed.
• Drive natural resource conservation strategy and key initiatives aligned with Takeda’s sustainability goals, including water efficiency and risk mitigation, waste management and circularity, and biodiversity.
• Develop and execute environmental risk management initiatives/strategies as part of Takeda’s risk management framework, identifying and mitigating potential environmental liabilities.
• Direct environmental due diligence efforts for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, assessing environmental liabilities and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Oversee Takeda’s hazardous waste disposal site review and approval program, ensuring the safe, responsible, and compliant management of hazardous waste.
• Monitor and interpret emerging global environmental regulations and trends affecting operations, advising Takeda’s leadership on potential business impacts and strategic responses.
• Provide strategic EHSS leadership and input into Takeda’s global manufacturing continuous improvement initiatives, optimizing operational efficiencies while enhancing environmental sustainability.
• Develop and implement environmental policies, standards, and performance metrics to drive continuous improvement contributing to Takeda’s sustainability efforts.
• Represent Takeda in engagements with regulatory agencies, industry groups, and external stakeholders to advocate for sound environmental policies and practices.
• Oversee enterprise Scope 1 and 2 net-zero strategy and roadmap governance through FY2035: ensure program governance, operating mechanisms, prioritization, and cross-functional alignment across sites, facilities, and fleet (e.g., Engineering, Procurement, Facilities, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, HR, Fleet).
• Oversee renewable energy strategy and instruments: optimize purchased renewable energy approach and oversee PPA performance tracking and EAC management as needed to maintain renewable energy coverage across Takeda’s portfolio.
• Oversee Scope 1 and 2 data, reporting, and assurance readiness: ensure continuous improvement of data collection, analytics, forecasting/benchmarking, methodological accounting and measurement decisions, KPI/leading indicator tracking, and support for external reporting, disclosures, and assurance requirements.
• Oversee voluntary carbon market (VCM) approach for operations: provide governance for strategic positioning, quality/measurement/transparency expectations, and oversight of carbon offsets and carbon removal investments/partnerships as applicable to Scope 1 and 2 program needs.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and proactive environmental management.
• Aid in effective environmental reporting and disclosures to maintain transparency, compliance, and alignment with Takeda’s corporate sustainability commitments.

Qualifications

• Degree in life sciences, engineering or similar field.
• 10+ years of experience in Pharmaceutical/Biopharmaceutical (or associated industry).
• Experience leading teams across multiple locations.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, regulatory agencies, and vendors.
• Program management experience; demonstrated application of EHS practices.
• Expertise in worldwide environmental compliance, EHS risk management, and development of environmental programs (waste, wastewater, air pollution, biodiversity, pharmaceuticals in the environment, etc.).
• Demonstrated capability to oversee Scope 1 and 2 emissions strategy governance and execution, including renewable energy and data/reporting maturity supporting disclosures/assurance.

Desired

• Industrycertifications (e.g., Chartered Engineer, Certified Environment Professional, Chartered Environmental Professional, etc.).