VP Head of Communications, GSQ

About the role

To drive development and implementation of a robust integrated Communications Strategy and a broad platform of plans and actions to support its implementation at all levels and sites in Global Supply Quality Organization (GSQ).

Leading the creation and execution of an effective Global Supply Quality (GSQ) communications strategy to engage internal and external stakeholders and develop Takeda’s brand and reputation on three levels:

• Within GSQ and Takeda: inform, align and engage our employees on the goals of manufacturing and quality.
• Externally based on key events to enhance our reputation with partners, potential employees, and other stakeholders
• Ensure strategies align with the corporate business objectives and plans and promote the vision, reputation, brand and narrative of Takeda through partnership with the Global Communications Leadership Team

How you will contribute

• Drive external engagement and support for speaking engagements and relationships and influencing at PDA, ISPE etc
• Act as a thought partner and counselor to the business leadership, focused on their business goals and transformation.
• Serve as a member of Takeda’s Global Communications Leadership Team, helping define enterprise communications strategies, narrative, standards, and approaches.
• Lead development and deployment of the Global Supply Quality (GSQ) communications strategy, aligning with key internal and external stakeholders and ensuring linkage to corporate objectives and brand.
• Partner with the Global Communications Leadership Team to promote Takeda’s vision, reputation, and brand through GSQ narratives and communications plans.
• Create and deliver internal communications that inform, align, and engage GSQ colleagues across the network (sites and functions) around culture and transformation, using appropriate channels and cadence.
• Define GSQ communication strategy and messaging for Manufacturing, Quality and Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) topics, enabling consistent rollout across the network and importantly, integration into the company story.
• Develop and deliver leadership communications, including strategic narratives, executive messaging, presentations, town halls, and extended leadership team meetings.
• Provide communications leadership for major enterprise and GSQ initiatives as needed (e.g., organizational change, business development, M&A, issues management).
• Build and develop capability across GSQ communicators network and leaders through alignment sessions, coaching, standards, governance, and best practice sharing, including execution of global product launches.
• Utilize insights about the external environment and measurement and reporting of communications effectiveness, including KPI definition, tracking, and continuous improvement.

Skills required

• Considerable experience (15+ years) in a pharmaceutical communications environment, with a strong understanding of the complexities (manufacturing and quality is a plus), regulations, and stakeholder expectations of operating in the global pharmaceutical industry; experience in Global Supply Chain and/or manufacturing site communications preferred.
• Relevant academic qualifications, such as an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in communications management, public relations, journalism, digital communications, health economics, biomedical sciences, or related discipline.
• Highly detail-oriented, with strong analytical, planning, and organizational skills; applies sound judgment and a creative, solutions-focused approach to complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to counsel leadership, influence decisions, and align stakeholders through informal leadership, credibility, and strong interpersonal skills across levels, functions, and geographies.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, able to distill complex topics into clear, compelling narratives tailored to diverse audiences and channels.
• Fluent, executive-level English (near-native proficiency), with the ability to draft and edit high-impact communications for senior leaders.
• Proven effectiveness in global, multicultural environments, demonstrating cultural intelligence and the ability to adapt communication style to local needs while maintaining consistency.
• Strong stakeholder management and networking capabilities, building trusted relationships and partnerships; adaptable, resilient, and comfortable with change and ambiguity.
• Ability to deliver under pressure, prioritizing effectively and producing high-quality work to short deadlines in fast-moving situations.