Director, Asia Program Leader, Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, R&D

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Job Description

Takeda is a global values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader. We are guided by our values of Takeda-ism, which has been passed down since the company’s founding. Takeda-ism incorporates Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance, with Integrity at the core. They are brought to life through actions based on Patient-Trust-Reputation-Business, in this order.

Objective of the role

The Asia Program Leader (APL) is fully dedicated to leading Japan & China/APAC asset strategy and program activities in collaboration with Global Program Leads (GPLs), Japan Development Team (JDT), and China APAC Development Team (CADT). The role establishes regional goals and operational plans; leads cross-functional, cross-country delivery of regulatory submissions and approvals; and maximizes the value and successful commercialization of new oncology products. The APL is accountable to GPLs and serves as the primary interface with OTAU, OTAU Japan and China/APAC, and external partners.

Accountabilities

• Set Japan and China/APAC regional program strategies, goals, priorities, schedules, and integrated asset plans aligned to Takeda business needs, therapeutic-area strategy, and Global Project Team (GPT) direction.

• Provide strategic, process, and operational leadership to regional project teams, ensuring delivery against agreed scope, timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.

• Lead and coordinate Japan Development Team (JDT), China APAC Development Team (CADT), and other cross-functional stakeholders to achieve country-specific regulatory submissions, approvals, and commercialization objectives.

• Prioritize regional project and product activities; maintain transparency of critical path, decision points, risks, and dependencies across the program.

• Report progress, key issues, mitigation plans, and critical-path schedules to GPLs, GPT, OTAU, Global Regions (China/APAC, Japan), and senior management.

• Evaluate new opportunities, including in-licensing candidates, evolving market conditions, and new project data; support feasibility assessments for regional program activities.

• Manage regional program operating budgets and resources, monitoring variances in time, cost, and personnel while meeting Takeda financial objectives.

• Proactively identify, escalate, and resolve program issues; develop contingency, risk-mitigation, and buy-up/buy-down scenario plans.

• Provide matrix leadership to OTAU, Global Regions (China/APAC and Japan) colleagues responsible for key project deliverables and cross-functional teams.

• Drive continuous improvement through KPI tracking, performance trending, knowledge capture, and adaptation of regional plans to strategic or market changes.

• Engage appropriately with sites and investigators in Asia to support the introduction of novel agents into clinical development in the region.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary:

• Allowances: Commutation, Housing, Overtime Work etc.

• Salary Increase: Annually, Bonus Payment: Twice a year

• Working Hours: Headquarters (Osaka/ Tokyo) 9:00-17:30, Production Sites (Osaka/ Yamaguchi) 8:00-16:45, (Narita) 8:30-17:15, Research Site (Kanagawa) 9:00-17:45

• Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, May Day, Year-End Holidays etc. (approx. 123 days in a year)

• Paid Leaves: Annual Paid Leave, Special Paid Leave, Sick Leave, Family Support Leave, Maternity Leave, Childcare Leave, Family Nursing Leave.

• Flexible Work Styles: Flextime, Telework

• Benefits: Social Insurance, Retirement and Corporate Pension, Employee Stock Ownership Program, etc.

Important Notice concerning working conditions:

• It is possible the job scope may change at the company’s discretion.

• It is possible the department and workplace may change at the company’s discretion.

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