Head of Characterization Small Molecules, R&D

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Job Description

OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

• Establish a clear vision and roadmap for extended characterization that aligns with discovery, development, and manufacturing needs across small and mid molecules (Oligo, small molecules and peptides).
• Implement, optimize, and apply cutting-edge techniques (e.g., MS, NMR, microscopy) to strengthen understanding of drug substance and product properties, stability, and quality.
• Identify and integrate emerging technologies and digital tools to modernize characterization platforms and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Create and sustain a high-performing team through hiring, mentoring, resource planning, and talent development.
• Partner with analytical, DS/DP, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development and production decisions.
• Build external collaborations and enhance scientific reputation through publications, conferences, and industry engagement.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Define, lead, and deliver the extended characterization strategy across the CMC portfolio to support drug discovery, development, and manufacturing.
• Oversee the implementation, optimization, and application of advanced analytical platforms (e.g., MS, NMR, microscopy, bioassays) to enable deep process and product understanding.
• Identify, evaluate, and integrate emerging analytical and digital technologies to modernize characterization capabilities and improve efficiency and scientific impact.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing scientific organization, including talent development, succession planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
• Partner with analytical, DS, DP, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure characterization insights are embedded into development, scale-up, and production decisions.
• Establish and manage strategic external partnerships and enhance organizational reputation through publications, conferences, and thought leadership.

CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE:

• Set enterprise strategy for extended characterization across the CMC portfolio
• Enable deep product and process understanding using advanced analytical technologies
• Build and sustain best‑in‑class analytical capability through talent, platforms, and innovation
• Embed characterization insights into development and manufacturing decisions

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:

Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

• Deep expertise in mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and advanced microscopy applied to drug discovery, development, and manufacturing.
• Ability to generate in‑depth understanding of molecular attributes, structure, stability, and quality for small and/or large molecules across the CMC lifecycle.
• Oversight of advanced bioassay platforms to support product characterization and performance understanding.
• Strong grounding in analytical characterization within pharmaceutical CMC, including support of development, scale‑up, and manufacturing.
• Capability to evaluate, implement, and scale emerging analytical technologies to strengthen characterization depth and efficiency.
• Experience with crystallography, particle science, and physical chemistry applied to pharmaceutical products.
• Hands‑on experience implementing modelling, digital tools, and advanced data analytics in characterization workflows.
• Experience managing external analytical partners and supporting transfer of methods to manufacturing environments.
• Technical experience supporting regulatory submissions and approval processes from an analytical characterization perspective.

Leadership:

• Strategic and scientific leadership: Set direction for extended characterization and provide credible thought leadership in advanced analytical science
• People and capability building: Build, mentor, and sustain a high‑performing, future‑ready scientific organization
• Cross‑functional influence: Align and partner effectively across CMC, DS, DP, manufacturing, and quality to drive impact
• Change and innovation leadership: Lead modernization of analytical platforms and adoption of emerging technologies

Decision-making and Autonomy:

• Full authority to define and drive the extended characterization vision, priorities, and roadmap across the CMC portfolio.
• Autonomy to select, implement, and evolve advanced analytical technologies and digital tools.
• Decision rights over team structure, hiring, talent development, budgeting, and resource prioritization.
• Authority to establish external collaborations and set the depth and direction of characterization that informs development and manufacturing decisions.

Interaction:

• Work closely with ADQC, DS, DP, manufacturing, and quality teams to align characterization efforts with development and production needs.
• Provide direction, coaching, and prioritization to internal scientific teams to ensure delivery and capability growth.
• Engage with senior scientific and functional leaders to shape priorities, strategy, and investment decisions through analytical insight.
• Build strategic relationships with external partners and represent the organization through publications and scientific forums.

Innovation:

• Modernize and evolve characterization platforms to maintain cutting‑edge analytical depth and efficiency
• Adopt emerging and digital and modelling technologies to enhance data quality, insight generation, and decision‑making
• Leverage external innovation through academic and industry partnerships to accelerate scientific advancement

Complexity:

• Enterprise and portfolio complexity: Oversight of extended characterization across diverse programs spanning discovery, development, and manufacturing.
• High scientific and technical complexity: Integration of multiple advanced analytical platforms applied to varied molecules and modalities.
• Cross‑functional and stakeholder complexity: Managing interdependencies across analytical, DS, DP, manufacturing, quality, and external partners.
• Change and regulatory complexity: Driving innovation and modernization within a highly regulated, risk‑sensitive environment.

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Ph.D. with 5-7+ years, MSc with 10-13+ years, BSc with 12-15+ years of industry experience in a relevant life sciences discipline with in analytical development and characterization.
• Deep experience with advanced characterization techniques (e.g., MS, NMR, microscopy) applied within CMC.
• Strong understanding of analytical development supporting discovery, development, manufacturing, and regulatory submissions.
• Proven scientific leadership, strong communication and collaboration skills, and ability to manage complex priorities and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting regulatory submissions and approval processes.
• Track record in modernizing analytical platforms or introducing new technologies at scale.
• Leadership: Proven track record of leading teams, developing talent, and driving strategic initiatives.
• Strategic thinking: analyses current and future scenarios, disrupts the status quo with innovation, while remaining pragmatic and focused on priorities
• Results oriented: Demonstrated ability to drive initiatives from concept to execution
• Structured, goal-oriented and highly motivated
• Fluent in English. Japanese is a plus
• Strong and proven ability to work transversally on a local and global level

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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