Head of R&D Global Capability Centers (GCC)

About the role

The Head of R&D Global Capability Centers (GCC) is a senior enterprise leadership role accountable for shaping, establishing, and scaling Takeda’s globally integrated, multi‑hub R&D delivery model. The role serves as the single, cross‑R&D point of accountability for GCC strategy, operating model design, and execution, and acts as the primary R&D interface to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D Leadership Team during hub establishment and early maturity phases.

Operating at an executive level, this leader partners closely with R&D functions, Therapeutic Areas, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure that global hubs in Poland and India are established and fully integrated into Takeda R&D, delivering sustainable capabilities, talent pipelines, and long‑term enterprise value.

How You Will Contribute

Takeda is seeking a senior R&D leader to own R&D’s Global Capability Center (GCC) vision, and lead and coordinate R&D GCC activities across the enterprise. This role is accountable for coordinating the establishment and scaling of R&D hub locations in Poland and India, aligned to a multi‑hub, globally integrated R&D development model. The role operates as the single, cross‑R&D point of accountability for GCC strategy, execution, and integration, and serves as the primary R&D interface to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D Leadership during hub stand‑up and early maturity phases.

This position reports into the Head of R&D Operational Excellence and partners closely with R&D functions, Therapeutic Areas, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure that global hubs deliver both near‑term value and long‑term capability building. This role requires significant cross‑functional leadership.

Strategic Context

• Establish Cambridge, MA, Poland, and Bangaluru, India as interconnected R&D hubs
• Focus on capability and talent development
• Enable hybrid Global Program Team (GPT) execution across hubs
• Requires strong central leadership to coordinate governance, integration, and change management

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise & R&D Leadership

• Serve as the R&D‑wide GCC Lead with accountability for strategy, execution, and evolution
• Act as primary R&D counterpart to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D Leadership
• Represent GCC strategy with senior R&D and enterprise governance forums

GCC Strategy & Operating Model

• Define the multi‑year GCC vision and roadmap
• Design and implement the multi‑hub operating model
• Ensure alignment with R&D functional strategies

Hub Establishment & Scale‑Up (Poland & India)

• Lead R&D input into hub stand‑up
• Partner with enterprise teams on infrastructure, talent, and change
• Enable phased capability scaling

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Coordinate across R&D functions and Therapeutic Areas
• Resolve cross‑functional dependenciesEnsure clear accountability

Talent, Capability & Culture

• Shape leadership and talent models
• Support sustainable talent pipelines
• Promote Takeda values

Required Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

• 15+ years leadership experience in life sciences R&D
• Experience across multiple R&D functions
• Large‑scale transformation leadership
• Global Capability Center operating experience

Preferred Qualifications

• GCC or global delivery hub experience
• Hybrid operating model exposure
• Digital, data, or AI‑enabled R&D transformation
• Advanced degree

Travel: 30% travel required.

Location: Boston, MA

Employee type: Employee (Regular)

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.

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