Lead, R&D Leadership Communications & Employee Engagement

About the position The Lead, R&D Leadership Communications & Employee Engagement, Director level, will serve as a strategic partner to the President of R&D and the R&D Management Committee, driving communications and engagement programs that connect employees, amplify leadership voices, and align R&D priorities with enterprise goals. This person will craft compelling, story-driven communications and lead high-impact initiatives of strategic importance to R&D. They will also manage executive thought leadership platforms, oversee internal channels, and champion innovation through emerging technologies like AI and automation – all while fostering a culture of inclusion, empowerment, and continuous improvement. This position is currently classified as “hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy. This hybrid role requires a minimum of eight (8) in-office days per month at our Cambridge, MA office.

Requirements

• Comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry
• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures
• Enterprise level leadership with the ability to inspire, motivate and drive results
• Ability to present complex information clearly and with confidence
• Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, verbally and in writing
• Proven skills as an effective team player who can engender trust, credibility and confidence within and outside the company
• Ability to distil complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms
• Embraces and demonstrates a diversity and inclusion mindset and role models these behaviors for the organization
• Ability to make highly complex decisions that impact the enterprise.
• Ability to seek diverse input from multiple constituents and stakeholders to drive innovative solutions.
• Ability to incorporate feedback and ensure decisions are made swiftly to yield flawless execution.
• Accountable for designing and implementing vision and strategy for designated scope.
• Foster solutions-oriented thinking by fostering a culture of performance, accountability, simplicity, empowerment, external orientation and curiosity.
• Effectively navigates the changing external and internal environment and leads others through change by creating and inspiring and engaging workplace.
• Effectively negotiates and collaborates with business partners and demonstrates the ability to resolve conflict in a constructive manner.
• Ability to build strong partnerships and drive role clarity with other interfacing Takeda functions, including but not limited to R&D, DD&T, Finance, IT, Procurement, HR, Legal/Compliance, Global Corporate Affairs, Public Affairs, external vendors, and others.
• Visionary and forward thinking with the ability to influence and effectively drive organizational change and continuous innovation.
• Comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions.
• Ability to take risks implementing innovative solutions, accelerating time to market.
• Ability to identify areas for process and systems innovation and implement change that will enhance the overall effectiveness of the team.
• Digital-minded leader continually seeking ways to incorporate AI and new technologies into daily work.
• Ability to work in a global and highly matrixed ecosystem (internal and external) with a high degree of complexity.
• Bachelor's degree – BS/BA Majors in Journalism, Communications or public policy/public affairs preferred.
• A minimum of 10 years with demonstrated increased level of responsibility of professional experience required.
• Executive communications experience required.
• Strategic business partner with the ability to translate business information into language that employees and customer can understand.
• Experience in adopting and driving AI-powered solutions.
• Ability to negotiate and form consensus among various parties important.
• A naturally creative writer who can write clear, compelling narratives customized for various stakeholders.
• Ability to work directly with senior executives and a proven track-record in developing authentic and inspiring executive communications.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong organizational skills accompanied by the ability to multi-task and problem-solve.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• Team player and self-starter with a positive attitude.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in the healthcare/bio-pharma industry is preferred.
• Strong social media experience preferred.

Benefits

• U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others.
• U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

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