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Job DescriptionAbout the role:
The Associate Director - Process Analytics Lead is responsible for leading process analytics method development and platform implementation across multiple programs and product types within Analytical Development in Japan. In this role, you will shape high-throughput, fit-for-purpose analytical methods, support automation and robotics, and help build standardized ways of working that improve productivity, data integrity, and execution consistency. You will partner with Process Development, Quality, Compliance, Digital, Information Technology, and external vendors to align priorities, support delivery, and build scalable capabilities in our site in Shonan, Japan.
How you will contribute:
- Lead the development, optimization, and sustainment of high-throughput analytical methods for process and product development across small molecule and biologic programs, using phase-appropriate approaches and analytical quality by design principles.
- Define standards, performance measures, and governance for method lifecycle management within your area of responsibility.
- Ensure successful transfer, training, and implementation of developed methods into process development laboratories, including clear documentation, troubleshooting plans, and ongoing support for consistent non-good manufacturing practice platforms.
- Work with the Process Analytical Development team to deliver the platform roadmap, including automated analytical methods and end-to-end workflows with robotics where appropriate.
- Support vendor selection and vendor management for automation and analytical platforms, and help drive cross-site standardization.
- Lead strategy and multi-year roadmaps for analytical development and automation within the function, aligning priorities across partners and managing risks, trade-offs, and value delivery.
- Modernize laboratory operations, including sample and data management, instrument connectivity, workflow standardization, and data traceability.
- Provide technical and people leadership to the Process Analytics Development capability area through planning, prioritization, coaching, and change adoption.
- Lead cross-functional workstreams, resolve dependencies, and represent Analytical Development organization in governance and collaboration forums.
Skills and qualifications:
- Typically 8 to 12 or more years of relevant industry or laboratory experience in analytical development or process analytics, with demonstrated delivery of high-throughput methods and or automation and process analytical technology implementations.
- Degree in a relevant scientific or engineering field such as Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Chemical Engineering; bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate accepted, with level and scope calibrated to degree and experience.
- Proven experience designing and scaling automation solutions across workflows, teams, and or sites, with measurable performance outcomes.
- Demonstrated experience deploying robotics-enabled high-throughput analytical workflows, including method transfer and validation considerations, assay robustness, and operational use in a research and development laboratory environment.
- Strong experience with analytical development strategy, standards, and governance, including analytical quality by design (AQbD) method frameworks and performance measures.
- Demonstrated ability to bridge high-throughput methods to GMP release and stability methods in partnership with Quality and Process Development teams in Japan.
- Demonstrated people and matrix leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching, prioritization across multiple programs, and influence with senior stakeholders; direct people management experience is preferred.
- Strong ability to partner with and influence senior scientific stakeholders, translating scientific needs into scalable automation and operating model solutions.
- Fluent in English and Japanese languages.
- Experience operating in regulated environments with automation, process analytical technology, and inspection readiness expectations is desirable.
- Familiarity with automation and artificial intelligence-assisted knowledge work within appropriate compliance constraints is desirable.
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.
Skills Required
- 8 to 12 or more years of relevant industry or laboratory experience in analytical development or process analytics
- Experience delivering high-throughput methods, automation, or process analytical technology implementations
- Bachelor's, master's, or doctorate in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering field
- Experience designing and scaling automation solutions across workflows, teams, or sites with measurable outcomes
- Experience deploying robotics-enabled high-throughput analytical workflows in a research and development laboratory
- Experience with method transfer, validation considerations, assay robustness, and operational implementation
- Experience with analytical development strategy, standards, governance, analytical quality by design frameworks, and performance measures
- Experience bridging high-throughput methods to GMP release and stability methods
- People and matrix leadership experience, including mentoring, coaching, and prioritization across multiple programs
- Ability to influence senior scientific stakeholders and translate scientific needs into scalable automation and operating-model solutions
- Fluency in English and Japanese
- Direct people management experience
- Experience operating in regulated environments with automation, process analytical technology, and inspection-readiness expectations
- Familiarity with automation and artificial intelligence-assisted knowledge work within compliance constraints
Takeda Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Takeda and has not been reviewed or approved by Takeda.
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Retirement Support — Employer-funded retirement is described as notably strong, combining a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match with an additional company contribution that scales with age and service. Access to an employee stock purchase plan further supports long-term wealth building.
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Parental & Family Support — Paid bonding leave for all parents, substantial adoption/surrogacy reimbursement, and robust caregiver resources (backup care and Maven family-forming support) are emphasized as core strengths. These offerings create a comprehensive safety net for a range of family situations.
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Healthcare Strength — Multiple medical plan options (nationwide PPO/HSA and regional HMOs), employer HSA funding, and integrated mental-health and well-being programs signal depth in coverage. Preventive care is covered in-network, and plan choices by state expand access.
Takeda Insights
What We Do
For over 240 years, Takeda’s propensity to evolve has driven the next generation of innovation, and as a future-focused organization, we’re continuing to drive forward with endurance in our steadfast pursuit to achieve the best outcomes for our patients in a rapidly changing world. We have been preparing for this period of value creation by investing in data, digital and technology, and we’re proud of our employees and their commitment to turning groundbreaking ideas into life-changing impacts. Since our founding in Japan, integrity and putting patients first have been at the heart of our identity, and we will emerge ready for our future as one of the most trusted and science-driven digital biopharmaceutical companies. Join a team where your innovation impacts lives. Together, we’ll realize improved outcomes by improving data quality, enhancing launch execution and improving the patient journey. You’ll play a critical role in accelerating data collection and increasing accuracy across all parts of the business. Patients across the globe will benefit from access to treatments afforded by greater opportunities and efficiency in our research and development.
Why Work With Us
We connect to our history and Japanese heritage through everything we do to bring our purpose, values, vision, and imperatives to life. We are committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients. Being a part of Takeda means having the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
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