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Job DescriptionAbout the role:
We are seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Director, Small Molecule CMC Advisor to lead the analytical development strategy for our small molecule portfolio. In this high-impact leadership role, you will act as the analytical and CMC subject matter expert (SME) across cross-functional development teams, guiding programs from early-stage candidate selection through late-stage clinical trials and BLA/NDA registration. You will mentor and analytical team leaders on our project teams and strategically advise on AD project related initiatives to reduce development costs and accelerate timelines without compromising quality or compliance.
How you will contribute:
- Analytical Strategy & Leadership: Lead and execute comprehensive, phase-appropriate analytical development strategies for drug substances (API) and drug products.
- Talent Mentorship & Growth: Mentor, coach, and guide internal analytical development leaders and scientists, fostering professional growth, technical excellence, and strong project management capabilities.
- Strategic Speed & Cost Optimization: Proactively work with the Analytical Portfolio Leadership and Pharmascience Teams to design and execute strategic initiatives to streamline analytical workflows, reduce costs, and compress timelines to accelerate candidate molecules to clinic and market.
- Specifications & Control Strategies: Establish scientifically justified drug substance and drug product specifications based on batch history, clinical exposure, and stability data. Advise and mentor Analytical Development Team leaders on the development of a holistic control strategy.
- Regulatory Submissions: Author, review, and defend analytical CMC sections for global regulatory filings (IND/CTA, NDA/MAA) and respond directly to health authority inquiries.
- Quality & Investigations: Partner with Quality Assurance (QA) to manage Out-of-Specification (OOS) investigations, deviations, and CAPAs.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as senior AD advisor assisting the AD team to drive project alignment across project teams alongside Process Chemistry, Formulation, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Supply Chain.
Qualifications:
- Education & Experience: Bachelors/ degree 25+ years relevant industry experience. Masters degree 21+ years relevant industry experience. PhD and 15+ years relevant industry experience.
- Leadership & Mentorship: Proven track record of successfully mentoring and elevating junior/mid-level analytical leaders or project managers.
- Business & Operational Acumen: Demonstrated capability to identify and resolve operational bottlenecks and implement successful cost-containment or timeline-acceleration initiatives within CMC models.
- Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of cGMP regulations, ICH guidelines, and global health authority expectations (FDA, EMA) for small molecule development with technical expertise in synthetic molecules and oligosaccharides and/or peptides.
- Oversight Acumen: Proven track record in analytical development/ validation, stability program design and tech transfer as well as a strong knowledge of industry standard practices for nitrosamines, dissolution, solid form characterization, impurity identification and polymorph predication. Extensive experience driving analytical activities within a CMC team as either an Analytical Representative or CMC lead.
This position is currently classified as “hybrid” in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy.
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
- Bachelor’s degree and 25+ years of relevant industry experience
- Master’s degree and 21+ years of relevant industry experience
- PhD and 15+ years of relevant industry experience
- Proven experience mentoring and developing junior or mid-level analytical leaders or project managers
- Experience identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks and implementing cost-containment or timeline-acceleration initiatives within CMC models
- Deep knowledge of cGMP regulations, ICH guidelines, and global health-authority expectations, including FDA and EMA requirements
- Technical expertise in synthetic molecules and oligosaccharides and/or peptides
- Experience in analytical development and validation, stability program design, and technology transfer
- Knowledge of nitrosamines, dissolution, solid-form characterization, impurity identification, and polymorph prediction
- Extensive experience leading analytical activities within a CMC team as an Analytical Representative or CMC Lead
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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