Executive Director of High-Throughput Drug Metabolism (BOSTON)
Company: Takeda Pharmaceutical
Location: Boston
Posted on: March 25, 2026
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Job Description:
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that all information I submit in my employment application is true
to the best of my knowledge. Job Description At Takeda, we are a
forward-looking, world-class R&D organization that unlocks
innovation and delivers transformative therapies to patients. By
focusing R&D efforts on three therapeutic areas and other
targeted investments, we push the boundaries of what is possible to
bring life-changing therapies to patients worldwide. Objective /
Purpose: The Director, High-Throughput In Vitro ADME is a senior
scientific and operational leader responsible for building and
directing Takeda’s high-throughput in vitro ADME capabilities in
support of small- and large-molecule discovery programs. Reporting
to the Head of Drug Discovery Lab Automation and Transformation,
this Director will define strategy, oversee operations, and drive
technology innovation at the interface of ADME science, laboratory
automation, and robotics. The organization will operate as a
service-oriented group, delivering robust, high-quality ADME data
to enable rapid, high-confidence decision-making in
Design–Make–Test–Analyze (DMTA) cycles across the portfolio.
Accountabilities: - Strategic Leadership & Vision - Define and
execute the multi-year strategic roadmap for high-throughput in
vitro ADME at Takeda, aligned with the broader vision of the Drug
Discovery Lab Automation and Transformation organization. - Shape
an enterprise-level, service-oriented operating model for ADME,
ensuring capacity, capability, and flexibility to meet evolving
project and portfolio needs. - Champion innovation in high
throughput assay design, detection technologies, automation, and
data workflows to enhance throughput, quality, and
cost-effectiveness. - Team Leadership & People Development - Lead,
mentor, and grow a team of scientists and research associates
responsible for the routine delivery of a comprehensive suite of in
vitro ADME assays. - Build a culture of scientific rigor,
operational excellence, safety, and customer focus, supported by
clear KPIs (e.g., cycle time, success rate, capacity utilization,
cost-per-data point). - Drive talent development and performance
management appropriate for a Director-level organization. -
High-Throughput ADME Operations - Oversee design, execution, and
continuous improvement of a broad high throughout in vitro ADME
panel, including but not limited to: - Metabolic stability and
clearance (microsomes, hepatocytes, S9) - CYP inhibition and
induction - Permeability (e.g., Caco-2, MDCK, PAMPA) - Plasma
protein and tissue binding - Transporter and other mechanistic
assays - Ensure robust support for both small-molecule and
large-molecule modalities, adapting methods for new modalities and
platforms as the portfolio evolves. - Own and maintain
fit-for-purpose validation, QC, and SOP frameworks, including
root-cause analysis and corrective actions for assay or system
deviations. - Laboratory Automation, Robotics & Miniaturization -
Provide scientific and strategic leadership for laboratory
automation and robotics within the in vitro ADME space, in close
alignment with the Head of Drug Discovery Lab Automation and
Transformation. - Lead assay miniaturization up to 1536-well
formats, from feasibility and optimization through technology
transfer into robust, routine operation. - Oversee integration of
liquid handlers, plate handlers, robotic arms, incubators, readers,
and scheduling software into end-to-end automated workflows. -
Partner with internal automation/engineering and informatics teams
to ensure seamless connectivity between instruments, LIMS/ELN, data
pipelines, and analytical platforms. - Cross-Functional
Collaboration - Serve as the primary ADME service leader
interfacing with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, biology, pharmacology,
translational sciences, and data science. - Translate portfolio and
project needs into clear ADME assay strategies, capacity plans, and
timelines; communicate priorities, risks, and trade-offs with
transparency at project and governance levels. - Collaborate with
external CROs, technology vendors, and academic partners when
appropriate, ensuring consistent quality standards and strategic
alignment with internal capabilities. - Quality, Compliance &
Continuous Improvement - Ensure scientific quality, data integrity,
and safety in all ADME operations, consistent with Takeda policies
and relevant regulatory expectations. - Define and monitor KPIs for
throughput, on-time delivery, reproducibility, and cost; apply
data-driven methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, DoE) to drive
continuous improvement. - Oversee investigations and CAPA
implementation related to assay performance, automation
reliability, or data issues. - Education and Experience: -
Expected: Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Drug Metabolism,
Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field with 10 years of
relevant industry experience; or M.S. with 16 years; or B.S. with
18 years in pharmaceutical/biotech R&D. - Extensive expertise
in in vitro ADME, including method development, validation, and
deployment across core assay types. - Direct experience in an
organization providing ADME services (e.g., CRO or internal ADME
service group), with a strong service- and customer-oriented
mindset. - Proven leadership experience at the Director level,
managing scientific teams and complex operations in a
high-throughput environment. - Demonstrated strategic and hands-on
experience with laboratory automation and robotics, including
selection, implementation, and lifecycle managemet. - Successful
track record in miniaturizing ADME assays formats, including
optimization for data quality, robustness, and throughput. -
Experience supporting both small- and large-molecule discovery
programs. - Familiarity with LIMS/ELN, instrument integration, and
data analysis/visualization tools in a high-throughput setting.
Proven track record of: - Building or transforming high throughput
ADME capabilities (e.g. establishing new platforms, scaling
capacity, modernizing legacy workflows. - Understanding how ADME
outputs integrate with DMPK, PK/PD and translational strategies and
inform decision making - Experience with data science and process
optimization approaches to support advanced analytics, and
continuous improvement ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - The position will
be based in Cambridge, MA. This position is currently classified as
“hybrid” by Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy Takeda
Compensation and Benefits Summary We understand compensation is an
important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We
are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to
be more transparent with our pay practices. For Location: Boston,
MA U.S. Base Salary Range: $174,500.00 - $274,230.00 The estimated
salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The
actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors,
including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the
position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills,
level of education attained, certifications or other professional
licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or
from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary
offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage
requirements for the job location. U.S. based employees may be
eligible for short-term and/ or long-term incentives. 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. EEO Statement Takeda is proud in its commitment to
creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment
opportunities to all employees and applicants for
Keywords: Takeda Pharmaceutical, Malden , Executive Director of High-Throughput Drug Metabolism (BOSTON), Science, Research & Development , Boston, Massachusetts
