Associate Director, Project Management - Lab Automation & Transformation

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Job Description
Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a Associate Director, Project Management - Lab Automation & Transformation in our Cambridge office.
At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.
Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.
Overview
Takeda is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and strategic-minded Project Manager for our Lab Automation and Transformation initiatives. This role reports to the Head of Research Program Management and is pivotal to driving program excellence and change management for this critical long-term initiative.
In this role, you will support cross-functional programs to modernize laboratory operations and drive innovative transformation projects. In addition, you will drive change management across the organization, with significant interaction across a wide variety of stakeholders. Your prior experience in project and change management within the biopharma sector will be critical in ensuring successful project execution and adoption of new processes and technologies.
Key Responsibilities

• Change Management: Lead and monitor change management initiatives (including the introduction of new cultural pillars and behaviors / ways of working) that facilitate the adoption of new technologies, processes, and organizational practices across the organization.
• Program Leadership: Support the planning, execution, monitoring, resourcing, and closing of strategic transformation projects, ensuring that they are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the central point of contact between cross-functional teams (R&D, IT, operations, quality, etc.) and senior leadership; communicate program progress and escalate issues as needed while working in partnership with the program planning and execution lead.
• Communications: Develop communications and lead cascade to various levels of the organization and key stakeholders (e.g., audience-appropriate status updates, workshops, town halls, executive meetings), including the transfer of complex, cross-functional information into digestible formats for various stakeholders
• Strategic Oversight: Collaborate with the Head of Research Program Management, Head of Lab Automation and Transformation, and other senior leaders to align program objectives with overall business strategy and research innovation goals.
• Risk Management: Identify potential risks at workstream level and collaborate with workstream leads to develop mitigation strategies to minimize disruption during transformation initiatives.
• Continuous Improvement: Partner with key stakeholders to collect and analyze data to drive continuous improvement efforts, translating insights into actionable program enhancements.
• Financial Oversight: Develop and manage budgets, track program expenses, and ensure financial stewardship throughout the program lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Life Sciences, Engineering, Business Administration) required; advanced degree (MBA, MS/PhD) preferred.
• Experience:
  • At least 4-6 years of comprehensive program management experience, preferably at a senior level in biotech or large pharma, in addition to scientific/technical experience.
  • Demonstrated track record of leading complex transformation or change management initiatives with success.
  • Significant experience interacting with senior executives on complex initiatives
• Technical & Functional Skills:
  • Risk & Change Management: Demonstrated ability to proactively identify risks, develop mitigation plans, and lead change management efforts.
  • Cross-functional Leadership: Proven ability to lead and influence matrixed, cross-functional teams to deliver complex programs aligned with strategic objectives.
  • Project Planning & Execution: Expertise in building integrated program plans, managing interdependencies, and tracking milestones across multiple projects.
  • Stakeholder Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with experience preparing executive-level updates and facilitating alignment.
  • Financial knowledge: Demonstrated ability of cost-based budgeting (internal and external costs) and ability to seek out savings/efficiencies; earned value analysis and time to completion
  • Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification strongly preferred, but not required
• Soft Skills:
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Ability to influence, negotiate, and build consensus across various levels of the organization.
  • Proven problem-solving, analytical, and strategic planning capabilities.

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
This position is currently classified as "hybrid" in accordance with Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy.
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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:
$153,600.00 - $241,340.00
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 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.
Locations
Boston, MA
Worker Type
Employee
Worker Sub-Type
Regular
Time Type
Full time
Job Exempt
Yes
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.