Director, Solution Architecture

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Job Description
OBJECTIVES/PURPOSE:

• Develops innovative solutions and technology strategies, owning the end-to-end solution design strategy across teams. This role involves recommending new procedures and architectural approaches, partnering with enterprise architects to align technology with business goals. This role is responsible for bringing together the foundational components of the data ecosystems in order to provide capabilities that improve the quality and fidelity of data consumed by business processes and analytics use cases.
• As an expert professional within the organization, you will develop innovative solutions to complex problems aligned with organizational objectives. Your work involves addressing intricate Research and Development needs and issues, requiring strong knowledge of digital, data and technology along with contextual understanding of biopharmaceutical research and development along with in-depth analysis and judgment. You also engage with key contacts outside your expertise area and contribute to the development of new concepts and standards. Operating with considerable autonomy, you serve as a consultant to management and an external spokesperson on major matters, often working independently and leading function teams or projects. Additionally, you play a role in training and mentoring junior staff.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Drive the development of the future state target architecture direction and strategy to realize the vision through a series of tactical initiatives and interim states
• Accountable for solution evaluation and selection, buy vs. build decisions, and early-phase project estimates
• Gain acceptance of high-level design and detailed design documentation through enterprise and peer design reviews
• Create solutions aligned to architecture standards and principles, leveraging common solutions and services, and aligning solutions to domain capabilities
• Consult on projects and application support groups regarding architecture concerns and alignment to overall IT strategy
• Drive the overall technical design and end-to-end solution design for assigned initiatives
• Design reference and application architecture based on specific business constraints, requirements, and dependencies
• Architect and define advanced analytics and business intelligence capabilities and strategies for information delivery and data exploration to support business function needs and goals
• Stay abreast of emerging trends and technologies in clinical research, clinical development, data and AI to keep the division at the forefront of innovation in pharmaceutical R&D
• Ensure compliance with all relevant data privacy and protection regulations
• Providing consultation through functional domain knowledge across research, lab systems, AI/ML and computation platforms.

DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS:
Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise:

• Strong background in research and understanding drug discovery workflows, assay development, and lab automation.
• Experienced with research technology systems including sample & inventory management systems, electronic lab notebooks, study trackers, scientific data management, bioinformatics and computational tools
• Proficient in Middleware Technology, capable of integrating various systems and applications across the organization.
• Experienced in Solution Architecture, developing comprehensive technology strategies that align with business goals.
• Experienced with AI/ML and data science platforms, tools, and processes
• Skilled in Strategic IT Planning, formulating IT frameworks that support organizational objectives.
• Adept in Technical Specification Design, translating complex business requirements into clear technical actions.
• Demonstrates Project Leadership, guiding teams through complex projects from conception to implementation.
• Expert in Technical Documentation, creating detailed design and architecture documents.
• Proficient in Business Requirement Analysis, identifying and interpreting needs to develop appropriate technical solutions.
• Aligns IT Strategy with business goals, ensuring technology supports overall business direction.
• Skilled in Design Documentation, maintaining accurate records and blueprints of architectural strategies.
• Experienced in Solution Evaluation, assessing various options to determine the most effective solutions.
• Provides Technical Consultation, offering expert advice and direction on architecture and technology matters.
• Skilled in leading strategic decision-making processes within technical disciplines.
• Proficient in managing and governing metadata, including business and technical metadata initiatives.
• Capable of identifying and managing critical data elements to enhance business and decision impact.
• Experienced in architecting advanced analytics and business intelligence solutions to meet business needs.
• Knowledgeable in integrating and supporting metadata management tools within enterprise technology architectures.
• Demonstrates leadership abilities in guiding strategy discussions.
• Engages with stakeholders at all levels to align data architecture initiatives with business requirements.

Leadership:

• Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures
• Functional level leadership with the ability to inspire, motivate and drive results
• Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, verbally and in writing
• Proven skills as an effective team player who can engender credibility and confidence within and outside the company
• Ability to distil complex issues and ideas down to simple comprehensible terms
• Demonstrates leadership presence and confidence
• Embraces and demonstrates a diversity and inclusion mindset and role models these behaviors for the organization
• Builds teams across functions and geographies with individuals who have the right skills and experience to deliver on key organizational initiatives.
• Invests time in helping others to enhance their skills and perform at a higher level

Decision-making and Autonomy:

• Decision making responsibilities: Provide input to highly complex decisions that impact the functional area. Accountable for decision making for designated function. Ability to seek diverse input from multiple constituents and stakeholders to drive innovative solutions. Ability to incorporate feedback and ensure decisions are implemented swiftly to yield flawless execution
• Accountable for providing input to and implementing vision and strategy for designated scope

Interaction:

• Effectively navigates the changing external and internal environment and leads others through change by creating and inspiring and engaging workplace
• Cultivates a broad network of relationships throughout Takeda, with affiliates and external partners, in the industry and area of expertise.
• Effectively represents function in negotiations with the ability to resolve conflict in a constructive manner
• Ability to build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with other interfacing Takeda functions

Innovation:

• Forward thinking with the ability to recommend, influence and implement 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
• Identifies opportunities and anticipates changes in the business landscape through an understanding and ongoing assessment of the environment affecting the business.
• Role models respect and inclusion, creating a culture that fosters innovation

Complexity:

• Ability to work in a global ecosystem (internal and external) with a high degree of complexity
• Deep expertise required
• Ability to see and understand broader, enterprise level perspective

EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• 14 years with a Bachelor's Degree or 12 with a Master's Degree or equivalent experience (Master's preferred).
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a technology-focused role
• Proven track record of developing and deploying technology and process change, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to drive projects to completion in a timely and efficient manner.
• Recognized for meticulous attention to detail, enhancing quality and precision across projects.
• Direct experience in the pharmaceutical industry or related field required
• Previous experience leading a medium to large organization and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders is a plus
• Proven track record of leading and driving business process transformation and organizational culture change as well as delivering on programs with complex business deliverables
• Track record of successful leadership, management, and development of large, multi-disciplinary globally dispersed teams. Strong judge of talent with the ability to make tough talent decisions.
• Health care business acumen with a comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical industry

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 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.