Head of Immunology R&D for Inflammatory Diseases (BOSTON)

Company: Takeda Pharmaceutical
Location: Boston
Posted on: March 25, 2026

Job Description:

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use. I further attest 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 GI-Drug Discovery Unit at Takeda is a team of experienced, innovative and collaborative drug discovery scientists building an industry-leading portfolio of drugs for inflammatory and GI diseases with high unmet medical need. We are seeking a leader with significant experience in building and leading biology and cross-functional drug discovery teams to establish a new group focused on chronic autoimmune diseases. The Director Inflammatory Drug Discovery - Will be responsible for developing industry-leading therapeutics for patients with inflammatory diseases by leading a research group focused on drug development from target identification through to candidate selection. - Will recruit, retain, and develop a large team of world class, highly innovative in vitro and in vivo research biologists focused on understanding the molecular, cellular and organ-level drivers of inflammatory disease processes, and identifying and developing drug candidates. - Will be scientific research thought leader within the Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), working within a highly matrixed environment to build an industry-leading preclinical and early clinical therapeutic pipeline for Inflammatory Diseases. - Will set the discovery portfolio goals for high priority autoimmune diseases and ensure alignment with key stakeholders in inflammatory disease research, the clinical development team, and other Takeda stakeholders. - Will be accountable for defining the preclinical elements of multiple drug discovery programs, in partnership with other research leaders across Takeda and the early clinical development team within the GI and Inflammation Therapeutic Area. - Will interface with the business development group to identify strategically important innovative external opportunities - Will help maintain the Takeda culture that promotes creativity, open communication, collaboration, collegiality, and a high sense of urgency. Maintain the highest quality of scientific foundations of the company’s drug discovery process. Accountabilities: Describe the primary duties and responsibilities of the job. Include only the essential functions of the job. Approximately 5 – 10 bulleted task statements should be identified. - Forms a strong partnership with clinical and commercial team colleagues for disease area strategic alignment and is accountability for formulation and delivery of mid-long term innovative strategies to build a sustainable and innovative Inflammation disease area pipeline - The Director Inflammation Drug Discovery will lead a team of researchers in early target discovery through candidate selection and partner with the therapeutic area Translational team in the development and delivery of robust early development plans supporting programs through early clinical proof-of-concept. - The appointee will partner with the Center for External Innovation at Takeda for the identification and assessment of external platform and pipeline opportunities and be accountable for due diligence evaluation and recommendations on external opportunities in Inflammation diseases. - Is seen as an international subject matter expert and identified as a global Takeda thought leader in the field of Inflammatory disease research and keeps up up-to-date with scientific, drug discovery and development and the external competitive environment. - Represents Takeda and fosters a presence in the global inflammation and immunology scientific community through scientific meetings. - Ensures and encourages diversity and supports individual colleagues and their reports in career development. - Ensure that all Inflammation disease area Global Product Teams are resourced for optimal scientific support for research studies, mechanistic understanding, disease area evolution and competitive landscape understanding. - Provides nuanced and well-informed advice to senior stakeholders about the GI and Inflammation therapeutic landscape, providing direction on where the science will lead. Leadership - Creative, collaborative, proactive and confident individual with proven leadership qualities, as demonstrated by performance. - Demonstrated ability to work across functions, regions and cultures and adheres to Takeda’s values - Excellent communicator, able to persuasively convey both ideas and data, orally, in presentation and written format - 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. - Effectively represents function in negotiations with the ability to resolve conflict in a constructive manner. Interaction - Effectively navigates the dynamics of external and internal environments and leads others by creating and inspiring and engaging workplace. - Cultivates a broad network of relationships throughout Takeda, with affiliates and external partners - 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 - Creative scientific thinker with excellent understanding of emerging technologies that enhance disease understanding and human-focused drug development programs - Identifies opportunities and anticipates changes in the business landscape through an understanding and ongoing assessment of the disease area-specific competitive landscape - Forward thinking with the ability to recommend, influence and implement organizational change and continuous innovation. - Ability to take risks implementing innovative solutions, accelerating time to market. - Comfortable challenging the status quo and bringing forward innovative solutions. - Role models respect and inclusion, creating a culture that fosters innovation. Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral): - PhD degree in Immunology or a closely related discipline with 10 years drug development experience in highly competitive biopharmaceutical companies - or MS with 16 years experience, or BS with 18 years experience - Expert scientific knowledge in autoimmune and inflammatory disease research with experience in lymphocyte biology is highly desired - Highly experienced in exploratory drug development with proven biopharmaceutical industry experience leading innovative therapeutic programs and with expertise in small molecule and/or biologics drug development - 10 years of direct line management and cross-functional project leadership experience required - Highly knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of Inflammation Disease drug discovery through to candidate selection/IND, including contributing to regulatory documentation. - Shows cross-cultural understanding to utilize the diverse talents and has demonstrated ability to manage matrix teams to maximize the organizational productivity. - Has strong leadership skills and acumen. - Has excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. - Capable of leading a matrixed team comprised of scientists from within Takeda as well as external collaborators. - Has significant experience of participation in BD diligence activities in the preclinical discovery function ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - The position will be based in Cambridge, MA. This position is currently classified as “hybrid” by Tak

Keywords: Takeda Pharmaceutical, Cambridge , Head of Immunology R&D for Inflammatory Diseases (BOSTON), Science, Research & Development , Boston, Massachusetts