Senior Director, Head of R&D Global Capability Centers (GCC) - India

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Job Description

About the role

The Senior Director, Head of R&D Global Capability Centers (GCC) is a senior leadership role accountable for shaping, establishing, and scaling Takeda’s globally integrated, multi‑hub R&D delivery model. The role provides centralized leadership for R&D GCC strategy, operating model design, and execution, and serves as the primary R&D liaison to enterprise partners and R&D leadership during hub establishment and early maturity phases.

Operating with significant strategic scope and influence, this leader partners closely with R&D functions, Therapeutic Areas, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure the global hub in India is successfully established and integrated into Takeda R&D, delivering sustainable capabilities, talent pipelines, and long‑term value.

How you will contribute:

Takeda is seeking an experienced leader to own the R&D Global Capability Center (GCC) vision and coordinate GCC activities across the enterprise. This role is accountable for leading the establishment and scaling of R&D hub location in India, aligned to a multi‑hub, globally integrated R&D delivery model.

The Senior Director serves as the central, cross‑R&D point of coordination for GCC strategy, execution, and integration, and acts as a key R&D interface to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D leadership during hub stand‑up and early maturity phases.

This position reports to the Head of R&D Operational Excellence and requires strong matrix leadership, influencing without direct line authority across R&D functions, Therapeutic Areas, and enterprise teams.

Strategic context:

This role supports Takeda’s evolution toward a globally integrated, multi‑hub R&D model that:

• Support Cambridge, MA, Poland, and Bengaluru, India as interconnected R&D hubs

• Focus on sustainable capability and talent development

• Enables hybrid Global Program Team (GPT) execution across hubs

• Requires strong central coordination for governance, integration, and change management

Key responsibilities:

R&D & Enterprise Partnership

• Serve as the R&D GCC lead, accountable for strategy alignment, execution oversight, and continuous evolution

• Act as a primary R&D partner to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D leadership during GCC stand‑up and early growth phases

• Contribute GCC perspectives into R&D and enterprise governance discussions

GCC Strategy & Operating Model

• Define and maintain the multi‑year R&D GCC vision and roadmap

• Design, implement, and refine the multi‑hub GCC operating model

• Ensure alignment with R&D functional strategies, governance, and ways of working

Hub Establishment & Scale‑Up

• Lead R&D input and coordination for hub establishment activities

• Partner with enterprise teams on infrastructure planning, talent strategy, and change management

• Enable phased capability development and operational maturity across hubs

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Coordinate activities across R&D functions and Therapeutic Areas

• Manage cross‑functional dependencies and integration risks

• Clarify roles, responsibilities, and decision rights within the GCC model

Talent, Capability & Culture

• Shape leadership and talent models in partnership with HR and R&D leaders

• Support development of sustainable, diverse talent pipelines across hubs

• Promote Takeda values and a unified, inclusive R&D culture

Minimum requirements / qualifications:

Required

• 12+ years of leadership experience within life sciences R&D

• Experience working across multiple R&D functions

• Demonstrated leadership in large‑scale transformation and change initiatives

• Experience working with Global Capability Centers or globally distributed delivery models

Preferred

• Direct experience establishing or scaling global delivery hubs or GCCs

• Exposure to hybrid or matrix operating models

• Experience with digital, data, or AI‑enabled R&D transformation

• Advanced degree in a scientific, technical, or business discipline

Additional information:

• Travel: Approximately 30%

• Work arrangement: Hybrid, in accordance with Takeda’s Hybrid and Remote Work policy

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