Senior Medical Director, Japan Clinical Sciences Head

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Job Description

About the role:

The Senior Medical Director, Japan Clinical Sciences Head is a people leader responsible for day-to-day leadership of the Japan Clinical Sciences team and delivery of assigned Japan and regional clinical development activities. Based in Osaka, the role ensures that Japan clinical requirements and insights are incorporated into global development plans and that work is coordinated effectively with Global Product Teams and Japan cross-functional partners.

This position reports to the Vice President, Clinical Science and leads a team of medical directors and clinical scientists.

How you will contribute:

• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching, and performance support for the Japan Clinical Sciences team, including medical directors and clinical scientists.
• Oversee assigned Japan and regional study activities, promoting quality, timely execution, and appropriate issue escalation.
• Provide Japan clinical and scientific input to Global Product Teams and support integration of Japan requirements into global clinical development plans.
• Coordinate identification, assessment, escalation, and mitigation of clinical development risks through established governance pathways.
• Partner closely with Global Program Leaders, Global Clinical Leaders, and Japan colleagues across Regulatory, Clinical Pharmacology, ODDU, Medical, Safety, and Commercial.
• Support scientific engagement with Japanese thought leaders, investigators, and other external stakeholders.
• Build team capabilities, clarify priorities, allocate work, and support effective collaboration across programs and functions.
• Maintain accountability for execution across assigned programs and communicate progress, decisions, risks, and resource needs to leadership.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Medical degree or advanced scientific degree in a relevant discipline.
• Substantial clinical development experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including meaningful experience in oncology.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing medical directors, clinical scientists, or comparable clinical development professionals.
• Experience contributing clinical strategy and scientific expertise to global, regional, or cross-functional product teams.
• Working knowledge of clinical study design, execution, benefit-risk assessment, and development governance.
• Ability to identify and escalate risks, make sound decisions within delegated authority, and deliver through cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills in a global matrix environment.
• Ability to work effectively with Japanese investigators, thought leaders, and internal stakeholders.
• Professional fluency in Japanese and English, sufficient for scientific, operational, and leadership responsibilities.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting oncology development programs in Japan and across global or regional settings.
• Familiarity with the Japanese clinical development and regulatory environment.
• Track record of managing multiple programs or studies with competing priorities.

Location and Work Arrangement:

This hybrid role is based in Osaka, Japan, in accordance with Japan site requirements. Domestic and international business travel may be required based on business needs.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary:

• Allowances: Commutation, Housing, Overtime Work etc.

• Salary Increase: Annually, Bonus Payment: Twice a year

• Working Hours: Headquarters (Osaka/ Tokyo) 9:00-17:30, Production Sites (Osaka/ Yamaguchi) 8:00-16:45, (Narita) 8:30-17:15, Research Site (Kanagawa) 9:00-17:45

• Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, May Day, Year-End Holidays etc. (approx. 123 days in a year)

• Paid Leaves: Annual Paid Leave, Special Paid Leave, Sick Leave, Family Support Leave, Maternity Leave, Childcare Leave, Family Nursing Leave.

• Flexible Work Styles: Flextime, Telework

• Benefits: Social Insurance, Retirement and Corporate Pension, Employee Stock Ownership Program, etc.

Important Notice concerning working conditions:

• It is possible the job scope may change at the company’s discretion.

• It is possible the department and workplace may change at the company’s discretion.

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About Us

Takeda is an industry-leading, global pharmaceutical company with an unwavering dedication to putting patients at the center of everything we do. We live our values of Takeda-ism – Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance – and are united by our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine.

Here, everyone matters and you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission. At Takeda, you will make an impact on people’s lives – including your own.

Takeda is an equal opportunity employer.

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