External Innovation Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Job Description

About the role:

The Senior Director, Oncology Search & Evaluation will be responsible for advancing the oncology portfolio through the integration of external innovation scouting, scientific diligence, and supporting disease area strategy and early asset commercial planning. This role sits within the Oncology Business Unit (OBU) at the intersection of science and strategy, translating scientific, clinical, regulatory, and competitive insights into actionable external innovation recommendations that inform portfolio priorities, partnership decisions, and asset value creation.

This leader will drive cross-functional efforts to identify and assess external opportunities, help shape early-stage and pre-commercial asset strategies, and support governance and investment decisions across the oncology portfolio. The ideal candidate brings deep oncology expertise, strong strategic and commercial judgment, and a demonstrated ability to lead in a highly matrixed global environment. You will report to the Head, NPP and S&E OBU. This is a hybrid role based in Cambridge, MA.

How you will contribute:

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize external oncology opportunities, spanning discovery through commercial stages.

• Lead scientific, strategic, and commercial assessment of external assets, including technical diligence, risk evaluation, differentiation, market attractiveness, and alignment with disease area and portfolio strategy.

• Help shape early-stage and pre-commercial asset strategy, including target product profiles, positioning, patient segmentation, forecasting, and value proposition development.

• Serve as a subject matter expert for oncology disease area strategy, integrating internal portfolio priorities with external innovation trends, competitor activity, regulatory developments, and emerging science.

• Build and manage a strategic opportunity funnel aligned to oncology priorities, including thematic scouting and portfolio gap assessment.

• Assemble and lead cross-functional diligence teams, synthesize findings, and deliver clear recommendations to senior leadership and governance bodies.

• Partner with research, clinical, regulatory, commercial, analytics, and business development teams to guide development decisions and maximize asset value.

• Support transaction processes through business case development, senior leadership presentations, scientific input, and collaboration with business development teams during deal evaluation and negotiations.

• Monitor the oncology scientific, clinical, regulatory, and competitive landscape, including novel endpoints, trial designs, biomarkers, and evolving standards of care.

• Develop and maintain competitive intelligence and opportunity tracking capabilities to support portfolio planning, strategic assessments, and governance discussions.

• Represent the organization externally at major scientific, medical, and partnering forums to identify trends, build strategic relationships, and strengthen the company's position as a partner of choice in oncology.

• Lead and influence cross-functional global teams in a matrixed environment to align stakeholders around strategic priorities, investment decisions, and asset recommendations.

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a relevant discipline required; PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent strongly preferred.

• 15+ years of biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience, including oncology.

• 8+ years of experience in one or more of the following: external innovation, scientific evaluation, business development, licensing, new product planning, portfolio strategy, or early commercial strategy.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate scientific, clinical, regulatory, and commercial information and translate it into strategic recommendations and investment decisions.

• Strong understanding of oncology drug discovery and development, competitive dynamics, disease area strategy, and portfolio planning.

• Proven success leading cross-functional global teams and influencing senior stakeholders without direct authority.

• Excellent executive communication, strategic thinking, judgment, and stakeholder management skills.

• Requires approximately 20% travel.

Preferred

• MBA or additional business training.

• 5+ years of experience supporting or leading diligence and transaction-related activities in a business development setting.

• Established external network across the oncology ecosystem, including biotech, academia, investors, and industry partners.

• Experience representing an organization at major scientific or partnering meetings.

Leadership Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with the ability to connect scientific innovation to portfolio and business impact.

• Strong matrix leader who drives alignment and decision-making across functions and senior stakeholders.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and balancing near-term opportunities with long-term strategic priorities.

• Effective external ambassador with credibility across both scientific and business audiences.

• Data-driven and insightful, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable recommendations.

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to shaping the future of the oncology portfolio by connecting external innovation with internal strategy and execution. It ensures that scientific opportunity, commercial value, and strategic fit are evaluated together, enabling smarter investment choices and stronger portfolio outcomes.

More about us:

At Takeda, we are transforming patient care through the development of novel specialty pharmaceuticals and best in class patient support programs. Takeda is a patient-focused company that will inspire and empower you to grow through life-changing work.

Certified as a Global Top Employer, Takeda offers stimulating careers, encourages innovation, and strives for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

This position is currently classified as "hybrid" in accordance with Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy.

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:

USA - MA - Cambridge

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$212,000.00 - $333,190.00

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.

For information about our benefits, please click here.

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.

LocationsUSA - MA - CambridgeWorker TypeEmployeeWorker Sub-TypeRegularTime TypeFull time

Job Exempt

YesIt 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.