Senior Manager Entra ID

Purpose of Role

Takeda’s Identity and Access Management (IAM) organization is seeking a visionary Entra ID expert to lead and expand our adoption of Entra capabilities—both existing and emerging. This strategic role will shape the future of identity services at Takeda, driving innovation and scalability across our global infrastructure.

The successful candidate will architect and optimize Entra ID environments to support hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, while leveraging AI-driven capabilities—such as automation, anomaly detection, and intelligent access controls—to enhance performance, security, and agility.

This role also serves as the highest-level escalation point for Entra ID, ensuring adherence to ITIL processes and Takeda’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

As a core member of the IAM team, the position reports directly to the Head of Directory Services and will collaborate across global teams to build resilient identity platforms that support Takeda’s mission and growth.

Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Identity Architecture

• Lead the engineering, strategy, and lifecycle management of Takeda’s enterprise identity platforms, with a focus on Entra ID and cloud-native directory services.

• Develop strategic roadmaps and tactical plans aligned with Takeda’s digital transformation goals, accelerating modernization from legacy systems to AI-enhanced, cloud-native platforms.

• Shape and execute IAM strategy through scalable, secure identity solutions, integrating emerging technologies and AI innovations to enhance architecture and governance.

Innovation, Culture & Collaboration

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented culture within the IAM organization, promoting innovation and continuous learning.

• Drive cross-functional engagement with global stakeholders to align identity services with business objectives.

• Elevate the IAM brand through thought leadership, success story sharing, and advocacy for modern identity practices.

Operational Excellence & Service Delivery

• Monitor and report performance metrics for Entra ID, ensuring transparency, reliability, and proactive issue resolution.

• Champion continuous improvement across service design, delivery, and security, while ensuring compliance with ITIL, SOX, GxP, and Takeda SOPs.

• Implement new services and changes in accordance with operations acceptance criteria and change management protocols.

• Provide expert-level escalation support and resolve incidents to meet service-level objectives.

AI-Driven Identity & Access Management

• Leverage AI and machine learning to automate identity lifecycle processes, streamline provisioning, and reduce operational overhead.

• Implement intelligent access controls using adaptive policies, behavioral analytics, and AI-based risk signals.

• Apply AI-driven anomaly detection and performance insights to strengthen security posture and user experience.

• Collaborate with data science and security teams to align IAM AI initiatives with enterprise risk and innovation strategies.

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management

• Align identity operations with cybersecurity frameworks including NIST 800-53, CSF, and MITRE ATT&CK, enforcing Zero Trust principles and least privilege access.

• Define and enforce governance standards for Entra ID objects, applications, and agent identities, ensuring secure integration and traceability.

• Audit and monitor security principals and directory configurations to maintain compliance and directory hygiene.

• Maintain qualification and validation documentation, and support regulatory audits and internal controls.

Global Integration

• Support governance of traditional directory services (AD, LDAP, DNS, GPOs) as needed.

• Define service requirements and acceptance criteria for internal and external projects, ensuring consistency and quality.

• Conduct impact analysis for global changes, mitigate risks, and ensure stakeholder alignment.

• Collaborate across geographies to ensure effective service delivery and continuous improvement.

• Partner with procurement to manage vendor relationships, ensuring strategic alignment and accountability.