R&D Laboratory Systems Lead, Global Data Digital & Technology (DD&T) Japan

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Job Description

Objective / Purpose:
The Laboratory Systems team within Takeda R&D Data, Digital & Technology (DD&T) enables scientific innovation by delivering robust, efficient, and secure technology solutions that support Research and Pharmaceutical Sciences laboratories worldwide. This role combines strategic technical leadership and strong business analysis to advance the laboratory computing environment—partnering with scientists and cross-functional stakeholders to translate complex needs into clear requirements and solution direction that improves productivity, compliance, and data integrity.
As a people manager of a small team, the role leads through strategy, prioritization, and coaching—building capability, accountability, and effective operating rhythms to deliver outcomes at scale. The position leads cross-functional project teams to deliver large, complex system implementations and service transformations in a cost-effective manner, making decisions that materially impact organizational performance and/or financial results. Working in close partnership with the Global Head of Laboratory Systems and global stakeholders, the role ensures local execution is aligned to global strategy, standards, and roadmaps while proactively managing priorities and the impacts of change. The role is accountable for a significant area of work across technical, financial, and quality dimensions, including regional IT budget management and leadership of local laboratory system support vendor teams to ensure service quality and adherence to Takeda standards.

Accountabilities:

• Leads the implementation, optimization, and continuous improvement of Laboratory Systems and associated tools, ensuring alignment with Takeda R&D strategic objectives in a cost-effective, secure, and compliant manner.

• Serves as the Japan Laboratory Systems Lead within the global Laboratory Systems organization, partnering closely with the Global Head of Laboratory Systems and global stakeholders to align local priorities, roadmaps, standards, and delivery with global strategy.

• Manages and develops a small team (approx. 3 to several members) by setting strategic direction and priorities, coaching and developing capabilities, and driving predictable delivery and continuous improvement.

• Leads cross-functional project teams to deliver large-scale, complex system implementations and service transformations; makes decisions that materially impact organizational outcomes and/or financial performance.

• Holds authority and accountability for a significant area of work across technical, financial, and quality dimensions; represents the organization in site, regional, and global governance and stakeholder forums as required.

• Acts as Process Owner for Laboratory Systems in Japan by establishing objectives, operating mechanisms, and decision rights; delegates effectively while remaining accountable for delivery outcomes, risk management, and compliance.

• Leads strategic demand shaping by driving discovery of business needs, defining and validating requirements, prioritizing and negotiating scope, assessing feasibility, and developing business cases to support investment and roadmap execution.

• Drives operational excellence for Laboratory Systems in Japan through KPI-based performance management, proactive risk/issue management, incident/problem management, and structured escalation with clear options and recommendations.

• Owns and manages the IT regional budget for Laboratory Systems (planning/forecasting, tracking, cost optimization, and financial controls), ensuring operational continuity and efficient achievement of IT objectives.

• Leads and manages local laboratory system support vendor team(s) to ensure service quality, adherence to Takeda standards, and performance against agreed SLAs/OLAs; drives corrective and preventive actions and continuous service improvement.

• Serves as the primary liaison between Japan Laboratory Systems and Takeda Cloud and Network teams to ensure laboratory infrastructure requirements are planned, governed, and delivered in alignment with global standards and roadmaps.

• Ensures compliance and system assurance (e.g., GxP where applicable, data integrity, and change control), and partners with CyberSecurity to identify, remediate, and continuously reduce vulnerabilities across laboratory systems and related infrastructure.

• Oversees Lab PC and endpoint lifecycle management (procurement, deployment, maintenance, retirement) aligned with security and operational policies; leads disaster recovery planning and testing to ensure business continuity.

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

Required:

Education:

• Bachelor Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience

Technical:

• 10+ years’ experience as a Business Analyst, IT Management Consultant, and/or with System Development

• Proven experience designing, implementing, and supporting IT systems

• Ability of good writing and verbal communication in the English language for working as a member in multi-regional global projects, as well as the Japanese language in local teams

• Excellent oral and written communications skills, business acumen with problem solving and analytical skills

• Demonstrated experience leading large-size and complex system implementations and/or cross-functional programs, with strong delivery governance and risk/issue management

• Demonstrated experience as a people manager and/or team lead (small team), including capability building, coaching, performance management, and creating effective team operating rhythms

• Experience leading and managing vendor/managed service partners for IT system support, including service quality management and continuous service improvement

• Experience managing IT financials and regional budget (planning/forecasting, tracking, cost control, and financial governance) to ensure operational continuity and objectives are met

• Knowledge of business and system solutions and hands-on experience implementing applications across the full lifecycle (requirements, design, validation, deployment, support, and continuous improvement)

• Practical experience in Product Management and Agile methodologies and tools

• Demonstrated ability to work with virtual teams located in different countries around the world, aligning and adapting different work, culture and communication styles

• Ability to support multiple cross functional, local, or global projects

• Ability to communicate complex technical and scientific information in a clear and engaging manner to stakeholders, builds collaborative network of relationships in the business area and outside

• Demonstrated ability to operate within a global operating model, ensuring local execution is aligned with global strategy/standards, and proactively raising Japan requirements, constraints, and risk considerations into global discussions

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies:

• Strategic and systems thinking & ownership – Translates R&D and laboratory strategies into a clear technology and process roadmap for Laboratory Systems, ensuring local execution is aligned with global Laboratory Systems strategy, standards, and roadmaps. Takes end-to-end ownership for outcomes, including prioritization, governance, and risk management as Process Owner in Japan.

• Stakeholder collaboration and influence – Builds strong, trust-based relationships with scientists, site leadership, global R&D DD&T, CyberSecurity, Quality and infrastructure teams; effectively aligns diverse stakeholders toward shared goals, and represents Japan needs and constraints into global forums while driving alignment to global decisions.

• Change leadership and continuous improvement – Leads stakeholders through digital and process change (e.g., new systems, upgrades, cloud migrations), manages ambiguity constructively and drives ongoing improvements in workflows, data integrity and user experience.

• People and vendor leadership in a cross‑cultural environment – Leads a small team with clear strategic direction and outcomes focus; coaches and develops talent, builds capability, and creates an inclusive high-performance culture. Provides clear direction to vendor and internal support teams, role-models respectful and inclusive behavior, and works effectively with multi-regional teams across different cultures to deliver consistent service and project outcomes.

• Decision quality, integrity and compliance – Makes timely, data-driven decisions balancing scientific, technical, security, compliance and business needs, while consistently role-modelling ethical behavior, data integrity and adherence to relevant regulations.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline

• Experience within the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry and/or drug discovery and development environments

• Direct experience working with Laboratory Systems and lab computing in R&D or Pharmaceutical Sciences settings

• General understanding of regulated systems and validation practices (e.g., GxP, data integrity, change control) and ability to work closely with Quality and Compliance functions

• Hands‑on experience applying AI/ML technology adaptations in any business operational excellence

タケダのDE＆I

Better Health, Brighter Future

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.

Locations

Fujisawa, Japan

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time