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) — India is a senior R&D leadership role that shapes Takeda's global R&D GCC strategy and owns its execution in India. Based in Bengaluru, this leader is accountable for the India hub's operating model, talent agenda, and full integration into Takeda's global R&D organization, and represents Takeda R&D in India to enterprise partners and global R&D leadership through establishment and as the hub matures.

Operating with enterprise-wide visibility and significant influence on organizational strategy, this leader partners closely with R&D functions, Therapeutic Areas, and enterprise stakeholders to ensure the India hub is successfully established, culturally embedded, and fully integrated into Takeda R&D, delivering sustainable capabilities, talent pipelines, and long-term value. Success depends on strong matrix leadership and the ability to lead through influence across a global organization.

Beyond structure and strategy, this role is fundamentally about people inspiring a diverse, ambitious talent base, building a high-performing culture rooted in Takeda's values, and creating a community where world-class R&D scientists and professionals choose to build their careers. We are looking for a visible, engaging leader with the credibility, authenticity, and vision to inspire teams, attract exceptional talent, and build a thriving R&D community.

This leader does not start from a blank page. Takeda's Innovation Capability Center (ICC) in Bengaluru is already a vibrant, established presence, a proven foundation of talent, culture, and delivery excellence. Building on that momentum, this role will help shape a globally integrated R&D organization where colleagues in India contribute to scientific strategy, development execution, innovation, and enterprise transformation alongside their counterparts across Takeda's global hubs.

This position reports to the VP, Head of R&D Global Capability Centers, and calls for a leader with 12+ years of leadership experience within life sciences R&D and a track record of working across multiple R&D functions.

Strategic Context:

This role supports Takeda's evolution toward a globally integrated, multi-hub R&D model that

Drives collaboration mechanisms and capability sharing across Cambridge, MA; Poland; and Bengaluru, India to create a truly integrated global R&D organizationFocuses on sustainable capability, community, and talent developmentEnables hybrid Global Program Team (GPT) and sub-team execution across hubsOperates through a network of hub leaders, each accountable for their location, connected by shared governance, integration, and change managementPartners with R&D hub leaders across all GCC locations to ensure consistency of operating principles, culture, governance, and talent development across Takeda's global R&D network

Key Responsibilities:

R&D & Enterprise Partnership

Serve as the R&D GCC leader for India, accountable for the hub's strategy, execution, and continued evolution as it scalesAct as R&D partner to the Enterprise Transformation Office and R&D leadership; build trusted relationships with global stakeholders, serving as a strategic connector between Bengaluru and Takeda's global R&D networkRepresent the R&D GCC in R&D and enterprise governance forums, shaping decisions that affect the global hub network

GCC Strategy & Operating Model

Own the multi-year vision and roadmap for R&D in India, and contribute to the global R&D GCC strategy it sits withinDesign, implement, and refine the India operating model within Takeda's multi-hub R&D frameworkEnsure alignment with R&D functional strategies, governance, and ways of working

Scaling the India Hub

Lead the R&D agenda for building and scaling the India hub, from capability design through to operational maturityPartner with enterprise teams on infrastructure planning, talent strategy, and change managementBuild R&D capabilities in India in deliberate phases, sequencing what the hub takes on and when

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as the senior R&D leader in India across all functions and Therapeutic Areas, setting how the hub engages with eachManage cross-functional dependencies and integration risksDefine roles, responsibilities, and decision rights for R&D work delivered from India

Talent, Capability & Culture

Serve as a highly visible R&D leader in India, building engagement and community across the Takeda R&D ecosystem while representing Takeda within the external scientific, technology, and life sciences communityBuild on the ICC's established culture, traditions, and ways of working to create a high-performing, inclusive environment where colleagues see themselves as integral members of Takeda's global R&D community, connected directly to the patient missionChampion psychological safety, open dialogue, scientific curiosity, and accountability, so teams do their best workAttract, retain, and grow R&D talent in a highly competitive market, building a reputation that makes Takeda a destination of choiceShape leadership and talent models with HR and R&D leaders, creating career pathways that connect Bengaluru colleagues to global R&D work and building sustainable, diverse pipelines that strengthen capability across all hubsCoach and develop leaders who carry Takeda's values and culture forward as the hub scales

Minimum Requirements / Qualifications:

Required

12+ years of leadership experience within life sciences R&DExperience working across multiple R&D functionsDemonstrated leadership in large-scale transformation and change initiativesExperience working with Global Capability Centers or globally distributed R&D organizationsTrack record of engaging and inspiring diverse teams, with demonstrated ability to build culture, community, and talentStrong matrix leadership and influencing skills across geographies and functions, with comfort operating in ambiguity as the organization scales

Preferred

Direct experience establishing or scaling global R&D hubs or GCCsExperience with digital, data, or AI-enabled R&D transformationAwareness of how local operating conditions, including regulatory, statutory, and business environment factors, influence the growth of global capability centers, with a track record of partnering effectively with Legal, Tax, Finance, and HR colleaguesExposure to hybrid or matrix operating modelsAdvanced 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

Locations:

IND - Bengaluru

Worker Type:

Employee

Worker Sub-Type:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time