Associate Director, Resource Forecasting and Analytics Capability Lead

About the role

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About the role

Objective / Purpose

This role owns the resource demand forecasting, availability and capacity planning capability delivered through CAPTIVATE, Takeda R&D's Planisware platform. It combines hands-on ownership of the Planisware resource management modules - configuration, release testing, data integrity and ongoing maintenance - with the process leadership required to turn platform data into portfolio-level resourcing decisions.

The role is the connective tissue between the functions that supply resource data, the Therapeutic Area Units and Business Units that consume it, and the governance bodies that act on it. Key objectives of the role are:

• Own the design, implementation and continuous improvement of the Planisware resource management capability within CAPTIVATE, covering demand forecasting, resource availability and capacity analytics across R&D.
• Lead the integrated resourcing process end to end - demand, supply and capacity - so that long-term portfolio objectives, scenario planning and trade-off decisions are supported with a single, trusted source of resource data.
• Serve as the resource management subject matter expert and thought partner for R&D, ensuring common process, consistent system utilization, accurate data aggregation and decision-ready reporting from Planisware.
• Partner across Therapeutic Area Units, Business Units, Research, Finance and line functions to pressure-test resourcing assumptions, develop and refine functional algorithms and standard resource profiles, and align on common planning practices.
• Empowers functions and leadership to make sound, data-driven resource decisions at the portfolio level.
• Act as a leader in digital dexterity, building Planisware and analytics capability into the everyday ways of working of project managers, functional resource managers and planning subject matter experts.

Accountabilities

Planisware Platform Implementation and Maintenance

• Own the functional design, configuration and lifecycle maintenance of the Planisware resource management modules, including resource breakdown structures, role and skill taxonomies, cost and effort attributes, calendars, and demand and capacity views.
• In collaboration with the business administrator and other capability leads, translate business resourcing requirements into system requirements and user stories; partner with Digital, Data & Technology (DD&T) and the vendor on solution design, build, release planning and defect resolution.
• Lead user acceptance testing, regression testing and validation for each Planisware release and configuration change affecting resource management; document test evidence and secure business sign-off.
• Maintain data integrity across integrations and interfaces between Planisware, project schedules, HR and finance data sources; define and monitor data quality rules, reconciliation checks and exception handling.
• Own the operational support model for the resource management capability - triage and resolution of user issues, maintenance of configuration and process documentation, change control, and the enhancement backlog and roadmap.

Resource Demand Forecasting

• Lead the recurring resource demand forecasting cycle in Planisware, including the planning calendar, submission windows, data readiness checks and close-out communications for functions and program teams.
• Develop, maintain and pressure-test functional algorithms, standard resource profiles and driver-based assumptions used to generate demand for studies, programs and platform activities.
• Ensure demand is captured consistently across the portfolio - unfunded, planned and approved work - and that it remains aligned to project schedules, milestones and Portfolio Review Committee approvals.
• Analyze forecast accuracy over time, quantify variance between forecast and actual effort, and drive corrective actions with functions to improve forecast reliability.
• Partner with Finance to reconcile resource demand with budget, headcount and external spend assumptions so that operational and financial plans tell the same story.

Resource Availability and Supply

• Maintain the supply side of the resource model in Planisware - available capacity by function, role and location, including internal headcount, vacancies, contingent workers and outsourced capacity.
• Define and govern the standards for availability data: full-time equivalent conventions, productive-time factors, allocation rules and the treatment of non-project time.
• Work with functional resource managers to keep availability current through the planning cycle, and surface gaps, over-allocations and data staleness for resolution.
• Ensure assignment and allocation practices in Planisware are applied consistently so that availability views are trusted at both project and portfolio levels.

Capacity Planning, Scenario Analysis and Governance

• Serve as the business process owner for portfolio capacity planning, resource governance, and scenario analysis, establishing standards, ensuring data integrity, and providing oversight of execution performed by functional stakeholders.
• Govern the development and maintenance of portfolio capacity views and resource planning analyses, enabling functions to manage operational inputs while ensuring consistency, transparency, and alignment with enterprise planning objectives.
• Provide strategic oversight and decision-support for portfolio resource planning and governance forums, ensuring leaders have the insights required to make informed prioritization and investment decisions.
• Drive cross-functional alignment on planning assumptions, methodologies, and resource management practices, ensuring a consistent and defensible approach across the organization.
• Monitor governance outcomes and accountability, ensuring agreed actions are implemented by responsible stakeholders and escalating risks, issues, and conflicts when necessary.

Data Quality, Reporting and Insights

• Design and maintain the reporting and dashboard suite for resource demand, availability and capacity, drawing on Planisware data and the supporting analytics layer.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for assigned Therapeutic Area Units and functions, driving accuracy and consistency of resource and portfolio attributes in the system.
• Lead compliance and completeness tracking for resource management data, publishing metrics on timeliness, coverage and quality, and following through with owners on remediation.
• Design visuals and insights for recurring resource management reviews that make current allocation choices and future investment needs clear to a leadership audience.

Adoption, Training and Community Enablement

• In collaboration with the RBE training team, develop and deliver training, onboarding and super-user programs for Planisware resource management, including materials, handbooks, job aids and release-specific guidance.
• Facilitate working sessions with functions and program teams, adapting technique and depth to the audience, to embed planning discipline and resolve resourcing questions in the tool.
• Support and strengthen the project management and resource management Community of Practice, capturing and spreading best practice across R&D.
• Identify improvement opportunities and lead continuous improvement initiatives that advance CAPTIVATE goals, challenging the team to consider alternative perspectives and ensure a robust approach.

Core Elements Related to This Role

• Deep working knowledge of Planisware or an equivalent enterprise portfolio and resource management platform, with the ability to move between configuration detail and portfolio-level interpretation.
• Knowledgeable about the overall R&D portfolio, drug development activities and milestones, in order to be strategic in planning, oversight and the delivery of high quality reporting and insight.
• Strong ability to build relationships and credibility across R&D functions, Therapeutic Area Units and Finance.
• Forward thinking, with the ability to recommend, influence and implement organizational change and continuous innovation in how resources are planned and managed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a science, business or related field required.
• Advanced degree in health, business or information technology services preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of industry experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a drug development project management, resource management or portfolio planning role.
• Demonstrated, thorough understanding of the drug development process and the resource drivers behind it.
• Previous experience working in a global organization, including successful cross-functional team leadership.
• Knowledge of project management skills and methods; PMP desirable.

Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience with Planisware, or a comparable enterprise portfolio and resource management system, including configuration, testing and release support.
• Practical command of resource planning mechanics: full-time equivalent modelling, resource breakdown structures, demand and capacity algorithms, allocation and levelling.
• Strong data and analytics skills - Excel at an advanced level, and experience with reporting and visualization tools used for portfolio and resource dashboards.
• Familiarity with integration and data flows between planning, scheduling, human resources and finance systems; SQL or relational database familiarity an advantage.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Project, PowerPoint and Word; comfortable operating in a validated, change-controlled system environment.

Behavioral Competencies

• Proven leadership and strategic problem-solving ability, with the capacity to anticipate issues and identify workable solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills; adept at translating complex resource data into focused recommendations, and comfortable in training situations.
• Flexibility and tolerance to manage change and differing opinions with diplomacy and competence.
• Excellent organizational skills, with proactive management of multiple tasks of varied complexity at the same time.
• Negotiation, persuasion and positive influencing ability across a matrixed organization.

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: Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range

$154,400.00 - $242,550.00

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.