Senior Director, AIRx Discovery Biology Lead

About the role

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About the role

Takeda Research is constructing the Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR) group built on AI, automation, new ways of working, and talent with the singular vision of delivering differentiated medicines to the clinic at speed and cost. To catalyze these efforts, Takeda is creating two complementary units: AI Research Accelerator (AIRx) and The Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR) group.

AIRx will consist of a dedicated group of experienced drug hunters with the autonomy of a biotech and the resources of a leading pharmaceutical company. It is designed to incubate the future AI-powered operating models and deliver candidates to the clinic at industry leading speed and success rates.

Purpose

Biology is the strategic core of every AIRx program - As Discovery Biology Lead, you will set the mechanistic and translational foundation that determines whether a program deserves to advance, guiding the team from target hypothesis to clinical hypothesis with the intellectual authority that only deep disease biology expertise can provide.

Responsibilities include directing CRO partners with precision and accountability to generate high-quality, interpretable data that feeds into AI-powered DMTA cycles, and connecting experimental biology to translational strategy and clinical outcomes.

The AIRx Discovery Biology Lead combines deep scientific expertise with the agility to thrive in an externalized, AI-powered operating model - leveraging biological depth and pragmatism to direct and integrate biology at speed, while role modeling new ways of working in Discovery Automation & Robotics (DAR) group.

Accountabilities

• Own the disease biology and target validation strategy across the AIRx portfolio; ensure all programs have mechanistic rationale, clear differentiation, and clinical line of sight
• Define translational biomarker strategies supporting go/no-go decisions and future clinical development
• Design and provide strategic oversight of CRO-executed in vitro and in vivo biology studies; critically evaluate data packages for scientific quality and decision-readiness
• Integrate biology data into AI-enabled DMTA cycles alongside medicinal/computational chemists, DMPK, safety, and structural biology
• Challenge scientific assumptions across the team; ensure biological integrity and mechanistic depth underpin all program decisions
• Represent biology perspectives at Takeda governance forums; contribute to IND-enabling biology packages
• Stay current with disease biology and the competitive landscape; proactively inform the team of relevant developments
• Shape how biology is practiced in the AIRx model - your ways of working here will become the template for Takeda Research's future operating model

Qualifications & Competencies

• PhD in cell biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, or closely related discipline
• 12-15+ years of drug discovery experience with a strong track record in target validation and disease biology
• Proven contributions to IND filings; experience supporting IND-enabling biology packages
• Track record designing and managing externalized CRO biology programs; ability to scope, oversee, and critically interpret study data
• Ability to connect target biology to clinical hypothesis and translational strategy
• AI/ML data integration experience; comfortable working with large multi-source datasets
• Experience in at least one therapeutic area represented across the Takeda Research portfolio
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills; able to operate effectively in a lean, fast-paced team

Additional Information

The position will be based in Cambridge, MA. This position is currently classified as "hybrid" by 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: Boston, MA

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.