Head of Solid Tumors US Medical Affairs Oncology
Takeda
Summary
The Head of Solid Tumors, US Medical Affairs is a senior leadership role responsible for developing and executing the US Medical Affairs strategy across the Solid Tumor portfolio, with a primary focus on lung cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This role provides strategic medical leadership across priority and emerging disease areas, translating evolving science, clinical practice, and unmet patient needs into an integrated US Medical strategy.
Job description
How you will contribute
- Develop and lead the US Medical Affairs strategy for the Solid Tumor portfolio, with particular focus on lung and GI cancers.
- Provide strategic medical leadership for NSCLC, including understanding the evolving treatment landscape, unmet patient needs, scientific priorities, and opportunities to improve patient care.
- Lead Medical Affairs assessment and strategic planning for emerging opportunities in SCLC.
- Develop and execute US Medical strategies for emerging priorities across GI cancers, including gastric cancer and PDAC.
- Translate evolving scientific data, clinical practice, treatment guidelines, and the external healthcare environment into actionable US Medical priorities.
- Lead integrated medical planning across scientific communications, medical education, external scientific engagement, and field medical priorities.
- Establish and maintain strategic scientific engagement with external experts, investigators, academic institutions, professional societies, patient organizations, and other key stakeholders.
- Partner closely with Field Medical leadership to ensure scientific engagement priorities, capabilities, and execution are aligned with the overall US Medical strategy.
- Provide medical and scientific leadership across cross-functional teams, partnering with colleagues across Clinical Development, Commercial, Market Access, Biomarkers/Precision Medicine, and Medical Operations, as appropriate.
- Represent the US Medical Affairs perspective and patient needs in cross-functional strategic planning and decision-making.
- Monitor advances in scientific data, clinical practice, competitive landscapes, and standards of care to identify implications and opportunities for the Solid Tumor portfolio.
- Ensure Medical Affairs activities are scientifically rigorous, patient focused, and conducted in accordance with applicable policies, standards, and compliance requirements.
- Lead, coach, and develop Medical Affairs colleagues, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
- Establish priorities and resource allocation across the Solid Tumor portfolio to support effective execution of near- and longer-term objectives.
- Serve as a senior US Medical Affairs leader and strategic advisor on important scientific, medical, and portfolio decisions.
Skills and qualifications
- Advanced scientific or healthcare degree such as PharmD, PhD, MD, or equivalent relevant advanced degree.
- Significant experience in Medical Affairs, clinical development, or a related scientific/medical function within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
- Strong knowledge of oncology and solid tumors, with experience in lung cancer and/or GI malignancies highly valued.
- Strong understanding of the US oncology healthcare environment, including clinical practice, scientific engagement, medical education, and evolving standards of care.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute Medical Affairs strategies across complex and evolving disease areas.
- Ability to interpret complex clinical and scientific data and translate implications into clear strategic priorities and medical plans.
- Strong experience engaging with external scientific and medical experts and building credible, collaborative relationships within the oncology community.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence strategic decisions within a complex matrix organization.
- Strong leadership capabilities, including experience developing teams, coaching colleagues, establishing priorities, and driving accountability.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific and strategic topics clearly to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound judgment, collaboration, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Commitment to scientific integrity, patient impact, ethical decision-making, and compliant Medical Affairs practices.
Requirements
- Advanced scientific or healthcare degree such as PharmD, PhD, MD, or equivalent relevant advanced degree.
- Significant experience in Medical Affairs, clinical development, or a related scientific/medical function within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.
- Strong knowledge of oncology and solid tumors, with experience in lung cancer and/or GI malignancies highly valued.
- Strong understanding of the US oncology healthcare environment, including clinical practice, scientific engagement, medical education, and evolving standards of care.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute Medical Affairs strategies across complex and evolving disease areas.
- Ability to interpret complex clinical and scientific data and translate implications into clear strategic priorities and medical plans.
- Strong experience engaging with external scientific and medical experts and building credible, collaborative relationships within the oncology community.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively across functions and influence strategic decisions within a complex matrix organization.
- Strong leadership capabilities, including experience developing teams, coaching colleagues, establishing priorities, and driving accountability.
- Excellent executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific and strategic topics clearly to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking, sound judgment, collaboration, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Commitment to scientific integrity, patient impact, ethical decision-making, and compliant Medical Affairs practices.
Company overview
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited is a Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company founded in 1781 and incorporated in 1925. As one of the world's top 20 largest pharmaceutical companies by revenue and the third largest in Asia, Takeda specializes in developing and commercializing innovative medicines across several therapeutic areas including oncology, rare diseases, neuroscience, gastroenterology, plasma-derived therapies, and vaccines. With approximately 49,095 employees globally, the company operates research and development centers, manufacturing facilities, and commercial operations across 39 U.S. states and numerous countries worldwide. Takeda maintains dual headquarters in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan, with significant operations in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it serves as the largest life sciences employer in the state. The company's patient-focused approach is guided by its Takeda-ism values of Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance, emphasizing a commitment to delivering life-transforming treatments while advancing sustainable healthcare solutions. Takeda's extensive portfolio includes both innovative biologics and small molecule drugs, supported by strategic acquisitions and partnerships that have expanded its capabilities in areas such as immuno-oncology and rare disease treatments.