Senior Manager, Lab Operations

Role Purpose

This role manages the operational delivery of laboratory asset maintenance and service coverage across Takeda’s U.S. R&D sites, within the strategy and priorities established by Lab Asset Management leadership. The Senior Manager oversees the on-site third-party asset management vendor responsible for coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, and corrective repairs for laboratory equipment. Working with scientific, Finance, and Procurement teams, this role monitors vendor performance, implements agreed service coverage plans, manages assigned budgets, and delivers measurable cost savings. The role recommends improvements based on equipment criticality, service data, and scientific needs, resolves operational issues within delegated authority, and escalates significant risks, budget exceptions, and strategic decisions to leadership.

How you will contribute

Third-Party Vendor Oversight and Service Delivery

You will manage day-to-day vendor oversight and service delivery across US R&D sites. Working within established service expectations, you will coordinate with scientific and operational teams to keep laboratory equipment available, maintain required service documentation, and address issues affecting research operations.

• Manage day-to-day oversight of the on-site third-party lab asset management vendor coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, corrective repairs, and break/fix services across US R&D sites.
• Implement agreed service expectations, governance routines, escalation pathways, and performance standards; recommend adjustments to leadership based on service results.
• Monitor vendor performance against service level agreements, key performance indicators, response times, completion rates, customer satisfaction, documentation quality, and financial expectations.
• Resolve operational service issues, equipment downtime, and vendor performance concerns within delegated authority; escalate significant risks and unresolved cross-functional issues to leadership.
• Work with the on-site vendor to monitor OEM and third-party service providers against agreed performance goals across contracted and time-and-materials service models, and follow through on corrective actions.

Asset Coverage Planning and Operational Excellence

You will implement agreed laboratory asset coverage plans that balance reliability, risk, cost, and scientific need. You will evaluate service options, recommend coverage changes, coordinate maintenance planning, and deliver operational improvements that reduce downtime and improve the scientist experience.

• Assess asset criticality, utilization, risk, warranty status, age, service history, and scientific need to recommend maintenance coverage and implement approved plans.
• Evaluate OEM contracts, third-party coverage, time-and-materials support, preventative maintenance plans, and other service options with stakeholders; recommend fit-for-purpose solutions within established coverage guidelines and approval processes.
• Ensure accurate tracking of maintenance coverage, calibration requirements, service history, repair activity, and asset status to support reliable operations and data-driven decisions.
• Identify opportunities to reduce downtime, improve equipment reliability, standardize workflows, and enhance the scientist experience.

Financial Stewardship and Cost Savings

You will manage assigned laboratory equipment maintenance and service budgets, working with Finance, Procurement, vendors, and site teams to track spend, improve contract value, and deliver measurable savings. You will negotiate service costs in partnership with Procurement and within delegated authority, while maintaining reliable support for critical lab assets.

• Identify, quantify, and deliver approved cost savings through right-sized service coverage, contract optimization, vendor consolidation, warranty utilization, and repair-versus-replace analysis; negotiate pricing and service terms with Procurement within delegated authority.
• Provide budget and forecast inputs to Finance and leadership; manage approved budgets for maintenance, calibrations, preventative maintenance programs, service contracts, and repairs, and escalate variances requiring approval.
• Review service spend, quotes, invoices, entitlements, contract terms, and vendor recommendations to ensure Takeda receives appropriate value and avoids unnecessary spend.
• Prepare dashboards, reports, and business case inputs summarizing service performance, budget status, spend trends, financial impact, risks, and savings opportunities for leadership review.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Change Implementation

You will collaborate across scientific, operational, technical, and business teams to implement agreed improvements to lab asset services. You will coordinate process adoption, communicate operational changes, and support consistent service delivery aligned with research priorities.

• Act as a trusted partner to scientists, Lab Operations, Facilities, EHS, IT, Finance, Procurement, and site leadership to ensure maintenance practices support business continuity and research priorities.
• Coordinate implementation and adoption of approved processes, vendor operating models, system enhancements, reporting routines, and service coverage plans, including stakeholder communication and issue resolution.
• Apply established governance routines and promote consistent processes and clear operational accountability across US R&D sites.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that simplify service request pathways, improve data quality, strengthen compliance, and enhance the customer experience.

Expected skills to be successful in role

To be successful in this role, you will bring strong operational management, analytical, vendor oversight, and stakeholder engagement skills. You can translate established priorities into practical service plans, balance scientific needs with service quality and financial discipline, and use data to recommend improvements. You work independently within defined responsibilities, coordinate cross-functional solutions, hold vendors accountable for agreed outcomes, and recognize when issues require leadership decisions.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering or related pharmaceutical science; 12+ years relevant industry experience
• Master’s degree in chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering or related pharmaceutical science; 8+ years relevant industry experience
• PhD in chemistry, biology, pharmacy, engineering or related pharmaceutical science; 4+ years relevant industry experience
• Relevant experience managing laboratory operations, lab asset services, scientific equipment maintenance (vendor or customer side), vendor delivery, or related operational activities, ideally within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or other highly regulated environments.
• Strong working knowledge of laboratory equipment service models, including preventative maintenance, calibration, break/fix support, service contracts, vendor coordination, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, metrics, and operational insights to drive cost savings, improve service quality, increase efficiency, and support informed business decisions.
• Experience partnering with Procurement, Finance, scientific teams, and business stakeholders on service contract reviews, pricing negotiations, spend analysis, sourcing support, assigned budgets, and supplier performance.
• Excellent communication, influencing, stakeholder management, and escalation management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across scientific, operational, technical, and business audiences.

Business Expertise & Leadership Capabilities

Translate established lab asset management priorities into operational plans; manage vendor delivery and assigned budgets; use service and financial data to recommend improvements; influence cross-functional partners without direct authority; and escalate material risks, budget exceptions, and decisions beyond delegated authority.