Global Head of Ethics & Compliance, R&D Business Partner

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Job Description

About Us:

The Head Ethics & Compliance Business Partners for Global Research & Development leads the Ethics & Compliance strategy and business partner model for Takeda’s global R&D organization. As the primary E&C advisor to the R&D President and senior R&D leadership team, this role provides strategic counsel on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct risks. The role embeds Takeda’s values, standards, policies, and external regulatory expectations into R&D strategy, portfolio decision-making, innovation, and execution.

How you will contribute:

• Reporting to the Head E&C for R&D, GMA & SPD, this role is accountable for leading the global R&D E&C Business Partner team and ensuring consistent, risk-based support across R&D functions, regions, and governance forums. The role requires strong executive judgment, enterprise influence, and the ability to anticipate, assess, and guide responses to complex risks across a highly matrixed global R&D environment.
• Lead the Ethics & Compliance strategy and business partner model for Global R&D, aligned with Takeda values, enterprise E&C priorities, and evolving regulatory expectations.
• Serve as the primary E&C advisor to the R&D President and senior R&D leadership team on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct risks.
• Lead and develop the global R&D E&C Business Partner team, setting priorities, advisory standards, and operating expectations across R&D functions and regions.
• Embed E&C considerations into R&D strategy, portfolio governance, operational execution, innovation models, external collaborations, and key business decisions.
• Anticipate, assess, and guide senior leaders on emerging risks across the R&D lifecycle, including clinical development, research collaborations, data use, patient engagement, scientific exchange, and third-party partnerships.
• Represent R&D E&C risks, priorities, and insights in relevant R&D and Legal, Ethics & Compliance forums, ensuring appropriate escalation of significant or cross-area matters.
• Partner with Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, and other functions to ensure integrated, risk-based support for Global R&D.
• Translate enterprise E&C standards, policies, and controls into practical guidance that enables responsible innovation and consistent execution across R&D.
• Use risk insights, monitoring outcomes, investigations, trends, and business intelligence to identify R&D compliance priorities, capability gaps, and targeted interventions.
• Oversee risk-based E&C initiatives, communications, training, and engagement strategies tailored to the scale, complexity, and needs of Global R&D.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15+ years of progressive experience in ethics and compliance, legal, risk, governance, healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, or another applicable experience.

• Experience supporting global R&D, clinical development, research, regulatory, medical, or related life sciences functions.

• Proven ability to advise senior executives on complex ethics, compliance, governance, reputational, and business conduct matters.

• Strong understanding of R&D risk areas, including clinical development, research collaborations, patient engagement, data use, scientific exchange, third-party partnerships, and regulatory interactions.

• Demonstrated ability to lead a global team, set priorities, build advisory capability, and develop talent in a matrixed environment.

• Strong executive presence, communication skills, and ability to translate complex risk topics into clear, practical business guidance.

• Advanced risk judgment and strategic problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate emerging risks and guide pragmatic mitigation strategies.

• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive accountability without direct authority across global, cross-functional teams.

• Experience partnering across Legal, Quality, Regulatory, Medical, Privacy, Risk, HR, Finance, and other enterprise functions.

• Strong data and insights orientation, with the ability to use monitoring outcomes, risk indicators, audit findings, and trend analysis to inform priorities.

• AI-forward leadership, with the ability to apply AI within the function and advise the business on responsible AI use.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in law, compliance, life sciences, healthcare, public policy, or a related field preferred.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

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