Senior Manager, Lab Operations

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Job Description

Are you looking for a patient-focused, innovation-driven company that will inspire you and empower you to shine? Join us as a Senior Manager, Lab Operations in our Cambridge office.

At Takeda, we are transforming the pharmaceutical industry through our R&D-driven market leadership and being a values-led company. To do this, we empower our people to realize their potential through life-changing work. Certified as a Global Top Employer, we offer stimulating careers, encourage innovation, and strive for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our global teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Here, you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission.

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:

Key activities

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.
• undefined

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.
• undefined

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.

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