Lead & Accelerate Clinical Trial Activation Across APAC
As the Director, Site Start-Up & Activation, you will be responsible for defining, developing, and delivering the global site start-up strategy for Takeda’s clinical trials in the APAC region. This is a critical leadership role where you will directly manage a team of specialists, partner with CROs and cross-functional teams, and leverage data-driven insights to accelerate site activation timelines. You will champion innovation and operational excellence to ensure Takeda remains at the forefront of efficient clinical trial execution.
Your Key Accountabilities
Strategic Leadership & Team Management:
- Provide line management, mentoring, and development for the APAC Site Start-Up team, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Oversee the project deliverables of Functional Service Provider (FSP) partners, ensuring alignment with Takeda’s quality and timeline expectations.
- Act as a role model for Takeda’s values and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the start-up function.
Project Delivery & Process Innovation:
- Define, develop, and deliver the Global Site Start-Up Project Plan for assigned programs, ensuring robust planning and execution.
- Drive the creation and implementation of innovative solutions, methodologies, and technologies to optimize processes and accelerate start-up timelines.
- Leverage leading industry tools and clinical trial intelligence data to provide accurate forecasts, scenario planning, and performance metrics for site activation.
Cross-Functional Partnership & Oversight:
- Partner with CROs, Clinical Operations, and Takeda Alliance Unit (TAU) partners to improve overall site start-up metrics and implement efficient, TA-aligned strategies.
- Lead the cross-functional site activation team (internal and CRO), serving as the primary point of escalation to resolve issues and mitigate delays.
- Establish and monitor country and site-level deliverables with CROs, promptly recognizing and remediating risks to the activation timeline.
Expert Guidance & Standards:
- Ensure consistent standards are applied to the site start-up process across the project portfolio.
- Provide expert guidance on APAC clinical trial regulations and ethics committee submissions.
- Translate deep operational insights into actionable strategies that enhance trial planning and execution.
Your Profile: Education & Competencies
Education & Experience:
- BS degree or equivalent in a life science (advanced degree preferred).
- Extensive experience (8+ years) in Clinical Operations, Project Management, Site Start-Up, and/or Trial Optimization within a pharmaceutical company or CRO.
- More than 5 years of direct, hands-on responsibility for site management, activation, and oversight of clinical trial start-up processes.
- Proven expertise in APAC regulatory and ethics submission landscapes.
- Experience in line management and working effectively in a global matrix environment.
Key Competencies & Skills:
- Expertise with leading-edge trial optimization vendors, tools, and data-driven methodologies.
- Proficiency in analyzing software models, database structures, and clinical trial intelligence.
- Strong leadership, collaboration, and influencing skills to inspire teams and drive innovation.
- Ability to interpret complex data, facilitate data-driven decision-making, and communicate insights effectively to senior stakeholders.
- A strategic thinker with a track record of developing and implementing process improvements that deliver measurable impact.
Why Join Takeda?
- Strategic Impact: Play a pivotal role in accelerating Takeda’s pipeline by leading site activation across the dynamic APAC region.
- Leadership Role: Directly shape the capabilities and culture of the Site Start-Up function while managing a team and key vendor partnerships.
- Innovation Champion: Drive the adoption of cutting-edge tools and processes in a company committed to digital transformation in clinical development.
- Global Network: Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders worldwide in a truly global biopharmaceutical leader.
Ready to lead the charge in optimizing clinical trial start-up and making treatments available to patients faster?
Apply now for the Director, Site Start-Up & Activation position in Singapore.
