Associate Director/Director, AI/ML Enablement - Research

<p>By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s <a href="https://jobs.takeda.com/privacynotice" target="_blank">Privacy Notice</a> and <a href="https://www.takeda.com/terms-and-conditions/" target="_blank">Terms of Use</a>.  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><h2><b>Job Description</b></h2><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><p><b>Position Overview</b></p><p>We are seeking a hands-on, collaborative AI/ML leader to accelerate the adoption and application of AI/ML capabilities at Takeda&#39;s Japan research site. This role has two primary mandates:</p><ul><li><b>Enable AI/ML application</b> to support target identification, validation, and mechanistic understanding across discovery programs</li><li><b>Build local AI/ML capabilities</b> by mentoring computational biologists and bioinformaticians in modern methods and agentic frameworks</li></ul><p></p><p>You will be a key partner within the research organization, working closely with discovery scientists and a global team of computational, AI, and data scientists to translate cutting-edge AI/ML approaches into practical tools that advance research programs. You will ensure the site can effectively leverage enterprise AI/ML platforms while adapting solutions to local scientific priorities. This role requires a leader who can bridge technical depth with scientific application, understanding both the capabilities of modern AI/ML and the realities of drug discovery workflows.</p><p></p><p><b>Key Responsibilities</b></p><p><b>1. AI/ML Application to Research &amp; Discovery</b></p><ul><li>Partner with computational biologists, bioinformaticians, and experimental scientists to apply AI/ML methods supporting target identification, validation, and mechanistic understanding</li><li>Drive adoption of modern AI/ML approaches (representation learning, predictive modeling, causal inference) across multi-omics, imaging, clinical, and real-world data</li><li>Provide hands-on technical guidance across programs: recommend appropriate methods, support implementation, and review outputs for scientific rigor</li><li>Partner with research project leaders to identify high-value opportunities for AI/ML application and prioritize efforts</li></ul><p></p><p><b>2. Agentic Frameworks &amp; Workflow Automation</b></p><ul><li>Evaluate, implement, and operationalize agentic AI frameworks (e.g., LLM-based research agents, automated literature mining, hypothesis generation pipelines) to accelerate discovery workflows</li><li>Design and deploy automated workflows that chain tools, data sources, and models to streamline hypothesis generation, experiment design, and data analysis</li><li>Establish best practices and governance for responsible, reproducible AI use in research applications</li></ul><p></p><p><b>3. Site Partnership &amp; Global Alignment</b></p><ul><li>Act as key AI/ML liaison between the Japan site and global R&amp;D computational functions; ensure alignment with enterprise AI strategy</li><li>Represent site needs in global project teams and governance forums</li><li>Communicate complex AI/ML concepts clearly to diverse scientific and non-technical stakeholders</li></ul><p></p><p><b>4. Capability Building &amp; Culture</b></p><ul><li>Mentor and upskill computational biologists and bioinformaticians in AI/ML methodologies and tool adoption</li><li>Stay current with cutting-edge AI/ML and discovery technologies; translate external innovation into practical applications</li><li>Champion new ways of working powered by digital, automation, and AI tools</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Qualifications</b></p><p><b>Required:</b></p><ul><li>Expected: PhD in Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related quantitative discipline with 8&#43; years (AD) / 12&#43; years (Director) relevant experience</li><li>Proven track record of applying AI/ML methods to drug discovery or life sciences research</li><li>Hands-on proficiency with ML/DL frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow) and cloud-based compute environments</li><li>Experience with multi-omics data analysis and integration</li><li>Demonstrated ability to translate complex computational concepts for diverse scientific audiences</li><li>Effective collaboration skills in matrixed, global environments</li></ul><p><b>Preferred:</b></p><ul><li>Familiarity with therapeutic area disease biology relevant to site priorities</li><li>Working knowledge of LLMs, agentic architectures, and workflow orchestration tools</li><li>Experience mentoring scientists with varying computational backgrounds</li><li>Japanese language proficiency; cross-cultural collaboration experience</li></ul><p><b>Additional Information</b></p><ul><li>The position will be based in Shonan, Japan</li></ul><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><p style="text-align:left"><b>Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary:</b></p><ul><li><p style="text-align:left">Allowances: Commutation, Housing, Overtime Work etc.</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Salary Increase: Annually, Bonus Payment: Twice a year</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Working Hours: Headquarters (Osaka/ Tokyo) 9:00-17:30, Production Sites (Osaka/ Yamaguchi) 8:00-16:45, (Narita) 8:30-17:15, Research Site (Kanagawa) 9:00-17:45</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Holidays: Saturdays, Sundays, National Holidays, May Day, Year-End Holidays etc. (approx. 123 days in a year)</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Paid Leaves: Annual Paid Leave, Special Paid Leave, Sick Leave, Family Support Leave, Maternity Leave, Childcare Leave, Family Nursing Leave.</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Flexible Work Styles: Flextime, Telework</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">Benefits: Social Insurance, Retirement and Corporate Pension, Employee Stock Ownership Program, etc.</p></li></ul><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><p style="text-align:left"><b>Important Notice concerning working conditions:</b></p><ul><li><p style="text-align:left">It is possible the job scope may change at the company’s discretion.</p></li><li><p style="text-align:left">It is possible the department and workplace may change at the company’s discretion.</p></li></ul><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><p style="text-align:inherit"></p><h2><b>Locations</b></h2>Fujisawa, Japan<p style="text-align:inherit"></p><h2><b>Worker Type</b></h2>Employee<p style="text-align:inherit"></p><h2><b>Worker Sub-Type</b></h2>Regular<p style="text-align:inherit"></p><h2><b>Time Type</b></h2>Full time