Associate Director, Lab Asset Management

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 Privacy Notice and Terms of Use . I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge. 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 Associate Director, Lab Asset Management 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 offers the opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership for laboratory asset maintenance and service coverage across Takeda’s U.S. R&D sites. The successful candidate will partner closely with Takeda stakeholders and oversee the on-site third-party asset management vendor responsible for coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, and corrective repairs for laboratory equipment. This role will define, monitor, and improve key performance indicators for the on-site vendor and help drive performance expectations for OEM and third-party service providers across contracted and time-and-materials service models. As a key partner to scientific, finance, and procurement teams, this leader will develop data-driven service coverage strategies that maximize uptime for critical lab assets, strengthen asset lifecycle management, manage budgets, and demonstrate measurable cost savings and financial impact for Takeda. How you will contribute: Third-Party Vendor Oversight and Service Delivery You will play a key part in ensuring reliable, high-quality laboratory asset support across US R&D sites. You will lead vendor oversight, strengthen service delivery processes, and partner across scientific and operational teams to help ensure critical lab equipment remains available, compliant, and ready to support research priorities. Lead day-to-day and strategic oversight of the on-site third-party lab asset management vendor responsible for coordinating preventative maintenance, calibrations, corrective repairs, and break/fix services across US R&D sites. Define clear expectations, governance routines, escalation pathways, and performance standards that enable consistent, responsive, and high-quality service delivery. Monitor vendor performance against service level agreements, key performance indicators, response times, completion rates, customer satisfaction, documentation quality, and financial expectations. Serve as a trusted escalation partner for service issues, equipment downtime, vendor performance concerns, and complex cross-functional challenges that may impact scientific operations. Partner with the on-site vendor to establish and improve performance goals for OEM and third-party service providers, across both contracted and time-and-materials service models. Asset Coverage Strategy and Operational Excellence You will help shape a practical, data-driven approach to laboratory asset coverage that balances reliability, risk, cost, and scientific need. You will evaluate service models, strengthen maintenance planning, and drive operational improvements that reduce downtime and improve the overall scientist experience. Develop asset coverage strategies that align maintenance approach to asset criticality, utilization, risk, warranty status, age, service history, and scientific need. Partner with stakeholders to determine the appropriate service model for each asset, including OEM contracts, third-party coverage, time-and-materials support, preventative maintenance plans, or other fit-for-purpose solutions. 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 support disciplined financial management of laboratory equipment maintenance and service spend. You will work across Finance, Procurement, vendors, and site teams to improve cost visibility, strengthen contract value, and deliver measurable savings while maintaining reliable support for critical lab assets. Identify, quantify, and deliver cost savings through right-sized service coverage, contract optimization, vendor consolidation, warranty utilization, and repair-versus-replace analysis. Partner with Finance and Procurement to develop and manage budgets for maintenance, calibrations, preventative maintenance programs, service contracts, and repair activity. Review service spend, quotes, invoices, entitlements, contract terms, and vendor recommendations to ensure Takeda receives appropriate value and avoids unnecessary spend. Develop dashboards, reports, and business cases that communicate service performance, budget status, spend trends, financial impact, risk areas, and savings opportunities to leadership. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Change Leadership You will serve as a collaborative partner across scientific, operational, technical, and business teams. You will help lead process adoption, strengthen governance, and support continuous improvement efforts that make lab asset services easier to use, more consistent, and better aligned to 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. Lead change management efforts related to new processes, vendor operating models, system enhancements, reporting routines, and service coverage strategies. Promote consistent processes, clear accountability, and strong governance 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 a strong blend of operational leadership, analytical thinking, vendor management, and stakeholder engagement. You thrive in a complex, fast-paced environment where scientific needs, service quality, vendor accountability, and financial discipline must be balanced. You are comfortable influencing across functions, solving ambiguous problems, and using data to drive decisions that improve laboratory asset performance and service outcomes. Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, enginee