Associate Director, Early Pipeline, Patient and Market Access

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Job Description

Join Takeda as an Associate Director, Early Pipeline, Patient and Market Access role out of our Cambridge, MA office. This role sits at the intersection of market access strategy and clinical/commercial development, serving as the dedicated market access voice for early pipeline assets (typically 2–3+ years from launch). The ideal candidate brings a deep understanding of the US access landscape, strong strategic instincts, and the ability to influence cross-functional decisions upstream — before key development choices are locked in.

How you will contribute

Early Pipeline Market Access Strategy

• Develop and maintain the US market access strategy for early pipeline assets, ensuring payer, pricing, distribution, patient access perspectives are embedded into product development from the outset
• Define and pressure-test market access assumptions — including pricing, GtN (payer contracting, provider discounts / incentives, copay, etc), distribution model, reimbursement dynamics, coverage and approval rate uptake, etc) — to inform investment decisions, revenue forecasting, and demand planning
• Identify value evidence gaps and work cross-functionally to ensure clinical development plans are designed to generate data that supports future payer negotiations and coverage decisions
• Partner with Global Market Access and SPD NPP on insights generation (primary research, secondary analytics, advisory boards) to ground assumptions in current and evolving access ecosystem dynamics
• Represent the US Business Unit in global product investment forums, contributing perspective on the US competitive landscape, access evolution, healthcare ecosystem shifts, study design needs
• Develop briefing materials, white papers, and strategic recommendations that shape senior leadership decisions on pipeline prioritization and investment

External Partnership Development

• Identify and prioritize market access focus areas (issues, opportunities) where external partnerships could accelerate or strengthen the strategy
• Conduct targeted research and direct outreach to evaluate potential partners across the ecosystem: from established entities to emerging innovators
• Develop partnership concepts and manage selective execution, determining which initiatives are best housed within the PAMA function versus handed off to brand teams at a later stage
• Build a pipeline of external relationships that enhances the organization's market access intelligence and capabilities over time

Leadership Support & Enterprise Communications

• Develop high-quality early asset strategy materials, leadership updates, and executive presentations tailored to senior audiences
• Support key governance forums — including BRC, PRC, and PAMA LT review sessions — ensuring market access perspectives are clearly articulated and decision-ready
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (Clinical, Medical Affairs, HEOR, Regulatory, Finance, Commercial) to drive alignment on market access assumptions and strategic direction
• Serve as a consistent communication bridge across internal stakeholders, enabling transparency, early alignment, and informed decision-making before critical development milestones

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required, master’s preferred
• 7+ years of experience in U.S. Market Access, Payer Strategy, Channel Strategy, HEOR/Policy, or Enterprise Strategy roles required. 
• Strong understanding of U.S. payer archetypes, PBMs, SP networks, employer dynamics, and access innovation models. 
• Demonstrated ability to connect enterprise level insights across brands, channels, and capabilities. 
• Experience working within matrixed environments with cross functional teams (Commercial, A&I, HEOR, Patient Services, Trade, Medical). 
• Strong analytical, communication, storytelling, and executive ready presentation skills. 
• Strategically Oriented — capable of connecting ecosystem trends to enterprise implications. 
• Insight Driven — comfortable distilling analytics, policy, and market intelligence into clear recommendations. 
• Collaborative — able to align and influence across PAMA and USBU teams. 
• Enterprise Minded — sees across silos and aligns tactics to long-term enterprise goals. 
• Action Oriented — capable of operationalizing strategy into structured workplans and cross functional execution. 

More About Us 

At Takeda, we are transforming patient care through the development of novel specialty pharmaceuticals and best in class patient support programs. Takeda is a patient-focused company that will inspire and empower you to grow through life-changing work. 

Certified as a Global Top Employer, Takeda offers stimulating careers, encourages innovation, and strives for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world. 

This position is currently classified as "hybrid" in accordance with Takeda's Hybrid and Remote Work policy. 

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. 

For Location:

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$154,400.00 - $242,550.00

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. 

U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/ or long-term incentives. U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation. 

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

USA - MA - Cambridge - Kendall Square - 500

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

Yes

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.