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Job Description

The Head of Vaccines and Strategic Partnerships, India Cluster will drive the end-to-end commercial success of Takeda’s Vaccines Business Unit (VBU) in India, with responsibility for the pediatric and adult franchises. This includes leadership of integrated commercial, digital, and partnership strategies, shaping the business for robust, sustainable growth. The incumbent will spearhead digital transformation, maximize patient access, expand market reach, and build internal capabilities in line with Takeda’s values and compliance standards.

Develop and Execute Commercial Strategy:

Formulate and implement the commercial strategy for all B2B (public and private sector) and B2C segments across India, ensuring achievement of sales, market share, and growth goals in accordance with the VBU’s business plan and Takeda’s priorities.

Digital Innovation and Go-to-Market:

Drive digital transformation across the vaccines business, supporting e-commerce, digital go-to-market models, virtual engagement, and new digital partnerships to increase market reach and customer engagement.

Network and Market Access:

Build, scale, and manage a robust national vaccinator and distributor network, leveraging both traditional and digital channels to improve access and support future vaccine launches in India.

Cross-functional Leadership:

Lead and develop high-performing teams (Sales, Commercial, KAM, Digital, Alliances, and Marketing), fostering a values-driven, customer-focused environment and ensuring ongoing capability development.

Consumer Activation and Outreach:

Oversee robust consumer/patient outreach programs, expanding new points of vaccination (such as family vaccination centers) and integrating with digital channels for maximum impact.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliance Management:

Identify, structure, and manage strategic partnerships and alliances with internal and external stakeholders (government, state immunization bodies, private payors, channel partners, and digital platforms).

Operational Readiness:

Ensure operational readiness for the vaccine launch, public procurement, NIP entry, and competitive market entries, with robust commercial operations (demand planning, forecasting, and distribution).

Execution Excellence:

Continuously monitor, review, and optimize commercial processes for cost efficiency, scalability, compliance, and customer experience, ensuring readiness for geographic and market expansion.

Leadership and CLT Participation:

Actively contribute to strategic planning, budgeting, and organizational development as a key member of the India Country Leadership Team.

Champion Takeda Values:

Model and uphold Takeda’s values (Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, Perseverance), ensuring the highest standards of compliance, ethics, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), and a patient-first mindset.

Responsibilities

50% — Commercial Strategy & Execution
25% — Strategic Partnerships & Alliance Management
15% — External Stakeholder Management
10% — Cross-functional Leadership

Education and Experience Requirements

• Commercial & Operational Leadership: Minimum 15 years’ experience in progressively senior commercial, sales, or operational leadership roles within the pharmaceutical, vaccines, or broader healthcare sector.
• Regional Market Expertise: Prior experience in India is essential, with strong exposure to South Asian markets within the India Cluster, such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.
• Digital & E-commerce Acumen: Proven success leading digital transformation and e-commerce models within healthcare or life sciences settings (e.g., development of digital go-to-market models, e-commerce platforms, and digital engagement tools).
• Cross-functional Matrix Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and deliver results within matrixed and highly fragmented market environments.
• Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to synthesize market insights, anticipate trends, and develop actionable, data-driven business plans.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills across diverse groups—internal teams, external partners, policy stakeholders, payors, and KOLs.
• People Leadership: Proactive talent developer and coach, known for building high-performance teams and positive, inclusive work cultures.
• Education: An advanced degree in Business, Life Sciences, Pharmacy, or a closely related field is preferred.

Key Skills, Abilities, and Competencies

• Expertise in strategy frameworks and insight-generation tools
• Strong collaboration skills
• Strong financial and commercial acumen
• Understanding of partnership and alliance management
• Proven leader with strong business acumen who can anticipate strategic moves and guide the organization toward sustainable, profitable growth
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Strong partnership mindset

Takeda Leadership Behaviours

• Demonstrate integrity and patient-centric thinking in every decision and action.
• Champion inclusion, diversity, and equity; foster the development of talent and team capabilities.
• Drive innovation and agility within a dynamic, continuously evolving market context.
• Guide successful collaboration across functions and with external partners.
• Uphold Takeda’s global standards for compliance, ethics, and responsibility at all times.

Internal and External Contacts

Internal – Country Leadership Team, Sales, Marketing, Business Operations, Finance, franchises, Regulatory, Medical, Market Access, and Pricing teams primarily. Extensive engagement with the India & Southeast Asia (I-SEA) area and the Growth & Emerging Markets (GEM) BU.

External – Public health experts, KOLs, policymakers and regulators, potential partners, HCOs, and varied stakeholders.

Locations

Mumbai, India

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time