[Skip to main content](#main-content) [ OpenNash ](https://opennash.com/) / [Jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/) [ 01 Search jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/search/)[ 02 Companies](https://jobs.opennash.com/explore/)[ 03 Hiring report](https://jobs.opennash.com/reports/hiring/)[ 04 AI assistants](https://jobs.opennash.com/connect/)[ 05 How it works](https://jobs.opennash.com/methodology/) Takeda Pharmaceutical # Associate Director, China External Innovation Director Executive & Management Listed on Takeda Pharmaceutical’s official careers site. Listed as of November 1, 2026. Check that it is still open and apply there. [Apply on Takeda Pharmaceutical’s careers site →](https://jobs.takeda.com/job/shanghai/associate-director-china-external-innovation/1113/102277405280) [OpenNash Jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/) / [Takeda Pharmaceutical](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/) / Associate Director, China External Innovation ## Job description 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 ACCOUNTABILITIES: - Build trusted relationships with biotechnology companies, venture capital firms, investors, academic institutions, incubators, entrepreneurs, and scientific leaders across China. - Represent Takeda at partnering conferences, scientific meetings, investor forums, and industry events, strengthening Takeda's position as a preferred biopharmaceutical innovation partner. - Monitor scientific, financing, partnership, competitive, and company-building trends across China's life sciences ecosystem. - Identify emerging assets, platforms, technologies, companies, and collaboration opportunities aligned with Takeda's strategic priorities. - Develop concise ecosystem intelligence and competitive insights, including informed perspectives on implications for Takeda's strategy, portfolio priorities, and future opportunities. - Provide initial scientific, strategic, competitive, and relationship assessments of emerging opportunities and develop independent recommendations regarding their potential relevance to Takeda. - Prepare concise opportunity briefs and ecosystem updates for Therapeutic Area, Search & Evaluation, Portfolio Strategy, and Business Development teams. - Develop and communicate informed perspectives on emerging scientific, technology, financing, and ecosystem trends that may influence Takeda's future innovation priorities. - Connect global teams with priority opportunities and relevant external partners, providing China-specific context throughout the evaluation process. - Support global evaluation and transaction workstreams with local insight and cross-functional coordination, while formal diligence, valuation, negotiation, and transaction ownership remain with the relevant global teams. ### CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE - Serves as Takeda's China-based connector between the local innovation ecosystem and global Research & Development and Business Unit colleagues, particularly therapeutic Search & Evaluation and Global Business Development teams. - Operates across therapeutic areas, modalities, technologies, and business models rather than within a narrow S&E, transaction, or functional scope. - Emphasizes ecosystem access, informed judgment, independent perspectives, and strategic insight rather than duplicating global evaluation or transaction ownership. - Requires the ability to distinguish signal from noise, translate local developments into global implications, and influence through clear recommendations and trusted relationships. - Values potential to grow, learning agility, and a team-first mindset alongside relevant experience and technical credibility. ### DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS Technical/Functional (Line) Expertise - Strong understanding of drug discovery, drug development, and the biopharmaceutical industry. - Ability to assess scientific, strategic, commercial, competitive, and ecosystem information and translate observations into clear recommendations and actionable insights. - Knowledge of China's biotechnology, venture capital, academic, investment, or innovation ecosystem is preferred. ### Leadership - Influences without direct authority across a complex, matrixed global organization. - Builds trusted internal and external relationships and represents Takeda with credibility, integrity, and sound judgment. - Contributes actively to a collaborative, team-first culture and supports shared enterprise outcomes. ### Decision-making and Autonomy - Independently identifies and assesses emerging opportunities, develops informed perspectives, and prioritizes what matters most in the context of Takeda's strategic priorities. - Exercises discretion in external engagement and escalates opportunities to the appropriate global teams for formal evaluation and transaction decisions. Interaction ### Internal - Global Research & Development (Research and Therapeutic Area Units), Global Business Units, Strategy & Portfolio Development, Search & Evaluation, Global Business Development, China Business Unit and R&D, and other enterprise stakeholders. ### External - Biotechnology companies, investors, venture funds, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, incubators, scientific leaders, and industry organizations. ### Innovation - Monitors emerging science, technologies, financing models, and ecosystem trends and develops independent perspectives on their relevance to Takeda. - Connects ideas across disciplines and helps Takeda access opportunities and insights earlier. ### Complexity - Operates in a rapidly evolving ecosystem with scientific, competitive, regulatory, investment, and cross-cultural complexity. - Balances local context and relationship continuity with global portfolio priorities and established functional ownership. EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL ### COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS: Required: - Advanced degree in a scientific, medical, business, or related discipline. - Relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, venture capital, consulting, business development, strategy, research, or a related area. - Excellent communication, influencing, relationship-building, and stakeholder-management skills. - Demonstrated ability to collaborate within complex, matrixed organizations. - Fluency in English and Mandarin. ### Associate Director - typically 8-10 years of relevant experience, with the ability to independently identify and assess opportunities, build external relationships, and lead cross-functional workstreams. - Final level will be determined based on relevant experience, scope of influence, leadership capability, and depth of ecosystem relationships. ### Takeda-ism - Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance, with Integrity at the core. ### Patients - keeps patients and unmet medical needs at the center of opportunity assessment. ### Trust - acts with integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and transparency while building credible relationships. ### Reputation - represents Takeda thoughtfully, collaborates as an enterprise, and strengthens the company's standing in the innovation ecosystem. ### Business - connects ecosystem insights with Takeda's strategic priorities, operates effectively in ambiguity, and pursues sustainable impact. - Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, learning agility, independent thinking, and a team-first mindset. ### Desired - Experience with China's biotechnology, venture capital, academic, investment, or innovation ecosystem. - Experience in external innovation, search & evaluation, business development, licensing, portfolio strategy, or strategic partnerships. - Established relationships with China-based scientific, investment, entrepreneurial, or industry stakeholders. - Experience translating local scientific or market developments into global strategic implications. ### ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Domestic and international travel is required for conferences, partnering events, company visits, and ecosystem engagement activities. - The position may be filled at Associate Director or Director level based on candidate experience, scope of influence, leadership capability, and demonstrated competencies. - Financial accountability, job code, global reporting level, and budget responsibility are to be confirmed through HR review. Locations Shanghai, China Worker Type Employee Worker Sub-Type Regular Time Type Full time ## At a glance - Posted by the employer: Not stated - First seen by OpenNash: Oct 25, 2026 - Last checked: Nov 1, 2026 - Listed for: 7 days[Apply on Takeda Pharmaceutical’s careers site →](https://jobs.takeda.com/job/shanghai/associate-director-china-external-innovation/1113/102277405280) ## Hiring at Takeda Pharmaceutical - Open jobs: 947 - New in the last 7 days: 151 - Tracked since: Jul 16, 2026 [All Takeda Pharmaceutical jobs](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/) · [Weekly hiring report](/reports/hiring/) ## More jobs at Takeda Pharmaceutical ### [Associate Director – Technology & Business Excellence Lead](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/jobs/68fd8e5bd431216b44bf/) ### [Associate Director, Congress Lead](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/jobs/4ead8d496944e313b7a1/) ### [Associate Director, Consumer Omnichannel Strategy, Psoriatic Arthritis](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/jobs/b983c0c4a7a66b002882/) ### [Associate Director, GDO Trial Performance Intelligence & Strategy](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/jobs/244b874eb025d1334b01/) ### [Associate Director, Global Biomarker Lead, Inflammation, GI2 TAU](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/takeda-pharmaceutical/jobs/94ce8306c60e71846012/) ## Similar jobs at other companies ### [Head Of Search And Evaluation External Innovation China In Shanghai Sh Jid 31588](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/abbvie/jobs/1021095b35f1eb863826/) AbbVie ### [Director External Innovation Immunology In Shanghai Shanghai Jid 29335](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/abbvie/jobs/e8365cab612ffd3daf77/) AbbVie ### [(Senior) Director, Credit Execution - Tech & Innovation](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/national-bank-of-canada/jobs/afb8e5b76038373f57f8/) National Bank of Canada ### [Director Partnerships Greater China](https://jobs.opennash.com/companies/shopify/jobs/91880bfc976b28edeb2f/) Shopify OpenNash lists jobs from employers’ own careers sites and does not handle applications. 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