Head of Sales, Dermatology

Job Description

The Head of Sales, Dermatology is a key Commercial leadership role responsible for building, launching, and leading the field sales organization for the Dermatology Franchise. This leader will prepare the launch and deliver commercial success by hiring and onboarding the sales organization, shaping field readiness, establishing a strong market presence in a highly specialized therapeutic area, and achieving or exceeding financial goals.

Reporting to the SVP, Head of GI2 Business Unit, this role is a critical member of the GI2 Leadership Team and actively contributes to the development and implementation of the broader franchise and commercial strategies.

The incumbent must demonstrate a launch‑focused mindset—building and coaching a high‑performing sales team, driving field engagement and capability, and navigating across a complex, matrixed environment to align internal stakeholders around launch priorities.

The ideal candidate combines strong sales and leadership expertise with a mindset of curiosity and adaptability, proactively embracing AI tools to drive both efficiency and innovation.

With a new product introduction in a new therapeutic area for Takeda, building our Company’s reputation will be critical to our success. The Head of Sales is accountable not only for holding themselves to the highest professional standards and ensuring compliance with policies and guidelines, but also for fostering a culture of ethical behavior and integrity across the sales organization. This individual leads by example, ensuring full adherence to company policies and industry regulations, and acts swiftly to address and resolve any issues in accordance with our policies and expectations.

How you will contribute

• Accountable to build, develop, retain, mentor, and lead the Dermatology sales organization, including area directors, front line managers, and representatives.
• Spearhead the national field execution of a high-impact launch, ensuring seamless coordination across field teams, alignment with corporate strategy, and delivery of exceptional commercial results in a highly specialized market.
• Partner with Area Directors to build and sustain a high-performing sales organization. Instill a culture of ownership, agility, and executional rigor that drives accountability to performance goals and elevates team capability.
• Serve as a core member of the Franchise Leadership Team, bringing field perspective to enterprise planning. Provide strategic input into brand planning, resource allocation, targeting, and messaging strategies. Collaborate closely with senior leaders across Marketing, Market Access, Patient Access, Medical Affairs, Advocacy, and Corporate Communications.
• Oversee the creation and deployment of a national business plan grounded in market analytics, competitive intelligence, and customer insights. Ensure clear translation of strategy into field-level action, with strong execution through first‑line leadership and regional teams.
• Ensure the field sales organization achieves or exceeds sales and launch-related KPIs, with a sharp focus on executional precision, customer engagement, and early market penetration in this therapeutic area.
• Lead go‑to‑market strategy execution. Direct the development and implementation of launch strategies and HCP engagement tactics tailored to the patient journey. Align execution with brand strategy while navigating a complex customer and account landscape.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Market Access, Commercial Operations, and Patient Access to shape and adapt field strategies. Utilize data analytics, customer insights, and market trends to inform decision-making and ensure strategic alignment with approved messaging and brand positioning.
• Build and reinforce a culture of high integrity, deep product knowledge, and strong scientific fluency. Ensure the sales force represents Takeda with professionalism and consistency, reflecting the company's values and commitment to patients.
• Foster a strong speak‑up culture within the sales organization by creating a safe, open, and inclusive environment that encourages colleagues to express their thoughts and ideas.
• Represent Takeda in both planned and ad-hoc external engagements with HCPs, institutions, and advocacy organizations. Establish strong visibility and credibility for the Dermatology Franchise.
• Drive coordination among field leadership roles to ensure cohesive field execution. Serve as the connective tissue between strategy and field deployment during the critical pre- and post-launch phases.
• In partnership with Commercial Operations, design and implement incentive compensation plans that drive behavior aligned with launch milestones and long-term commercial objectives. Monitor field performance and course correct as needed.
• Continuously monitor field activities and regularly visit and work with direct reports or other team members, helping to ensure goals and objectives will be met in a customer-focused, compliant, sustained, and scalable manner.
• Partner with Human Resources on critical performance and talent programs; continuously identify key talent and build robust development and succession plans for the organization.
• Motivate the field sales organization to excel by leveraging personal strengths and coaching to improve in development areas. Drive similar motivational, development, and coaching skills among Area Directors and first-line leaders.
• Work closely with the Commercial Learning & Development function to design, build and deploy role-based training & development offerings pertinent to the field sales organization.
• Work closely with Commercial Operations to identify, and to participate in the development of training, tools, data, and other resources to support the group in achieving and maintaining optimal performance levels.
• Stay current and forecast trends regarding the environment in which sales teams operate, including provider and institution trends, government regulations, health systems business trends, health plan strategies, healthcare delivery systems and patterns, patient trends, and more.
• Contribute to ongoing business planning and forecasting cycles by collaborating with executive leadership to align sales strategy and initiatives with corporate objectives.
• Provide insights to maximize life cycle management of assets within the franchise and to evaluate new opportunities with potential business development partners.
• Provide strategic input to Marketing personnel for development and continued evolution of the marketing plan.
• Ensure that recommendations, communications and decisions are made in manners consistent with Takeda policies.
• Act promptly and decisively to address compliance and other concerns – in consultation with Manager, Compliance, Legal and/or HR.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree – BS/BA.
• Minimum of 10 years of management-level experience in the pharmaceutical, immunology, biologic/biotech, or medical device industries which may include district management, specialty account management, marketing management, and/or product management experience.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, including second-line leadership, with a demonstrated ability to hire, coach, delegate, and motivate a sales team.
• Demonstrated business and strategic planning skills to identify unique selling opportunities and adaptability to changing market conditions.
• Proven track record for consistently meeting or exceeding financial and/or other quantitative targets, as well as qualitative goals.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data to develop strategic and actionable business plans to deliver sales results.
• Demonstrated strong collaborative abilities.
• Very strong communication skills – verbal, written and presentation skills.

Desired

• MBA or Master’s Degree.
• Product launch sales leadership experience.
• Established relationships with medical dermatologists.
• Account-based sales (e.g., hospital, health system, or large group practice) experience.
• Experience in Immunology/Dermatology.
• Experience working in or extensively with support functions such as Sales Training, Sales Operations, etc.
• Experience in Marketing and/or Managed Markets, including payer dynamics.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid Driver’s License.

Travel Requirements

• Travel 50-75%, including overnights.
• Ability to drive or fly to various meetings/client sites to work with sales teams, attend local and national meetings/training and to travel into Boston home office locations.

Compensation and Benefits Summary

Location: USA - MA - Virtual

U.S. Base Salary Range: $212,000.00 - $333,190.00

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 - Virtual

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt: Yes