Manager, Forecasting
Takeda · Bengaluru
Job Description
The Future Begins Here
At Takeda, we are leading digital evolution and global transformation. By building innovative solutions and future-ready capabilities, we are meeting the need of patients, our people, and the planet.
Bengaluru, the city, which is India’s epicenter of Innovation, has been selected to be home to Takeda’s recently launched Innovation Capability Center. We invite you to join our digital transformation journey. In this role, you will have the opportunity to boost your skills and become the heart of an innovative engine that is contributing to global impact and improvement.
At Takeda’s ICC we Unite in Diversity
Takeda is committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative workplace, where individuals are recognized for their backgrounds and abilities they bring to our company. We are continuously improving our collaborators journey in Takeda, and we welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as an important contributor to our diverse team
OBJECTIVES / PURPOSE
We are seeking a dynamic Manager to join Takeda's GCC Commercial Analytics & Insights (CA&I) organization in India as part of the Forecasting capability supporting International Business Units (IBU). This people leadership role combines hands-on forecasting expertise with team management, stakeholder partnership, and operational accountability for forecasting workstreams that support brand planning, launch readiness, scenario planning, S&OP, and long-range planning across Ex-US markets and multiple disease areas. The Manager is accountable for the quality, timeliness, and business relevance of forecasting deliverables produced by their pod.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Forecast Delivery and Quality Ownership
- Oversee end-to-end delivery of assigned forecasting deliverables, including short-term and long-term demand forecasts, in-line and launch forecasts, patient-based (prevalence, disease-progression) and demand-based models, scenario and sensitivity analyses, assumption updates, and forecast accuracy reporting across IBU markets and disease areas.
- Define forecasting approaches for complex planning questions by translating stakeholder asks into scoped workplans and assigning tasks based on skill, priority, and capacity.
- Review forecast models, assumptions, outputs, dashboards, and presentation materials for analytical rigor, internal consistency, narrative quality, and stakeholder readiness before distribution to affiliate and global stakeholders.
- Conduct and oversee analyses of commercial performance, patient dynamics, market events, epidemiology inputs, payer dynamics, and competitive trends across EU, Asia, and LatAm to inform forecasting assumptions and scenarios.
Stakeholder Management and Ways of Working
- Serve as the primary GCC point of contact for assigned EU, Asian, and LatAm affiliates and Global IBU stakeholders, clarifying requirements, setting delivery commitments, communicating risks, and ensuring alignment to brand planning, S&OP, and long-range planning cycles.
- Represent the GCC Forecasting pod in brand planning, forecast review, S&OP, LRP, and cross-functional forums with commercial analytics, finance, marketing, market access, and global partners.
- Establish efficient ways of working between the GCC pod and IBU affiliate teams, including intake routines, version control, assumption documentation, forecast calendar management, and quality review expectations across multiple geographies and time zones.
People Leadership and Team Development
- Directly manage 3-4 Analysts and Senior Analysts across forecasting sub-capabilities, setting clear goals, conducting regular one-on-ones, providing performance feedback, and building individualized development plans.
- Build forecasting capabilities within the team through coaching on model design, methodology selection, assumption management, scenario planning, forecast accuracy measurement, and business storytelling.
- Foster a high-engagement team environment defined by ownership, intellectual curiosity, cross-functional collaboration, and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Contribute to talent acquisition and onboarding for the GCC IBU analytics team, helping establish consistent expectations and development pathways for forecasting talent.
Process Improvement and Operational Excellence
- Lead automation and efficiency initiatives across recurring forecasting workflows, applying AI and GenAI tools to accelerate assumption research, deviation reasoning, narrative generation, and model documentation.
- Review and rationalize the forecast reporting and model asset portfolio on a regular basis, identifying opportunities to standardize, automate, or enhance deliverables as IBU priorities evolve.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Education
- Bachelor's Degree required in Statistics, Economics, Data Science, Life Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
- Advanced degree (Master's or MBA) in Analytics, Economics, Data Science, Business, or a related quantitative field is strongly preferred.
- Relevant certifications in forecasting, analytics, cloud platforms, or statistical methods are a plus.
Experience
- 6-8 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical forecasting with early people or project leadership experience.
- Hands-on forecasting experience across the full range of forecast types - including prevalence and disease-progression (patient-based) models and demand-based models, across short-term and long-term, in-line and launch horizons, including scenario planning and forecast accuracy measurement.
- Experience across different geographies and multiple disease / therapeutic areas is required, with mandatory experience supporting EU markets (e.g., EU4, UK, Nordics, or other European affiliates); exposure to Asian and Latin American markets is a strong plus.
- Experience directly managing at least 3-4 people (analysts and/or senior analysts) is required.
- Deep knowledge of pharmaceutical forecasting methods, demand drivers, patient flow approaches, launch planning, scenario planning, assumption management, and forecast accuracy measurement in Ex-US environments.
- Working knowledge of pharma data assets such as IQVIA MIDAS, local audit data, prescription and claims data, and epidemiology sources for Ex-US markets.
- Familiarity with statistical and machine learning forecasting techniques - including time-series methods (ARIMA, exponential smoothing, regression, Prophet) and patient-based modelling - sufficient to direct methodology selection, review model outputs, and identify technical risks across the team's work.
- Advanced Excel skills required.
- Experience with agile business planning tools (e.g., Anaplan, SAP IBP) for forecasting and planning is a strong plus.
- Strong experience with Tableau or Power BI for forecast tracking, scenario reporting, and commercial performance dashboard development.
- Proficiency in coding techniques such as SAS, R, or Python for data manipulation, analysis, and workflow automation is a nice to have, not a mandatory requirement.
Skills & Competencies
- People Leadership – Motivates, develops, and retains a team of analysts; sets clear direction, provides growth-oriented feedback, and holds the team to high delivery standards.
- Forecasting Project Management – Manages multiple forecast cycles and scenarios with rigorous prioritization, quality control, version discipline, and timeline adherence.
- Pharmaceutical Forecasting Expertise – Deep proficiency in demand forecasting, patient-based models, scenario planning, assumption management, and accuracy measurement for commercial decisions in Ex-US markets.
- Methodology Breadth – Directs the selection and application of patient-based (prevalence, disease-progression), demand-based, and hybrid approaches across geographies and disease areas.
- Stakeholder Partnership – Builds trusted, productive relationships with EU, Asia, LatAm, and Global commercial analytics, finance, marketing, market access, and portfolio planning partners across multiple affiliates.
- Data Storytelling – Distils forecast outputs, assumptions, risks, and scenarios into clear narratives with practical business implications and decision points.
- Operational Excellence – Identifies and implements opportunities to automate, standardize, and scale forecasting workflows using modern tools and practices.
- Cross-Cultural Communication – Fluent communicator across India-EU-Asia-LatAm time zones and organizational levels; adapts style for technical and commercial audiences.
TAKEDA LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS
In alignment with Takeda’s Values-Based Culture, this role requires demonstration of the following leadership behaviors:
- Act with Integrity — Deliver accurate, transparent work and take full responsibility for quality.
- Collaborate Cross-Functionally — Contribute positively to GCC-IBU team workflows and cross-functional collaboration.
- Drive Accountability — Take ownership of all assigned tasks and deliver on commitments.
- Embrace Learning — Continuously build analytical and domain capabilities through feedback and self-driven development.
BENEFITS:
It is our priority to provide competitive compensation and a benefit package that bridges your personal life with your professional career. Amongst our benefits are:
- Competitive Salary + Performance Annual Bonus
- Flexible work environment, including hybrid working
- Comprehensive Healthcare Insurance Plans for self, spouse, and children
- Group Term Life Insurance and Group Accident Insurance programs
- Employee Assistance Program
- Broad Variety of learning platforms
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
- Reimbursements – Home Internet & Mobile Phone
- Employee Referral Program
- Leaves – Paternity Leave (4 Weeks) , Maternity Leave (up to 26 weeks), Bereavement Leave (5 calendar days)
ABOUT ICC IN TAKEDA:
- Takeda is leading a digital revolution. We’re not just transforming our company; we’re improving the lives of millions of patients who rely on our medicines every day.
- As an organization, we are committed to our cloud-driven business transformation and believe the ICCs are the catalysts of change for our global organization.
#Li-Hybrid