Director, Clinical Imaging, Translational Sciences-Immunology

Director, Clinical Imaging-Translational Science-Immunology

The Director, Clinical Imaging will provide strategic and scientific leadership for the development, validation, and delivery of imaging-derived endpoints to enable high-impact decision-making across the Immunology portfolio, with a primary focus on Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. The role is US-based (Spring House, PA or Cambridge, MA) and sits within the Translational Science organization, operating in a highly matrixed environment across Immunology Disease Area Strategy, Clinical Development, Data Sciences, Regulatory, and operational functions.

This position is intentionally scoped and graded to ensure imaging and digital capabilities are positioned as strategic assets for Immunology, driving endpoint innovation for precision medicine from early to late phase. The Director will balance innovation, platform building, and technical delivery, ensuring that advanced measurement approaches are translated into fit-for-purpose, scalable solutions that support portfolio objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the GI-focused imaging measurement strategy across Immunology assets, spanning early through late-phase clinical development.
• Shape endpoint strategies integrating imaging measurements to support mechanistic understanding, proof-of-concept, and decision-enabling outcomes including regulatory.
• Partner with Disease Area Strategy and Translational Science leaders to ensure alignment with portfolio priorities and clinical development plans.
• Contribute to investment cases, governance discussions, and portfolio reviews, articulating value, readiness, and risk.

Clinical Trial Delivery & Execution:

• Provide scientific oversight and accountability for imaging endpoints across early- and late-phase clinical trials.
• Ensure methods have an operationally delivery model to scale.
• Partner with clinical and operational partners across the organization, Data Sciences, and external vendors/CROs to ensure on-time, high-quality delivery.
• Support regulatory interactions related to imaging endpoints.

Innovation, AI & Capability Building:

• Identify and advance next-generation imaging technologies with clear trajectories to GI pipeline impact from novel molecular methods through to AI-based structural endpoints.
• Lead the integration of AI-enabled analytics for imaging and digital endpoints, in close partnership with the Data Science organization.
• Co-develop AI-based solutions (e.g. automated image analysis, quantitative feature extraction, digital signal interpretation) to improve scalability, reproducibility, and decision-making in high impact areas.
• Build and sustain external collaborations with academia, technology partners, and pre-competitive consortia.
• Translate emerging methods into pragmatic clinical solutions balancing innovation with feasibility and timelines.

Matrix Leadership & Influence:

• Partner closely with the Imaging and Digital Health team colleagues to drive innovation and delivery across disease areas.
• Operate effectively in a complex, global matrix environment and influence to guide strategy.
• Serve as a trusted scientific advisor to project teams, DAS leadership, and senior stakeholders.
• Communicate complex technical concepts with clarity and impact to diverse audiences.
• Mentor and develop scientists and matrix partners, contributing to a culture of scientific excellence and accountability.

Qualifications &

Experience:

Required:

• PhD or MD, or equivalent advanced degree in a relevant scientific or clinical discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotech R&D.
• Demonstrated experience applying imaging in interventional clinical trials.
• Proven ability to balance innovation with reliable execution in complex development environments.
• Exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong track record of working effectively in highly matrixed global organisations.

Preferred:

• Experience in Gastrointestinal diseases, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
• Experience working in close partnership with AI/ML teams to develop or deploy analytics for clinical trials.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled image analysis, digital biomarker pipelines, or quantitative imaging workflows.
• Exposure to regulatory interactions involving imaging endpoints.
• Experience managing external partnerships with technology vendors, CROs and academic collaborators.

Success in the First 12 Months:

• Establish clear ownership and strategic direction for GI imaging endpoints aligned to GI Disease Area Strategy and clinical development teams.
• Establish an effective operating model with the Data Science organisation to deliver AI-enabled analytics for imaging and digital endpoints.
• Exhibit disciplined scientific and portfolio decision-making, including refinement or discontinuation of approaches where pipeline value is not compelling.
• Be recognised by project teams and senior stakeholders as a trusted scientific and strategic leader who balances innovation with delivery.

Why Johnson & Johnson:

At Johnson &…