Associate Principal Scientist, Biology-Discovery

Job Description Join the Elkhorn, Nebraska Animal Health Team

Our Company's Global Animal Health Research & Development (R&D) division is a pioneer in the discovery, development and registration of vaccines and therapeutics for animals. To strengthen our team responsible for poultry vaccine projects, we are looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual to join our R&D team.

Reporting to the Global Head of Poultry Bio R&D, the Associate Principal Scientist will provide accountable scientific, project, and people leadership for multifaceted poultry vaccine development programs from discovery through late-stage development and licensure. This role requires deep expertise in poultry diseases, vaccine development, experimental design, and regulated biologics development, combined with the ability to shape scientific strategy, lead complex in vitro, in vivo, and laboratory-based activities, integrate scientific, regulatory, clinical, manufacturing, and business considerations, and translate data into clear program recommendations.

The role will drive milestone delivery, proactively identify and mitigate risks, influence cross-functional decisions, mentor junior scientists and laboratory colleagues, and foster a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, accountability, productive communication, courage, candor, and continuous improvement.

• Provide independent scientific leadership for complex poultry vaccine development projects, including disease biology, pathogen-host interactions, candidate selection, immunogenicity assessment, challenge model development, and licensure-enabling study strategy.
• Define and guide in vivo, in vitro, and laboratory-based research plans and development plans, ensuring experimental design, execution, analysis, and interpretation are rigorous, decision-oriented, and aligned with project objectives.
• Identify, diagnose, and resolve scientific and technical challenges across assigned studies and projects by applying advanced research design, strong data interpretation, and sound scientific judgment.
• Strengthen scientific rigor and technical consistency within assigned project areas by coaching scientists and laboratory colleagues on study design, assay strategy, disease model execution, data quality, documentation, and problem solving.
• Evaluate and recommend innovative scientific approaches that can improve poultry vaccine discovery and development, disease models, assay performance, development efficiency, and product differentiation within assigned project areas.

• Serve as scientific lead or key scientific representative on cross-functional poultry vaccine development teams, partnering with core teams and functional leaders to advance integrated project plans through key milestones and governance discussions.
• Contribute to and drive integrated project strategy, including milestone planning, scientific risk assessment, study sequencing, evidence-generation plans, and resource considerations aligned with regulatory, clinical, manufacturing, commercial, and business objectives.
• Proactively identify, elevate, mitigate, and communicate scientific, technical, clinical, regulatory, and execution risks that may affect project timelines, licensure pathways, or product value.
• Influence cross-functional stakeholders across Discovery, Process Development, Analytical Development, Clinical, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Manufacturing, Commercial, and external partner organizations to support alignment, timely decisions, and effective execution.
• Translate complex scientific and technical data into clear recommendations for project teams, functional leaders, and governance discussions, supporting disciplined and well-documented project decisions.

• Author, review, and approve key technical documents, including protocols, study reports, validation packages, SOPs, technical summaries, development plans, and regulatory submission sections for poultry biologics.
• Apply strong regulatory and compliance understanding to ensure assigned…