Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

Location:

Cambridge, MA;
Spring House, PA; or La Jolla, CA.

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine seeks a Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation to identify, shape, and advance breakthrough science in Immunology as part of the Immunology External Innovation team.

This high-impact scientific leadership role focuses on discovery science, external partnerships, and emerging technology across academia, biotech, and venture-backed innovation. The role emphasizes AI-enabled search, scientific evaluation, and strategic opportunity identification.

• Identify and evaluate cutting-edge external science across Immunology and immune-mediated diseases from discovery through early clinical stages.
• Help shape external innovation strategy aligned with J&J’s Immunology Therapeutic Area priorities.
• Serve as a scientific ambassador for J&J within global academic and biotech ecosystems.
• Coordinate global Immunology external innovation landscaping across regions and partner with internal teams.
• Apply AI-driven and data-enabled approaches to discover, prioritize, and assess emerging science, platforms, and assets.
• Track upcoming data readouts for opportunities of interest and manage an effective engagement plan to ensure no strategic opportunity is missed.
• Translate complex datasets and landscapes into clear insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Lead or contribute to scientific diligence for collaboration, licensing, venture, and incubation opportunities.
• Critically assess biological rationale, translational strategies, competitive differentiation, and development feasibility.
• Partner closely with internal Immunology experts to deliver rigorous, high-quality evaluations.
• Develop trusted relationships with academic leaders, entrepreneurs, and biotech innovators.
• Lead or co-lead scientific collaboration discussions and help shape partnership structures.
• Work cross-functionally with transactors, legal, and finance to progress opportunities through execution and alliance setup.
• Collaborate closely with External Scientific Innovation, Business Development, R&D, JJDC, and GCSO leaders.
• Champion best practices in external innovation search and scientific diligence.
• Contribute to enterprise-wide efforts to advance AI adoption in R&D and External Innovation.

Education
:
PhD or MD in Immunology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline.

• 10+ years of experience across biotech, pharma, and/or academia with deep expertise in Immunology or immune-mediated disease biology.
• Strong background participating in drug discovery and/or early development programs.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating external science, platforms, or assets.
• Experience applying AI or data-driven approaches to scientific search, evaluation, or decision-making.
• Ability to synthesize scientific, strategic, and competitive insights into clear recommendations.
• Strong communication skills and confidence engaging senior scientific and business leaders.
• Comfort working in complex, cross-functional, and global environments.

• Opportunity to shape first-in-class and best-in-class Immunology pipelines through external innovation.
• High visibility across Immunology R&D, External Innovation, and venture teams.
• Unique opportunity to apply AI and advanced analytics at scale to external innovation.
• Collaborative, purpose-driven culture grounded in Johnson & Johnson’s Credo.

Johnson & Johnson is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.