Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

Job Title:

Director, Immunology Cell Therapy Discovery

Location:

Waltham, MA

Hybrid Working: 3 days per week in the office

AstraZeneca, a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, is committed to discovering and delivering innovative therapies that transform patient outcomes. We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director to join our Immunology Cell Therapy Discovery team. The role focuses on leading both ex vivo and in vivo cell therapy discovery efforts, underpinned by an in-depth understanding of immunological disease biology discovery.

• Strategic leadership:
  Develop and execute strategy to advance cell therapy discovery, leveraging state‑of‑the‑art ex vivo and in vivo cell therapy technologies to help build a robust pipeline.
• Scientific domain expertise:
  Maintain a comprehensive, up‑to‑date understanding of the immunological disease landscape and emerging trends to inform program direction and target selection.
• Cross‑functional collaboration:
  Partner with discovery, translational, preclinical, CMC, and regulatory colleagues to progress programs and expand AstraZeneca’s immunology cell therapy portfolio.
• Team leadership:
  Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing team; foster a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, accountability, and agility.
• Stakeholder engagement:
  Align strategies and milestones with internal and external stakeholders and consortia to accelerate delivery against R&D objectives.
• Compliance and governance:
  Ensure adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies related to the research and development of medicines.
• Assay and process development:
  Direct the development of in vitro assays and research processes to evaluate, optimize, and validate novel cell therapy modalities and mechanisms.

• Education:
  
  PhD (or equivalent) in Immunology, Molecular or Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• 5-10 years of relevant industry experience.
• Scientific expertise:
  Demonstrated in‑depth understanding of immunological disease biology, including B and T cell mediated immunological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, allergy & asthma, fibrosis, etc.
• Leadership:
  Proven track record of leading scientific teams and delivering on strategic initiatives in a dynamic, matrixed environment.
• Collaboration and communication:
  Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills across functions and organizational levels.
• Regulatory understanding:
  Comprehensive knowledge of the regulatory landscape for cell therapy and genetic engineering.

• Vector and construct design:
  Experience designing and engineering lentiviral, retroviral, or AAV vectors.
• Genetic engineering:
  Hands‑on experience applying CRISPR or related tools to innovate and refine cell therapies.
• External network:
  Established relationships within the cell therapy, genetic engineering, and immunology communities.
• Publications:
  Strong record of peer‑reviewed publications in vector engineering, cell therapy engineering, or related fields.

If you are passionate about leading and innovating in the field of immunology cell therapy, we invite you to consider this pivotal opportunity n us in our mission to transform patient outcomes through groundbreaking scientific discovery.

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.