Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

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 in Waltham, MA. This hybrid role requires 3 days per week in the office.

About the role

This position focuses on leading both ex vivo and in vivo cell therapy discovery efforts, underpinned by an in-depth understanding of immunological disease biology discovery.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Maintain a comprehensive, up-to-date understanding of the immunological disease landscape and emerging trends to inform program direction and target selection.
• Partner with discovery, translational, preclinical, CMC, and regulatory colleagues to progress programs and expand AstraZeneca’s immunology cell therapy portfolio.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team; foster a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, accountability, and agility.
• Align strategies and milestones with internal and external stakeholders and consortia to accelerate delivery against R&D objectives.
• Ensure adherence to all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies related to the research and development of medicines.
• Direct the development of in vitro assays and research processes to evaluate, optimize, and validate novel cell therapy modalities and mechanisms.

Requirements

• PhD (or equivalent) in Immunology, Molecular or Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.
• 5-10 years of relevant industry experience.
• 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.
• Proven track record of leading scientific teams and delivering on strategic initiatives in a dynamic, matrixed environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder-management skills across functions and organizational levels.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the regulatory landscape for cell therapy and genetic engineering.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Pay

The annual base pay ranges from $225,208 - $337,812. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. This position offers a short-term incentive bonus opportunity, eligibility to participate in an equity-based long-term incentive program (for salaried roles), and a retirement contribution (for hourly roles).

Benefits

• Qualified retirement program (401(k) plan).
• Paid vacation and holidays.
• Paid leaves.
• Health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.