Senior Director, Neuroimmunology Research

About the role

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to join our R&D organization as Senior Director, Neuroimmunology Research, reporting to the VP of Global Discovery and External Innovation for Neuroscience, to be located in Spring House, PA; San Diego, CA; or Cambridge, MA.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead scientific strategy at the interface of immunology and neuroscience, contributing to the overall TA strategy, with a focus on novel therapies for neurological disorders
• Provide deep subject matter expertise in: Regulatory T cell (Treg) biology and immune tolerance, B cell biology, antibody-mediated disease, and deep B cell depletion approaches, Autoimmunity, neuroinflammation, and CNS immune mechanisms
• Identify opportunities to apply immune-modulating approaches to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune psychosis
• Build and strengthen cross-functional collaboration between J&J’s Neuroscience and Immunology Discovery teams
• Support the VP of Early Development in shaping the translational strategy to move assets to the clinic
• Present projects and strategy at governance meetings
• Lead target identification, validation, translational strategy, biomarker development, and portfolio prioritization in neuroimmunology programs
• Guide internal and external research collaborations with academic institutions, biotech partners, and key opinion leaders
• Represent the company externally through scientific conferences, advisory boards, and publications
• Drive scientific excellence and ensure programs are informed by cutting-edge external science and competitive intelligence
• Support external collaborations and diligences on licensing and M&A opportunities

Requirements

• PhD, or MD/PhD in Immunology or Neuroscience
• 10+ years of relevant industry and/or academic experience, with significant leadership experience in drug discovery or translational research
• Deep expertise in relevant immune-science (Treg biology, immune tolerance mechanisms, and/or B cell depletion strategies)
• Strong understanding of the role of the immune system in neurological diseases
• Experience translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses and development programs
• Demonstrated success leading matrixed, multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence

Education and Experience

• PhD, or MD/PhD in Immunology or Neuroscience
• 10+ years of relevant industry and/or academic experience, with significant leadership experience in drug discovery or translational research
• Deep expertise in relevant immune-science (Treg biology, immune tolerance mechanisms, and/or B cell depletion strategies)
• Strong understanding of the role of the immune system in neurological diseases
• Experience translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses and development programs
• Demonstrated success leading matrixed, multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence

Preferred Skills

• Deep expertise in relevant immune-science (Treg biology, immune tolerance mechanisms, and/or B cell depletion strategies)
• Strong understanding of the role of the immune system in neurological diseases
• Experience translating biological insights into therapeutic hypotheses and development programs
• Demonstrated success leading matrixed, multidisciplinary teams
• Excellent communication, influencing, and executive presence