Director, Immunology Cell Therapy Discovery

About the Position

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 and expertise in cell therapy (e.g., CAR-T) discovery, including viral vector design, genetic engineering, and assay development.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute strategic plans to advance cell therapy discovery, leveragingstate-of-the-art genetic engineering, viral vector, and non-viral technologies.

• Expert Knowledge: Cultivate and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the immunology disease landscape, remaining abreast of the latest advancements and trends in the field.

• Collaborative Innovation: Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams to propel discovery efforts focused on immunological diseases, with the aim of enhancing AstraZeneca's portfolio.

• Team Leadership: Assemble and lead a talented team, encouraging a culture of innovation, agility, and scientific excellence in cell therapy discovery. Inspire and motivate team members to foster a high-performing, collaborative environment.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate collaboration with key stakeholders both internally and externally to align cell therapy strategies with broader R&D objectives and goals.

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and company policies related to the development and delivery of medicines.

• Research Assay and Research Process Development: Lead the development of in vitro assays and cell therapy research process to assess and validate novel therapeutic strategies and approaches.

Requirements

• Advanced Degree: PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Molecular or Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years experience

• Technical Expertise: Demonstratedproficiency in lentiviral, retroviral, or AAV vector design and engineering, CRISPR and other genetic engineering technologies, non-viral gene delivery technology, and in vitro/in vivo assays, and cell therapy research process development. 

• Leadership Acumen: Proven ability to lead scientific teams, orchestrate strategic initiatives, and deliver results in a dynamic setting.

• Collaborative Skills: Excellent collaboration and communication capabilities, adept at working effectively across various functional teams and organizational levels.

• Regulatory Insight: Comprehensive understanding of regulatory landscapes pertaining to cell therapy and genetic engineering.

• Negotiation and Influence: Proven ability to negotiate and influence effectively with senior management and industry partners.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $210,728 - $316,092 . Hourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors