Executive Director and Head of Cancer Vaccines

Are you ready to lead the charge in transforming cancer treatment? As the Executive Director and Head of Cancer Vaccines in Early Vaccines and Immune Therapies, you'll spearhead efforts to program the immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells. With AstraZeneca's diverse modalities at your disposal, you'll deploy polyclonal immunity against a range of tumor targets. Leading a team of scientists and cross-functional experts, you'll explore strategies to amplify immunity, driving early clearance and long-term durable surveillance. Your role will involve influencing senior stakeholders and managing collaborations to deliver effective solutions. You'll also recruit, develop, and retain a cutting-edge team, fostering a high-performance culture and accelerating decision-making and delivery.

Accountabilities

- Develop a portfolio of cancer vaccine projects
- Develop a strategy to support target discovery and product development, ensuring cross-functional strategic alignment
- Lead the team to deploy immunity to a range of cancers, leveraging diverse platforms
- Oversee the development of a portfolio of cancer vaccines across early discovery and research pipeline
- Establish strategic relationships across the organization and functions
- Oversight and accountability of partnerships with academic or outsourced partners
- Develop internal and external partnerships to explore combinatorial strategies
- Create and foster effective relationships with senior and executive stakeholders in Research, Bioprocess Development, Clinical and Translational Medicine, and Global Project Teams to ensure alignment across functions
- Responsible for ensuring all projects within their area and their teams clearly and objectively communicate results, as well as their associated risks, uncertainties, and limitations
- Define the training standards for junior colleagues in line with best practices and principles

Essential Skills/Experience

- PhD or equivalent in immunology, oncology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related discipline with 20+ years industry experience
- Proven experience developing novel immunological approaches to deploy immunity to fight tumors
- Proven experience with immune profiling, tumor modeling, systems biology, and/or immune oncology
- Experience working in a cross-functional team to maximize expertise and accelerate success
- Experience developing and implementing novel methods to support vaccine development
- Experience supporting or leading interdisciplinary vaccine discovery or development programs
- Proven experience leading and managing junior colleagues
- Proven experience developing and controlling budgets
- Excellent written and verbal communication, business analysis, and consultancy skills

Desirable Skills/Experience

- PhD or MD degree in immune-oncology
- Comfortable working with and leading lab and computational scientists across disciplines
- Familiarity with animal tumor models
- Proven track record of publishing relevant results and tools in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and other scientific proceedings
- Experience in life sciences and healthcare
- Experience in novel methods development and application
- Experience in a complex global organization

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

AstraZeneca is at the forefront of medical innovation, transforming healthcare with energy and drive. Our commitment to addressing pandemic preparedness ensures our products reach millions globally. We thrive on collaboration, investing in groundbreaking partnerships that lead to essential breakthroughs. Our diverse community empowers everyone to share ideas, challenging norms to push scientific boundaries. With a people-centric approach, we make exceptional breakthroughs that enhance lives worldwide.

Ready to make a difference? Apply now to join our dynamic team!

The annual base pay ranges from 271,989.60 - 407,984.40. 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. 

Date Posted

Closing Date

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.