Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

Job Title: Director, Immunology Cell Therapy Discovery   Location: Waltham, MA   Hybrid Working: 3 days per week in the office 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 discovery.   Key responsibilities   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 immunolog ical   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.   Require d qualifications   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.   Preferred qualifications   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 at AstraZeneca. Join us in our mission to transform patient outcomes through groundbreaking scientific discovery. The annual base pay ranges from $225,208 - 337,812. 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 24-Jul-2026 Closing Date 12-Aug-2026 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.