Executive Director, Cancer Vaccine Neoantigen Engineering — Early Infectious Disease

The Executive Director of Cancer Vaccine Neoantigen Engineering will lead the molecular engineering and construction of a portfolio of cancer vaccines designed to generate broad, potent, and durable anti-tumor cellular immunity. The role will identify, prioritize, and engineer diverse tumor antigen classes and translate them into precision multi-antigen/epitope constructs optimized for T-cell breadth, clonal expansion, functional potency, and long-term immune surveillance.

The Executive Director will build deep capabilities to master the rules governing antigen processing, pMHC presentation, and TCR recognition, integrating genomic, transcriptomic, immunopeptidomic, structural, and TCR repertoire data to understand what makes an antigen naturally presented, immunologically visible, and capable of driving functional tumor-cell killing. These insights will establish predictive design principles for epitope selection and immunogen engineering. A major focus will be developing innovative antigen-cassette architectures that robustly induce cellular immunity. Designs will seek to balance immunodominance, coordinate CD8⁺ cytotoxicity with CD4⁺ T-cell help, minimize antigen escape, and maximize the magnitude, breadth, polyfunctionality, cytotoxicity and persistence of vaccine-induced T-cell responses.

The Executive Director will establish an integrated antigen-engineering engine connecting computational design with experimental validation and iterative optimization. Working across immunology, oncology, computational sciences, protein engineering, and translational sciences, the role will build differentiated capabilities and intellectual property in engineered immunogens, multi-antigen cassette architectures, immune-routing strategies, and sequence-design algorithms, creating a scalable platform for the predictive design of best-in-class cancer vaccines.

Accountabilities:

•  Establish a best-in-class epitope discovery, validation, and engineering pipeline
• Optimize epitope sequence design and create a multi-antigen architectural design tool 
• Engineer antigen expression constructs that maximize T cell breadth, clonal expansion, and durability 
• Create differentiated intellectual property around epitope design and antigen construct architecture 
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams to guide iterative antigen design and preclinical evaluation 
• Establish strategic relationships across the organization and functions 
• Build group and expertise around the design of vaccine candidates taking into account target antigens and target indications 
• 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 
• Pioneer AI based strategies to accelerate the pace of innovation at all levels of research 
• Collaborate and guide the evaluation of novel business development opportunities 
• Communicate results internally and externally, as well as their associated risks, uncertainties and limitations 
• Define the training standards for junior colleagues in line with best practices and principles 

Essentials

• PhD or equivalent in bioinformatics, immunology, oncology, molecular biology, biochemistry or a related discipline with 10+ yrs industry experience 
• Proven experience developing vaccines to target different antigens in a variety of disease settings 
• Proven experience with generating multiple vaccine constructs and testing constructs to identify optimal design of vaccine candidates  
• 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 

Annual base salary for this position ranges from $ 281,872.80 - $422,809.20. AstraZeneca is committed to providing fair and equitable compensation opportunities to all colleagues. Our compensation policies and practices have been designed to allow colleagues to progress through the salary range over time as they progress in their role. The range provided in this posting represents an offer pay range used in a majority of situations. The base pay offered will vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including the candidate's skills and experience, job-related knowledge, and other specific business and organizational needs.  In some cases, offers outside the range may also be considered to address unique circumstances.

In addition, our permanent positions offer an annual Variable Pay Bonus/Short Term Incentive opportunity as well as eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (if applicable to role).  Benefits offered for permanent roles include a competitive Flex Benefits & Retirement Savings Program, 4 weeks’ paid vacation, and annual Personal Days. Fixed Term Contract/Temporary positions (excluding students) are offered a Contract Benefits Program.

We are using AI as part of the recruitment process.

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.