Director/Associate Director - R&D Discovery Vector Platform

We integrate discovery science with translational execution to deliver impactful genetic medicines. Join us to architect the discovery vector platform strategy and expand lentiviral vectors (LVVs) across oncology and additional indications.

As a proud new member of the AstraZeneca group, Esobiotec continues to set new standards in pioneering biotechnological research. With a shared vision to transform the future of medicine, our partnership uses AstraZeneca’s global reach and rich heritage in scientific innovation, amplifying Esobiotec’s culture of creativity and breakthrough advances in cell-based therapies and immunology. At Esobiotec, now backed by the resources and expertise of one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies, you’ll find a dynamic, collaborative environment where scientific passion drives real-world impact. Be part of a team where your work will contribute to crafting the next generation of life-changing treatments and help us push the boundaries of science to improve patients’ lives worldwide.  

We are seeking a Director or Associate Director to set the vision, strategy, and scientific roadmap for our Discovery Vector Platform. You will lead multilineage immune reprogramming beyond T cells, align programs to clear product hypotheses, and drive rigorous, datadriven decision making from concept through preclinical translation. You will build and mentor a high performing team, and ensure tight crossfunctional alignment across discovery and translational partners.

Location: Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium (office-based position)

Reports to: Executive Director, In Vivo Cell Therapy

What You’ll Do

• Platform Strategy: Set the vision, strategy, and scientific roadmap for discovery vector platform development; prioritize programs enabling in vivo LVVs to reprogram diverse immune cell types and expand into oncology and additional indications.
• Team Leadership: Lead and develop a high performing‑ team of scientists and senior scientists; provide mentorship, resourcing, and performance management while fostering a culture of innovation, rigor, and accountability.
• TPPs & Hypotheses: Define target product profiles and translational hypotheses for multi‑lineage immune reprogramming, integrating mechanistic biology, payload design, promoter/targeting strategies, and in vivo proof of‑ m‑echanism plans.
• Portfolio & Decisions: Oversee portfolio planning and experiment to‑ decision frameworks with milestones, go/nogo criteria, risk management, and data‑ driven‑ prioritization across vector designs and immune cell targets beyond T cells.
• Technical Direction: Guide LVV design, generation, and characterization in vitro and in in vivo preclinical disease models.
• Advanced Analytics: Champion high ‑dimensional approaches (e.g., multiparameter flow, single‑ cell omics, spatial profiling, imaging, NGS integration analyses) to uncover mechanisms and develop candidate‑ advancing‑ biomarkers.
• Cross Functional‑ Alignment: Drive alignment with immunology, protein engineering, bioinformatics, toxicology, and translational teams to connect vector engineering with disease biology, dosing paradigms, and efficacy endpoints.
• Governance & Communication: Represent the platform in governance and project teams; synthesize complex datasets into clear recommendations; communicate strategy, risks, and outcomes to senior leadership.
• External Innovation: Build external visibility and opportunities by evaluating emerging technologies, academic collaborations, and vendor/CDMO capabilities that accelerate discovery vector innovation.
• Rigor & Compliance: Ensure scientific rigor, data integrity, ethical animal use, and biosafety compliance; implement robust documentation and reproducible workflows suitable for discovery through preclinical translation.
• Operations: Plan budgets, headcount, and infrastructure needs (e.g., specialized assays, equipment, informatics) and optimize operational efficiency across the discovery vector portfolio.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: PhD in Immunology, Molecular or Cell Biology, Bioengineering, or related field, with a strong record of research leadership in immuno-oncology and vector engineering.
• Experience: 12+ years post PhD with significant industry leadership, or 8+ years for Associate Director with demonstrated success leading complex discovery programs and teams.
• Immune Lineages Expertise: Deep expertise in the biology and engineering of non T immune cell types (e.g., NK cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid cells, B cells, or HSCs) for therapeutic development.
• LVV Leadership: Proven track record directing LVV design and generation, in vitro and in vivo characterization, and fit forp urpose analytical method development enabling preclinical decision making.
• Molecular/Cell Engineering: Proficiency in techniques including vector construction, promoter design and selection, and protein engineering of ligands, receptors, cytokines, and chimeric constructs.
• In Vivo Pharmacology: Experience overseeing studies in humanized and immune competent relevant mouse models, including dose/route optimization, biodistribution, durability, safety, and efficacy readouts.
• High Dimensional Data Fluency: Fluency with multiparameter flow cytometry, scRNAseq/CITEseq, CyTOF, spatial transcriptomics, advanced imaging, and NGS based integration analysis applied to mechanism and biomarker development.
• Strategic Execution: Demonstrated ability to set strategy, manage portfolios, define go/nogo criteria, and drive data informed decisions across multiple programs with competing priorities.
• People Leadership: Strong mentoring, talent development, team building, and ability to create inclusive, high trust, high performance cultures.
• Communication: Excellent ability to translate complex science into clear strategies and recommendations for diverse collaborators and senior leadership.
• Cross Functional Collaboration: Effectively partners with immunology, protein engineering, bioinformatics, toxicology, and translational teams; serves as a subject matter expert in CMC/QA/QC/Regulatory forums without owning CMC strategy.
• Innovation & Judgment: Evidence of innovation and impact through publications, patents, or program advancement, with sound judgement in risk assessment, experimental design, and data integrity.

AstraZeneca offers an environment where learning from diverse teams is encouraged. We blend academia with industry expertise to foster growth and build meaningful careers. Our dedication to science-driven approaches ensures we remain at the forefront of medical advancements. With a focus on collaboration and resilience, we work together towards transformative solutions for patients.  

So, what is next:

Ready to make an impact? Apply now to join our purposeful team ! 

Welcome with your application, in English, at the latest by the 23rd of January 2026

To find out more:

Company site: https://www.esobiotec.com/

Group site: https://www.astrazeneca.com/

Our social media, Follow us on LinkedIn: Esobiotec and AstraZeneca

Inclusion & Diversity: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/inclusion-diversity

Career site: https://careers.astrazeneca.com/

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.