The posting
The Role Moderna’s Research and Early Development team is seeking a talented, experienced, and motivated Associate Director to lead Immuno-Oncology Research programs focused on emerging T cell engager (TCE) and in vivo cell therapy programs.
This role will provide scientific and organizational leadership for a team of scientist-level research leads advancing new therapeutic concepts from target and modality strategy through candidate selection and preclinical development, with a strong focus on T cell and tumor biology, translational relevance, and rigorous experimental decision-making.
The successful candidate will be an outstanding scientist, people leader, and project leader with deep expertise in immuno-oncology, immune cell-directed therapeutics, functional assays, in vivo models, and a demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams through complex research programs. The role requires close partnership with Therapeutics Research, Platform Science, Nonclinical Sciences, CMC, Development, Regulatory, and external partners.
Here’s What You’ll Do
- Provide scientific and people leadership for 1-2 scientist-level research leads responsible for emerging TCE and in vivo cell therapy programs, setting clear priorities, experimental strategies, and decision points across multiple programs.
- Lead programs from early conceptualization and target assessment through mechanism-of-action studies, lead optimization, candidate selection, and preclinical development readiness.
- Define and challenge therapeutic hypotheses, target-product concepts, and program strategies by integrating tumor biology, immune cell (T, NK, myeloid) biology, translational evidence, modality attributes and liabilities, and patient selection considerations.
- Guide the design and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo studies that characterize potency, selectivity, mechanism of action, resistance mechanisms, durability, and safety-related biology for therapeutic candidates.
- Partner with antibody engineering team to optimize therapeutic design, including architecture, binding properties, valency, avidity, activation thresholds, and other attributes that influence efficacy and therapeutic index.
- Anticipate key efficacy and safety risks for immune cell-directed therapeutics and guide experimental strategies to characterize on-target/off-tumor activity, cytokine biology, immune cell dysfunction or exhaustion, and other modality-relevant liabilities.
- Establish stage-appropriate research plans, success criteria, and data packages that enable progression of programs from discovery into formal preclinical and development activities.
- Lead cross-functional research teams and program reviews, ensuring that key scientific questions are addressed with fit-for-purpose experiments and that data are translated into clear program decisions and next steps.
- Identify and evaluate new immuno-oncology targets, combination strategies, and therapeutic concepts that can expand the emerging Immuno-Oncology portfolio and address limitations of existing approaches.
- Collaborate broadly across computational biology, protein engineering, cell engineering, mRNA and delivery sciences, nonclinical safety, translational medicine, CMC, clinical development, and external partners to advance programs efficiently and with scientific rigor.
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
- PhD in immunology, oncology, or a related biological sciences discipline with 7+ years of relevant post-PhD experience; biotechnology or pharmaceutical experience preferred.
- Deep expertise in immuno-oncology and immune cell biology, with substantial experience advancing immune cell-directed therapeutic programs such as T cell engagers, CAR-T therapies, TCR-based therapies, CAR-M therapies, or closely related modalities.
- Experience managing scientists or research associates in a dynamic environment, with demonstrated ability to set priorities, execute multiple research workstreams in parallel, and develop talent.
Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)
- Demonstrated experience designing, leading, and interpreting hypothesis-driven research programs that integrate functional assays, mechanistic studies, in vivo PKPD and efficacy models, and translational data to support therapeutic candidate decisions.
- Strong understanding of TCE, CAR-T, and CAR-M biology, including target selection, immune synapse formation, immune cell activation and cytotoxicity, activation thresholds, exhaustion/dysfunction, trafficking, persistence, resistance mechanisms, and safety considerations relevant to these therapies.
- Experience assessing therapeutic index and modality-specific liabilities, including target expression and normal-tissue biology, cytokine release, off-tumor activity, immune cell fitness, and other factors that influence efficacy and safety.
- Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary discovery and development teams, including protein or cell engineering, computational biology, translational research, nonclinical sciences, CMC, clinical biomarker, clinical development, and external partner functions.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex, matrixed therapeutic research programs with multiple internal and external dependencies, establish clear scientific priorities, and drive data-based decisions across teams and functions on accelerated timelines.
- Contributions to high-impact publications, patents, conference presentations, development candidates, or platform technologies in immunology, oncology, cell therapy, or related fields.
- Excellent written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to influence, align, and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and interface with senior leadership.
- Scientific curiosity and creativity, independence in execution, and adaptability and persistence in pursuing successful outcomes for developing novel immuno-oncology therapeutics.
- A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.
Our Working Model As we build our company, we have always believed that an in-person culture is critical to our success. This role is 100% onsite, reflecting the importance of being physically present to support the work, collaborate closely with colleagues, and contribute to our site-based operations.
Working onsite enables real-time collaboration, strong team connections, direct mentorship, and the hands-on partnership needed to deliver our mission. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.
Pay & Benefits
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
- A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
- Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
- Location-specific perks and extras
The salary range for this role is $142,500.00 - $256,500.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.
The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.
About Moderna
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Equal Opportunities
Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at [email protected].
Export Control Notice This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.
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