Job at a glance
The Director of Bacterial Vaccine Discovery in Early Infectious Disease leads efforts to discover and develop bacterial vaccines, including carbohydrate conjugate, mRNA, and protein-based approaches. The individual will lead a team of scientists in discovering and characterizing novel bacterial vaccines to build and advance the portfolio. The team will collaborate across groups within Bacterial Vaccines to identify effective vaccine candidates and fully characterize their immunogenicity and efficacy in preclinical disease models.
The role also requires influencing senior internal stakeholders in Research, Bioprocess Development, and Regulatory Affairs, as well as managing external academic collaborations and contract research organizations to deliver the early vaccine portfolio. AccountabilitiesLead a team of scientiststo discover and characterize candidate vaccine antigens, delivering robust in vitro and in vivo research packages that support pipeline progression and regulatory interactions.
Serve as subject matter expert and research leadfor multiple programs, presenting strategy and data to senior leaders at governance meetings. Present key findings and research progressat top-tier scientific conferences. Partner with Early Vaccines and Immune Therapies Translational Sciencesto develop and transfer assays for characterizing immune responses in future clinical trials. Oversee and maintain accountability for partnershipswith third parties, including academic institutions and biotech collaborators.
Evaluate external science and partnering opportunitiesin collaboration with Business Development and the extended scientific team to expand the bacterial vaccine pipeline. Engage regularly with intellectual property attorneysto define and refine IP strategy for early-stage programs. Build and foster effective relationshipswith senior leaders across Research, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Clinical and Translational Medicine, and Global Project Teams to ensure cross-functional alignment.
Ensure clear and objective communicationof results, associated risks, uncertainties, and limitations across all projects and teams within the function. Define training and development opportunitiesfor junior colleagues in line with best practices and scientific principles. QualificationsPhDin microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline, with 8+ years of industry experience.
Proven leadership experiencemanaging a team of junior scientists (PhD and non-PhD level). Strong track recordin bacterial vaccine research and/or bacterial pathogenesis. Demonstrated experienceleading efforts to characterize immune responses and protective efficacy of vaccine antigens in small animal disease models. Familiarity with functional immunological assays, such as opsonophagocytic killing assays and serum bactericidal assays, used to measure vaccine-elicited immune responses.
Cross-functional collaboration experience, successfully delivering research and development programs in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting. Experience supporting or leadinginterdisciplinary vaccine discovery or development programs from early research through candidate selection. Proven ability to develop and manage budgetsfor research programs and external partnerships. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with strong business analysis and consultancy capabilities.
The annual base pay for this position ranges from $172,466.40 - $258,699.60. 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 eligibil