Director research

The Role

Moderna is pioneering the development of mRNA-based cancer vaccines and therapeutics, and we are seeking a Director of Target Profiling to focus on forward translation to stratify and/or identify patients for early clinical trials. This role is critical in ensuring an efficient and seamless transition between preclinical research and clinical development. In this role, you will lead a focused research team to envision, develop and implement integrated approaches to develop precision patient profiling methodologies, focusing on stage-appropriate companion diagnostics (CDx), biomarkers for disease monitoring, patient stratification, and assay development. Your work will enable informed product strategy decisions such as tumor-associated antigen (TAA) selection, indication prioritization, and disease tracking. By leveraging advanced technologies like flow cytometry, ctDNA sequencing, MRD assessments, and protein-based assays, you will help identify the right patients for therapeutic interventions, driving transformational drug development in the emerging oncology and autoimmune therapeutics pipelines.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Develop and validate cutting-edge methodologies, including ctDNA, MRD, and protein-based assays, to monitor disease progression and therapeutic efficacy in a variety of clinical settings and disease indications.
• Lead the development of stage-appropriate CDx assays to enable precision patient profiling and inform strategies for therapeutic intervention.
• Manage the implementation of flow cytometry and other advanced profiling techniques to characterize and/or stratify patient populations effectively.
• Collaborate with Preclinical Program teams, Translational Medicine and Clinical Biomarker teams to define and implement comprehensive translational strategies to drive programs from concept to clinic.
• Stay at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements in precision targeting and companion diagnostics.
• Contribute to the broader translational research team strategy, fostering innovation and excellence.
• Oversee relationships with CROs and internal labs to ensure the timely completion of assay development, qualification, and validation studies, delivering high-quality data for translational research projects.
• Mentor and develop junior scientists within the translational research team, fostering a culture of scientific excellence and continuous learning.
• Act as a scientific liaison and thought partner for key internal and external collaborators, including development and regulatory colleagues, academic institutions, and industry collaborators in the oncology space.
• Contribute to the preparation of regulatory submissions, scientific publications, and presentations, effectively communicating translational research outcomes.

Here’s What You’ll Need

• Education:
• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., oncology, immunology, cancer biology, immune-oncology) with a minimum of 10 years of experience in translational research within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, preferably in immune-oncology or autoimmune therapeutic areas.
• Experience:
• Understanding of therapeutic development strategies.
• Strong background in developing flow cytometry, ctDNA sequencing, MRD methodologies, and protein-based assays to inform clinical development.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working in cross- functional teams.
• A results-driven mindset, capable of thriving in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
• A passion for advancing precision medicine to improve outcomes for patients.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate translational approaches for novel therapeutic concepts or modalities (ideally including experience with cell therapy and cancer vaccine platforms).
• Experience with regulatory submissions and interactions with health authorities is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated success in developing and integrating companion diagnostics and disease monitoring tools into clinical development plans.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple cancer vaccine projects simultaneously.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and lead cross- functional teams.
• Demonstrated proficiency in effectively managing and developing direct reports
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively convey complex scientific information related to cancer vaccines to a variety of audiences.
• A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals is preferred, particularly in the field of cancer immunotherapy or autoimmunity.
• This role is expected to be in office 70% of the time with flexibility to work from home up to 30%

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus a suite of voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Lifestyle Spending Accounts to personalize your well-being journey
• Family planning and adoption benefits
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investment opportunities
• Location-specific perks and extras

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.

Our Working Model 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. 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.

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.