Translational Medicine/ Biomarker Lead

Location: Needham, MA - Hybrid
Salary: $217,000-$235,000

**Please Note: Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Sponsorship for employment visas is not available.

Why Work With Us?
At Candel, our people drive our success. We value diversity, collaboration, and bold thinking in a supportive, mission-driven environment. Like a team, we show up for each other and stay focused on making a difference for patients and families. Our leadership is transparent and empowering, and our culture is built on trust, flexibility, and accountability, encouraging ownership and innovation every day.

Our Science: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapies
Candel is a clinical-stage biopharma company developing off-the-shelf, multimodal immunotherapies that stimulate personalized, systemic anti-tumor responses. Our platforms use genetically modified adenovirus and HSV constructs. With positive Phase 3 results for our lead candidate, it’s an exciting time to join us and help bring transformative cancer treatments to patients. Learn more:

Position Summary:
We are seeking an accomplished scientific leader in Translational Immunology to drive the strategic vision and cross-functional execution of our clinical biomarker programs. This is a critical leadership role ideal for a candidate with deep expertise in cancer immunology, immunology, translational science, and biomarker development, coupled with the ability to integrate complex biological and clinical datasets to inform key program decisions.
As Head of Translational Medicine, you will be a central figure in advancing both early- and late-stage clinical programs, including pivotal contributions to a Biologics License Application (BLA) for our lead immunotherapy candidate.

Reporting Structure:
You will report directly to the Chief Scientific Officer and collaborate closely with the Vice President of Clinical Development and the Senior Manager of Translational Medicine to shape and accelerate our immuno-oncology strategy.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement scientific strategies for analyses across clinical and preclinical studies.
• Provide expert guidance on emerging developments in immunology and oncology to inform target selection and mechanism-of-action insights.
• Lead cross-functional governance initiatives and external collaborations to support regulatory strategy and clinical development goals.

Translational Execution

• Design and oversee execution of bio-sampling and biomarker strategies to identify mechanisms of response and resistance.
• Integrate exploratory endpoints and novel assay technologies into clinical trial designs.
• Analyze and interpret complex biomarker and clinical pharmacology data to inform patient selection and trial design.
• Contribute to the development of integrated clinical pharmacology packages and high-quality clinical protocols and regulatory submissions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders across Clinical Development, Research, Clinical Operations, QA and Regulatory Affairs
• Engage and manage external partners, academic collaborators, and CROs to enable timely and innovative translational research.
• Participate in scientific due diligence, regulatory meetings, and interactions as needed.

What You Will Bring

• PhD in Immunology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, or a related field, or MD with relevant post-doctoral training.
• 5+ years of experience in translational science, ideally within oncology or immuno-oncology programs.
• Strong track record of contributing to and leading oncology clinical trials; experience with regulatory submissions and filings preferred.
• Deep expertise in biomarker development, assay platforms, and integration of translational endpoints into clinical trial designs.
• Working knowledge of GLP, GCP, and regulatory standards relevant to biomarker and clinical trial execution.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex scientific projects in biotech or pharma settings.
• Excellent communication, scientific presentation, and strategic thinking skills.

Preferred Attributes

• Proficiency with bioinformatics tools and data visualization platforms for biomarker data analysis.
• Experience managing biomarker-driven immuno-oncology trials, including immune monitoring and pharmacodynamics.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of cancer immunotherapy in a collaborative and data-driven environment. If you're passionate about translating science into impact for patients, we encourage you to apply.