Director, Translational Medicine Lead

We are seeking an exceptional Director-level Translational Medicine Lead (TML) to join ourHaematologyR&D organization with dedicated focus on B-cell leukemias specifically B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL). This is a 100% Translational Medicine role serving as the single point of accountability for biomarker strategy and delivery across a portfolio spanning large molecules (antibody-drug conjugates bispecific antibodies) small molecules (targeted inhibitors) and cell therapies (CAR-T and next-generation approaches).

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global science-led patient-focused biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the worlds most serious diseases. WithinHaematologyR&D we are committed to advancing science to deliver life-changing medicines to patients most in need. Our combination-focused pipeline harnesses the power of six scientific platformsImmuno-Oncology Tumor Drivers and Resistance DNA Damage Response Antibody-Drug Conjugates Cell Therapy and Epigeneticsto address unmet needs in hematologic malignancies across leukemia lymphoma and myeloma.

Translational Medicine at AstraZenecaHaematology

Translational Medicine (TM) transforms hematological cancer biology into actionable insights that drive therapeutic development and clinical decision-making. Operating within theHaematologyR&D division the TM team is the single point of accountability for delivering robust scientifically driven biomarker strategies to all project teams. The team collaborates closely with preclinical bioscience clinical development clinical operations and Precision Medicine &Biosamplesfunctions. TM provides end-to-end biomarker support from assay development and technical validation through clinical deployment and data interpretation across early- and late-phase studies.

Role Summary

The Director TML B-cell Leukemia will serve as the scientific and operational owner of translational medicine strategy for the B-ALL and B-CLL portfolios. This individual will be embedded across program teams as the dedicated translational lead accountable for biomarker strategy from preclinical through Phase 3 and beyond. The role spans the full spectrum of therapeutic modalitieslarge molecules small molecules and cell therapiesrequiring deep disease biologyexpertisealongside versatile biomarker and assay knowledge.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

Translational Strategy & Delivery

• Develop and own comprehensive translational science strategies for B-ALL and B-CLL programs covering patient selection pharmacodynamics (PD) mechanism of action (MoA) and mechanism of resistance (MoR) from preclinical through Phase 3 clinical studies.

• Define and execute biomarker plans that deliver robust decision-quality data to support Go/No-Go (GNG) milestones dose and scheduleselection and regulatory submissions.

• Apply deep B-cell biologyexpertiseto generate disease-linkage data guidingindicationselectionand expansion across both B-ALL and B-CLL settings.

• Drive translational strategies across all therapeutic modalities: large molecules (ADCs bispecific antibodies targeting B-cell antigens such as CD19 CD20 CD22 TSLPR) small molecules (BTK inhibitors PI3K/BCL-2 pathway agents) and cell therapies (CAR-T next-generation engineered cell approaches).

• Integrate tumor microenvironment (TME) analyses immune profiling and cytokine/immune effector readouts to inform combination strategies and safety/efficacy signals.

• Define and study mechanisms of resistance at relapse including antigen loss lineage switching and clonal evolution to inform next-line strategies and patient enrichment.

Biomarker & Assay Deployment

• Lead the identification development and analytical validation of fit-for-purpose translational assays deploying internally and/or via external partners (CROs academic labs).

• Oversee clinical biomarker implementation: sample collection strategies laboratory manuals biomarker sections of clinical study protocols and statistical/analysis plans for B-ALL and B-CLL studies.

• Integrate flow cytometry immunohistochemistry (IHC) immunofluorescence (IF) and molecular assays (NGS ctDNA MRD panels) to enable patientselection enrichment and response monitoring.

• Partner with Precision Medicine &Biosampleson documentation traceabilityCDxpathway considerations and regulatory expectations for analytical validation.

• Ensure all biomarker data and deliverables meet quality standards for inclusion in clinical study reports regulatory filings and scientific publications.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Portfolio Influence

• Serve as the TML representative on B-ALL and B-CLL project teams collaborating with Oncology Research Clinical Development Clinical Operations and Product Development to integrate translational strategies at every stage of drug development.

• Influence translational strategy across the broader AstraZeneca hematology portfolio sharing scientific insights andestablishingbest practices for B-cell malignancy programs.

• Lead and manage internal and external research collaborations including academic consortia cooperative groups and investigator-initiated studies relevant to B-cell leukemia biology.

• Represent AstraZeneca at scientific forums congresses (ASH EHA ASCO) and key opinion leader (KOL) engagements as an external ambassador for the program.

• Contribute to and ensure the quality of TM clinical study reports data reviews interpretations presentations and recommendations to development teams and senior management.

Required Qualifications:

Education

• PhD and/or MD with substantive experience in oncology or hematology drug development. MD with clinical training in hematology/oncology is highly valued.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in translational medicine biomarker science or clinical development within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry.

• In-depth knowledge of B-cell biology B-cell malignancy disease biology (B-ALL and/or B-CLL) and the therapeutic landscape including approved and investigational agents.

• Demonstratedexpertiseacross multiple therapeutic modalities relevant to B-cell leukemia: large molecules (antibodies ADCsbispecifics) small molecules (BTK inhibitors venetoclax PI3K inhibitors) and/or cell therapies (CAR-T).

• Proventrack recordof designing and executing translational biomarker strategies in early- and late-phase clinical trials including assay development validation and clinical deployment.

• Hands-on experience with hematologic biomarker platforms including flow cytometry (immunophenotyping MRD) molecular diagnostics (NGS FISH PCR) and/or IHC/IF for hematologic malignancies.

• Demonstrated ability to drive manage execute and deliver results for complex multi-functional projects in a matrixed pharmaceutical environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Highly developed problem-solving critical thinking and risk management skills with exceptional attention to scientific detail.

• Proven communication presentation and influencing skills; ability to translate complex biomarker data into clear decision-enabling insights for cross-functional audiences.

• Strong collaborative working skills with experience navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments.

• Ability to act as an external ambassador and to influence external organizations to enhance the scientific reputation of AstraZeneca.

• Proven ability to mentor and develop scientific colleagues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertisespecifically in both B-ALL and B-CLL including disease-specific immunophenotyping minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring and clonal evolution dynamics.

• Experience with CAR-T cell therapy programs including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) monitoring CAR-T persistence/expansion assays and antigen escape mechanisms in B-cell malignancies.

• Familiarity with bispecific antibody programs (e.g. CD19xCD3 CD20xCD3) and relevant translational biomarker strategies.

• Hands-on MRDmethodologyexperience (multiparametric flow cytometry and/or NGS-based approaches) and clinical trial deployment in B-ALL and/or B-CLL.

• Experience with CTD/ctDNA platforms and liquid biopsy approaches formonitoringclonal dynamics in leukemia.

• Knowledge ofCDxpathways and regulatory expectations (FDA/EMA) for companion diagnostic development in hematologic malignancies.

• Digital pathology and AI/ML integration experience for automated biomarker scoring and image analysis.

• Experience integrating multi-omicbiomarkers (flow NGS proteomics cytokines) into clinical decision-making frameworks.

• Publicationrecordin B-cell leukemia biology translational oncology or clinical biomarkers.

Why AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There is no better place to make a difference to medicine patients and society. We champion an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and collaboration and we are always committed to lifelong learning growth and development.

OurHaematologyR&D organization sits at the forefront of one ofoncologysmost dynamic and rapidly evolving fields. With a rich and diverse pipeline spanning novel small molecules first- and best-in-class large molecules andcutting-edgecell therapies the opportunity to shape translational strategy across B-cell leukemia programsrepresentsa rare and exciting career opportunity. You will partner with world-class scientists clinicians and KOLsmaking decisions that directlyimpactpatients with B-ALL and B-CLL.

Whats Next

Are you ready to bring transformative science to B-cell leukemia patientsWedlove to hear from you.

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Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and furtherance of that mission we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation please complete the corresponding section in the application form.