Director, PCV Research

Company: Moderna Therapeutics Inc.
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: May 21, 2023

Job Description:

The Role:Moderna is dedicated to maximizing the impact of our cancer vaccine platform on human health including with Individual Neoantigen Therapies (INT). We are committed to expanding clinical impact in more patients with our current platform and through optimizing our approach in future generations of INTs. Are you the right person to lead the one of the research teams that will help make this happen?This is a great opportunity to lead and grow a Research team focused on providing scientific guidance on imminent INT pivotal trial(s) and bringing forth next generation INTs that expand on our current demonstration of clinical benefit: through improving the vaccine format including the algorithm utilized for personalized antigen choice, establishing novel INT combinations with other mRNA-based therapeutics in addition to other modalities, and advancing the ways we currently generate our INTs with development and incorporation of new assays and technologies.We are looking for a talented, innovative, and motivated leader with experience in supporting ongoing trials and well as leading next generation concepts to expand on promising clinical signals. She/he/they will expand and lead the INT Research Team as well as work closely with our other INT Research groups (Platform and "Off-the shelf" Target Specific Vaccine teams), Immuno-Oncology Research team, Translational Research and cross-functionally with the wider Non-clinical Sciences and Clinical Development organizations with the common goal of helping as many cancer patients as possible. The successful candidate must be an outstanding scientist, exemplary leader and collaborator, effective communicator and thrive in a fast-paced/results-oriented environment managing several workflows in parallel.Here's What You'll Do:

• Further build and lead the INT Research Team
• Research Program Leader for clinical stage INT programs
• Work with the Translational and Development teams to further establish a robust immunogenicity and phenotyping benchmark of the current platform to which future iterations can be compared
• Generate and execute on research plans to evaluate all potential changes considered for INTs including advancements in INT manufacturing, vaccine format and antigen choice
• Working with the Translational Research team, recommend new indications and patient populations in which INTs will likely exert clinical benefit based on internally and externally generated pre-clinical and clinical data
• Help define and provide justification for rational INT combinations with mRNA-based approaches as well as with standards of care and other emerging therapies, including generating appropriate pre-clinical data.
• Generate data and provide justification for dose, schedule, and treatment sequencing refinement for new clinical INT applications
• Working with the INT Platform team, identify and develop new approaches to optimize the generation of our INTs, from antigen and normal samples collection to profiling of unique muteomes to input into current and future algorithms
• Work cross functionally and particularly with our Computational Sciences team to lead the effort to make our INT algorithm even more impactful, through utilization of internal and external data and technologies
• Present internally and externally to a wide array of audiences (small team meetings to Board meetings and external international conferences)
• Supervise and mentor scientists, and help direct reports effectively manage their reportsHere's What You'll Bring to the Table:
  • Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Immuno-oncology (IO) or related field relevant to the role with 10+ years of overall experience
  • Deep expertise in vaccinology; advantage to have direct experience with nucleic acid-based vaccine technologies
  • Experience working on cross functional pre-clinical and clinical stage program teams
  • Technical expertise for deep analyses of pre-clinical and clinical samples, such as with genomic profiling, bulk and single cell RNA sequencing, multi-parameter flow/CyTOF panels
  • Bioinformatics familiarity to analyze/understand large patient derived datasets either directly or via team members
  • Immuno-Oncology experience to contribute to Mechanisms of Action and Resistance MOA/MOR evaluations as well as knowledge of emergent and current standards of care to help define rational combination
  • Leadership and management experience, including oversight of financial, IP and legal aspects
  • Ability to effectively lead and collaborate in a dynamic, cross-functional matrixed environment
  • Experience working with and overseeing partnerships with academic, industrial, governmental, and other non-governmental organization
  • Outstanding communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with aggressive timelines
  • Respectful and inclusive attitude for your colleagues/team members, in addition to your exemplary collaborative nature, boldness, curiosity and relentlessnessModerna is pleased to provide you and your family with a comprehensive and innovative suite of benefits, including:
    • Highly competitive and inclusive medical, dental and vision coverage options
    • Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses and dependent care expenses
    • Lifestyle Spending Account funds to help you engage in personal enrichment and self-care activities
    • Family care benefits, including subsidized back-up care options and on-demand tutoring
    • Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
    • Exclusive preferred pricing on Peloton fitness equipment
    • Adoption and family-planning benefits
    • Dedicated care coordination support for our LGBTQ+ community
    • Generous paid time off, including:--- Vacation, sick time and holidays--- Volunteer time to participate within your community--- Discretionary year-end shutdown--- Paid sabbatical after 5 years; every 3 years thereafter
    • Generous Paid Leave offerings, including 18 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for all new parents
    • 401k match and Financial Planning tools
    • Moderna-paid Life, LTD and STD insurance coverages, as well as voluntary benefit options
    • Complimentary concierge service including home services research, travel booking, and entertainment requests
    • Free parking or subsidized commuter passes
    • Location-specific perks and extras!About ModernaIn over 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for rapid clinical and commercial production at scale. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com.Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.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 proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.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 an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.Belonging, Inclusion, and Diversity are critical to the success of our company and our impact on society. We're focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees and believe that by cultivating diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we can provide an environment where every employee is able to 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 make a request to the Talent Acquisition Partner or contact the Accommodations team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. (EEO/AAP Employer)#LI-MBB1-

Keywords: Moderna Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge , Director, PCV Research, Executive , Cambridge, Massachusetts