Associate Director, Immunobiology Open Innovation
About The Position
The Associate Director will join Biogen’s Immunobiology Open Innovation Team within the Immunology Research Unit, working at the intersection of scientific discovery, external innovation, portfolio strategy, and Research–Development integration. The position is based in South San Francisco, California, and requires frequent onsite presence; candidates must be within commuting distance or able to self-relocate. The role contributes scientific expertise and judgment to decisions about targets, programs, and external innovation opportunities for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. The Associate Director collaborates with internal research teams, development partners, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Ventures, Search & Evaluation teams, and external collaborators. The position guides experimental and translational approaches, integrates decision-enabling data, supports program and portfolio strategy, and communicates scientific assessments to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. It also includes mentoring scientists and contributing to collaborative, inclusive team culture.
Requirements
- PhD in Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or a related field.
- At least 8 years of relevant industry or translational research experience in inflammatory and autoimmune disease drug discovery.
- Deep expertise in innate and adaptive immune biology, immune signaling, and translational immunology.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to drug discovery strategy through rigorous evaluation of targets, mechanisms, external opportunities, and disease biology.
- Experience guiding experimental strategy across biochemical, cellular, tissue-based, flow cytometry, functional genomics, ex vivo, and/or in vivo immunology approaches.
- Prior people leadership, direct line management, or significant matrix leadership experience, including a commitment to mentoring scientists and building collaborative teams.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and support decision-making in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to independently evaluate complex scientific, translational, and competitive data.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, including translating complex science into decision-relevant insights for senior leaders, governance materials, and cross-functional partners.
Nice To Haves
- Experience in biotech or pharmaceutical drug discovery, translational research, external innovation, and/or portfolio strategy.
- Experience contributing to external collaborations, partnerships, sponsored research agreements, or scientific due diligence efforts.
- Experience across multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, and/or cell-based therapies.
- Experience integrating human biology, biomarker, multi-omics, clinical, and translational datasets to inform target, indication, or program strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to contribute to portfolio discussions and help shape scientific strategy across programs or disease areas.
- External scientific network and ability to engage credibly with academic collaborators, companies, and key opinion leaders.
Responsibilities
- Identify, evaluate, and help prioritize novel targets, pathways, biomarkers, technologies, and external opportunities relevant to immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases.
- Partner with Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Ventures, and Search & Evaluation teams to assess external assets, collaborations, platform technologies, and licensing opportunities.
- Support scientific due diligence through mechanistic evaluation, competitive landscape analysis, data and protocol review, translational assessment, and evaluation of scientific fit.
- Translate program-specific learnings into broader research insights that inform Immunology Research Unit priorities.
- Guide experimental and translational strategy for in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies of inflammatory and autoimmune disease mechanisms.
- Generate and integrate data to inform target validation, lead optimization, biomarker strategy, translational planning, and program recommendations.
- Collaborate across Research and Development on indication expansion, lifecycle planning, translational strategy, and continuity of scientific rationale from discovery through development.
- Communicate complex scientific information clearly and rigorously for internal leadership, governance materials, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Represent the team with academic collaborators, external companies, and key opinion leaders.
- Mentor scientists and support their development through scientific coaching and feedback, while modeling collaborative and inclusive leadership.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Fitness and wellness programs, including fitness reimbursement
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- At least 15 days of paid vacation
- Additional end-of-year shutdown time off from December 26 through December 31
- Up to 12 company-paid holidays
- Three paid days off for Personal Significance
- 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
- Paid maternity and parental leave
- 401(k) program with company-matched contributions
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year
- Employee Resource Groups participation
- Short-term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
