Director of Data Science – AI & Computational Biology

Johnson & Johnson•Cambridge, MA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com Job Function: Project/Program Management Group Job Sub Function: R&D Project Management Job Category: Professional All Job Posting Locations: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America Job Description: About Innovative Medicine Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine The Director of Data Science – AI & Computational Biology, External Innovation will drive the identification, assessment, and execution of strategic AI/ML partnerships that deliver measurable impact across Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (JJIM) R&D. This role is accountable for leading the development of partnerships: producing high-quality diligences, landscape analyses, and partnership assessments that inform and enable decision-making across the R&D value chain, focusing on technologies that apply cutting-edge, multimodal AI/ML to extract insights from complex biological datasets—including genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, high-content imaging, scientific literature, and emerging data modalities. The role requires deep “bilingual” capabilities across computational and scientific topics, and well as excellent strategic, operational, and communication skills. This position will be based in J&J’s Innovation Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Summary Landscape and assess: Conduct rigorous landscaping of external AI/ML capabilities, producing structured assessments that map strategic relevance to JJIM R&D priorities, delivering fit-for purpose landscape reports and assessments Diligence and partnership development: Lead and participate in end-to-end diligence processes—including scientific scoping, technical evaluation, and business analysis—to support partnership formation with high-impact external entities, delivering detailed diligence briefs and advancing and leading the development of strategic partnerships with transformative potential Partnership management and oversight: Manage, monitor, and evaluate ongoing strategic partnerships, ensuring delivery against research objectives and business milestones Strategic contribution: Contribute to JJIM’s AI/ML strategy by synthesizing insights from external engagement into actionable recommendations. Actively collaborate with External Scientific Innovation as a member of one of J&J’s regional Innovation Centers.

Requirements

PhD preferably in Computer science, AI/ML, biomedical engineering
8yrs + in related work experience
Proven track record in developing and scaling AI/ML solutions, especially generative models, in a start-up, industrial, enterprise setting
Strong foundation in computer science, with hands-on experience in model architecture, deployment, and performance optimization.
Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience working across scientific and technical domains, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business strategies.
Experience developing strategic partnerships
Experience in healthcare and/or life sciences
Deep knowledge and expertise in the use of AI/ML for research and discovery within a pharma
Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Experience working across scientific and technical domains, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business strategies.
Experience developing strategic partnerships

Nice To Haves

Agility Jumps
Business Alignment
Continuous Improvement
Mentorship
Performance Measurement
Process Control
Program Management
Project Management Methodology (PMM)
Project Management Office (PMO)
Project Reporting
Project Schedule
Quality Control (QC)
Research and Development
Risk Management
Tactical Planning
Technical Credibility

Responsibilities

Deliver comprehensive landscape reports and structured assessments of external AI/ML capabilities (including generative AI) relevant to JJIM R&D priorities.
Lead end-to-end diligence processes—scientific scoping, technical evaluation, and business analysis—to support partnership formation with high-impact external entities.
Produce detailed diligence briefs and advance strategic partnerships in collaboration with SMEs, transaction teams, and other stakeholders.
Alliance manage and oversee execution of ongoing strategic partnerships, ensuring delivery against research objectives and business milestones.
Provide direction, monitor progress, and generate periodic evaluation reports.
Contribute to JJIM’s AI/ML strategy by synthesizing insights from external engagement into actionable recommendations.
Collaborate with External Scientific Innovation team at regional Innovation Center

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