Distinguished Scientist/Director, Cell Therapy

Johnson & Johnson•Cambridge, MA

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/innovative-medicine We are searching for the best talent for the best Distinguished Scientist/Director, Cell Therapy to be in Cambridge, MA. Purpose: We are looking for a dynamic and strategic Distinguished Scientist to lead and elevate our Cell Therapy initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will serve as a recognized technical authority, driving scientific strategy, experimental rigor, and data-driven decision-making across discovery programs, in addition to leveraging your expertise to collaborate with cross-functional teams, guiding discovery activities that propel our mission forward. The ideal candidate brings a robust background in immunology or related fields, alongside extensive experience in the development and execution of cell therapy discovery projects. Your leadership skills will be crucial in mentoring team members and fostering a collaborative environment that drives scientific excellence. This is a unique opportunity to make significant contributions to groundbreaking advancements that have the potential to transform patient care.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Immunology, Cell Biology, or related field with 8+ years of relevant industry experience in cell therapy, immuno-oncology, or T cell biology.
Deep domain expertise with a track record of independent scientific leadership and strategic influence.
Deep understanding of CAR-T cell design and function, including assay systems used to evaluate CAR potency, persistence, and phenotype is required.
Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly articulate complex scientific concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Proven ability to mentor and elevate other scientists without formal people management responsibilities.
Experience contributing to or leading candidate nomination, IND-enabling, or comparable decisional milestones is required.
Strong project management skills with a proven ability to deliver results under tight timelines.
Expertise in flow cytometry, mammalian cell culture and corresponding analytical software including FlowJo, GraphPad Prism, and MS Office suite.
External scientific visibility (e.g. publications, patents, invited talks etc.) appropriate for a Distinguished Scientist.
Prior experience operating within a matrixed R&D organization.
Familiarity with high-throughput screening platforms, flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, and gene editing techniques (e.g., CRISPR, viral vectors).

Responsibilities

Serve as a recognized Cell Therapy subject-matter expert influencing scientific direction at the program, platform, and portfolio level.
Shape scientific strategy through expert evaluation of complex datasets, experimental approaches, and emerging technologies.
Provide authoritative scientific input into candidate selection, development strategy, and risk assessment, including contributions to milestone decisions
Anticipate scientific challenges and proactively propose innovative solutions aligned with organizational priorities and needs.
Design and interpret sophisticated experimental strategies with a strong emphasis on rigor, reproducibility, and decision relevance.
Author and/or critically review key technical documents, data packages, and scientific presentations intended for internal governance and decision-making.
Support talent development by reviewing experimental plans, offering technical guidance, and helping to elevate scientific storytelling and decision-making quality.
Contribute to a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and constructive feedback.
Operate effectively in highly matrixed environments and partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g. nonclinical safety, manufacturing, strategy, etc.)

Benefits

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).
This position is eligible to participate in the Company’s long-term incentive program.
Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:
Vacation –120 hours per calendar year
Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year
Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year
Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year
Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child
Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days
Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year