Vice President, Head of Translational Medicine and Translational Science

AstraZeneca•Boston, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

About the Role We are seeking a strategic and scientifically strong leader to serve as Vice President, Head of Translational Medicine and Translational Science. This individual will lead the translational medicine and translational science function across the portfolio and serve as a member of the Development Leadership Team (DLT). Working in close partnership with Clinical Development, this leader will ensure translational strategies, biomarker plans, and diagnostic approaches are integrated into development programs and inform key portfolio, program, and business development decisions. The role will also ensure translational medicine supports asset progression from preclinical development through clinical studies by connecting target biology, biomarker strategy, and diagnostics.

Requirements

M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent in a relevant scientific or medical discipline
Significant leadership experience in translational medicine, translational science, biomarkers, diagnostics, and drug development, typically 10–15+ years
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional and matrixed teams in a complex environment
Deep expertise in disease biology, biomarkers, diagnostics, translational models, and translational approaches that support preclinical and clinical development
Strong experience partnering closely with Clinical Development on biomarker strategy and diagnostic planning
Experience connecting discovery, translational research, diagnostics, and development to support therapeutic advancement
Experience with target credentialing, clinical assay development, and biomarker strategies in preclinical and clinical settings
Strong communication, leadership, and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively across scientific and executive audiences

Nice To Haves

Experience in rare disease
Experience supporting companion diagnostic or IVD development
Experience supporting business development, diligence, portfolio evaluation, or external scientific collaborations
Experience building translational, biomarker, diagnostic, or center-of-excellence capabilities
Experience with translational imaging, quantitative pharmacology, or advanced biomarker platforms

Responsibilities

Provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for the Translational Medicine and Translational Science organization across the portfolio.
Oversee translational medicine leads, translational research activities, biomarker and diagnostic capabilities, and related scientific functions that connect discovery, development, and clinical execution.
Partner closely with Clinical Development to design and execute biomarker and diagnostic strategies that strengthen clinical studies and support better development decisions.
Support clinical programs through identification and validation of translational and clinical biomarkers to predict response and assess treatment effect, patient stratification to identify populations most likely to benefit, target engagement to confirm biological activity in patients.
Lead diagnostic strategies to support clinical development, including development of clinical assays, biomarkers, and companion diagnostics (CDx) where appropriate.
Enable tools that identify patient populations, predict therapeutic response, measure clinical outcomes, and support precision medicine approaches.
Lead translational strategies in preclinical development to help credential therapeutic targets and de-risk candidates before first-in-human studies.
Leverage relevant animal models to validate target engagement.
Contribute to evaluation of external innovation, including business development, scientific diligence, and strategic collaborations.
Build a connected, high-performing, and agile translational organization, including leadership of a Translational Sciences Center of Excellence, with a focus on strengthening capabilities, improving ways of working, and increasing portfolio impact.