Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine · 1 day ago
Distinguished Scientist/Director, Cell Therapy
Cambridge, MA
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$164K/yr - $283K/yr
8+ years expJohnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is a leader in healthcare innovation focused on developing treatments and cures for complex diseases. They are seeking a Distinguished Scientist/Director to lead their Cell Therapy initiatives, driving scientific strategy and collaboration across discovery programs to advance patient care.
Pharmaceuticals
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.)
Qualification
Required
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)
Preferred
Analytical Reasoning
Biochemistry
Chemistry
Manufacturing, and Control (CMC)
Clinical Research and Regulations
Clinical Trial Designs
Collaborating
Consulting
Design Mindset
Drug Discovery Development
Molecular Diagnostics
Pharmacovigilance
Process Improvements
Productivity Planning
Product Licensing
Program Management
Representing
Scientific Research
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
Company
Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine
Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine focuses on developing medical solutions for some of the challenging diseases and medical conditions.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Molly Perkins
VP, Head of Cell & Genetic Medicines Discovery
Recent News
2025-08-14
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