Translational Medicine Lead, Associate Director (Oncology)

Job description

Job Title: Translational Medicine Lead, Associate Director, Oncology Location: Cambridge, MA Introduction to role: Are you ready to turn cutting-edge biomarker science into confident clinical decisions that change patient outcomes? As Translational Medicine Lead at Associate Director level, you will set the biomarker vision for novel targeted therapies and translate it into clear actions that guide indication strategy, dose and schedule, rational combinations, and patient selection. Your work will directly influence how quickly and precisely we bring transformative oncology medicines to patients. You will operate at the intersection of discovery, clinical development, diagnostics, data science, statistics, and external partnerships. How would you connect disease biology with clinical samples and biomarker data to shape first-in-human studies and sustain evidence through late development? In this hands-on, collaborative role you will lead across a global matrix, converting complex data into practical recommendations that drive study design, execution, and governance decisions. Accountabilities: Translational strategy ownership: Define and deliver an integrated translational and biomarker strategy for early development programs, aligning scientific goals, sample collection plans, assays, analyses, and decision points to accelerate learning and de-risk development. Early clinical leadership: Serve as Translational Medicine Lead for first-in-human studies, providing scientific leadership for protocol content, exploratory objectives, biospecimen plans, assay strategy, data review, and interpretation so study teams act on timely insights. Late-stage development support: Partner with late development teams to sustain biomarker hypotheses and evidence, ensuring continuity from early signals through registrational studies and beyond. Predictive biomarker strategy: Lead cross-program evaluation of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker, integrating clinical, molecular, and quantitative evidence into fit-for-purpose analyses and recommendations that sharpen program focus. Disease biology and patient selection: Generate and synthesize human biology evidence and mutation profiles linked to activity, guiding indication selection, segmentation, and biomarker hypotheses that increase the probability of success. Pharmacodynamic and response biomarkers: Develop approaches to measure target engagement, pathway modulation, biological activity, and response, enabling disciplined dose, schedule, and combination decisions. Resistance and longitudinal sampling: Use tumor tissue and blood-based biomarkers, including longitudinal clinical samples, to understand response and resistance and seed new translational hypotheses. Clinical biomarker execution: Partner with study teams, clinical operations, diagnostics, and labs to deliver robust sample collection, assay validation, vendor oversight, data quality, and timely biomarker readouts. Data integration and communication: Lead integrated biomarker data reviews, communicate conclusions and uncertainties with clarity, and provide well-founded recommendations to project teams, senior stakeholders, and governance bodies. Cross-functional and cross-site collaboration: Build strong partnerships across functions and geographies; align stakeholders on priority questions, risks, dependencies, and delivery plans to maintain momentum. External collaboration and scientific leadership: Establish and manage collaborations with academic, technology, and diagnostic partners; contribute to publications and presentations that amplify scientific impact. Standards and capability building: Advance translational medicine standards, best practices, and portfolio approaches; mentor colleagues to elevate scientific quality and consistency. Quality and compliance: Ensure all work meets applicable quality, regulatory, ethical, safety, and AstraZeneca requirements. Essential Skills/Experience: MD, PhD or equivalent advanced degree in cancer biology, molecular biology, translational medicine or a related scientific discipline. 7+ yrs in oncology translational science and drug development, including leadership/ development of biomarker strategies in early oncology clinical studies. Strong background in tumor biology and precision oncology, with experience in receptor tyrosine kinase biology; knowledge of EGFR biology is highly relevant. Experience with circulating tumor DNA, genomics or other molecular biomarkers, including interpretation of longitudinal clinical data. Ability to lead complex, multi-functional projects and deliver through teams in a global matrix environment. Demonstrated ability to collaborate across early and late development, functions, sites and external partners. Desirable Skills/Experience: Experience as a Translational Medicine Lead for first-in-human or early-phase oncology studies. Experience with ctDNA technologies including ultra-sensitive tumor-informed ctDNA assays Depth in EGFR-driven cancer biology, mechanisms of response and resistance, or development of targeted therapies. When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world. Why AstraZeneca: Here, scientists and clinicians work side by side to push the boundaries of oncology, harnessing deep datasets, novel biomarkers, AI-enabled analytics, and innovative trial designs to transform how cancer is treated. You will be empowered to follow the science with pace, take smart risks, and learn fast, supported by diverse colleagues who value kindness alongside ambition. With a broad and advancing pipeline, your analyses can move rapidly from concept to clinic, shaping global development strategies and reaching patients sooner. We bring surprising combinations of expertise together to spark bold ideas, and we back them with the resources and focus needed to turn insight into impact. If you are ready to lead translational strategy that turns biomarker insight into decisive clinical action, step forward and help us change what’s possible for people living with cancer today! The annual base pay (or hourly rate of compensation) for this position ranges from $183,768.80 -$275,653.20 USD Annual. Our positions offer eligibility for various incentives—an opportunity to receive short-term incentive bonuses, equity-based awards for salaried roles and commissions for sales roles. Benefits offered include qualified retirement programs, paid time off (i.e., vacation, holiday, and leaves), as well as health, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans. Date Posted 28-Aug-2026 Closing Date 14-Sep-2026 Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.