Director, Cancer Vaccines Research

Role Summary

Director, Cancer Vaccines Research at Moderna. Lead mechanistic research in support of clinical-stage therapeutic cancer vaccines, focusing on how mRNA platform technologies engage and shape anti-tumor immunity using in vitro and preclinical models.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead in vitro and preclinical studies to investigate mechanistic questions critical to the performance of clinical-stage cancer vaccines.
• Define and execute experimental strategies to explore immune activation, antigen presentation, and tumor-immune interactions.
• Lead the development of data packages and scientific rationale that support global regulatory filings, amendments, and responses, in partnership with Regulatory colleagues.
• Inspire and develop a highly talented team of scientists by fostering an environment that encourages scientific rigor, intellectual autonomy, and career growth.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships across Research, Clinical Development, CMC, and Regulatory to advance goals efficiently and robustly.
• Represent Moderna at key internal forums, contributing to thought leadership in immuno-oncology and therapeutic cancer vaccine research.

Qualifications

• PhD or MD/PhD in immunology, tumor immunology, or a closely related field.
• 9+ years of industry or applied research experience in immuno-oncology, with demonstrated leadership in mechanistic research.
• Deep expertise in the biology of immune activation, T cell function, antigen processing and presentation, and tumor-immune interface.
• Proven ability to design and execute in vitro and preclinical studies that inform clinical-stage therapeutic development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional scientific initiatives with multiple stakeholders and tight timelines.
• Direct experience supporting regulatory filings (e.g., INDs, briefing books, HA responses), including scientific authorship and strategy development.
• Track record of integrating mechanistic insights into development-stage decision-making.
• Demonstrated success in leading and high-performing teams while fostering both scientific excellence and leadership development.
• A leadership style rooted in empowerment, high expectations, and collaborative mentorship.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to distill complex mechanistic findings for cross-functional and external stakeholders.
• A drive to contribute meaningfully to the development of transformative precision immunotherapies for patients.

Skills

• Immuno-oncology expertise; immune activation; T cell biology; antigen processing and presentation; tumor-immune interactions.
• Strategic scientific planning; cross-functional collaboration; regulatory science familiarity.
• Leadership and mentorship; effective scientific communication.

Education

• PhD or MD/PhD in immunology, tumor immunology, or a closely related field.

Additional Requirements

• Preferred: Expertise developing mRNA-LNP therapeutics, including cancer vaccines.