Director, Cancer Vaccines Research

Role Summary

Director, Cancer Vaccines Research at Moderna. Lead mechanistic research to understand how Moderna’s mRNA platform engages anti-tumor immunity, using in vitro and preclinical models to study vaccine efficacy, resistance, and tumor–immune dynamics. Collaborate across Clinical Development, CMC, Translational Research, and Regulatory Affairs to guide scientific strategy and regulatory planning. Lead a small team to drive hypothesis-led research informing program direction and regulatory strategy.

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; mechanistic research leadership; cross-functional collaboration; regulatory liaison experience.
• Strategy development, scientific writing, data interpretation, and stakeholder management.

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.