Senior Director, Biomarkers (Immunology)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
June 27, 2026
Remote friendly (Seattle, WA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
General Summary:
The Senior Director, Biomarkers, Immunology is an independent leader driving biomarker strategy across the immunology portfolio, including identification, selection, and development of biomarkers. Provides expertise in assay development and validation; partners with a team and external CROs to ensure fit-for-purpose biomarker assay validation. Leads technical workstreams in biomarker development (e.g., CDx, immunoassays, genomic assays, flow assays) and mentors team members.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead development and execution of biomarker strategies aligned with cross-functional stakeholders and senior management for immunology and autoimmune disease programs.
- Oversee assay development, validation, and execution across platforms (e.g., flow, immunoassays, genomic assays, NGS, imaging biomarkers) at CROs and internally; guide data analysis and interpretation.
- Translate preclinical discoveries into clinical biomarker strategies; identify mechanism-relevant biomarkers to support drug tailoring hypotheses.
- Manage and mentor a diverse biomarker team; ensure best practices alignment across global sites and partner functions.
- Liaison with internal/external stakeholders, including diagnostic vendors and scientific partners.
- Communicate complex biomarker strategies to cross-functional teams and senior leaders.
- Collaborate across business areas to meet project deliverables.
Knowledge and Skills (Required/Preferred):
- Advanced knowledge in immunology, biomarker development, and translational medicine.
- Experience with autoimmune disease research or immunology therapeutic pipelines.
- Strong communication skills across scientific and non-immunology partners; enterprise thinking.
- Deep understanding of drug development process; early and late-stage experience preferred.
- Strategic, agile thinking for emerging biomarker development/validation trends.
- Expertise mentoring fit-for-purpose assay development.
Education and Experience:
- PhD (Immunology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Molecular Pharmacology or related) + 11+ years; or Master’s + 15+ years; or Bachelor’s + 20+ years.
- Typically 5+ years managing experience.
- Demonstrated ability to translate preclinical biomarkers into clinical application.
The Senior Director, Biomarkers, Immunology is an independent leader driving biomarker strategy across the immunology portfolio, including identification, selection, and development of biomarkers. Provides expertise in assay development and validation; partners with a team and external CROs to ensure fit-for-purpose biomarker assay validation. Leads technical workstreams in biomarker development (e.g., CDx, immunoassays, genomic assays, flow assays) and mentors team members.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
- Lead development and execution of biomarker strategies aligned with cross-functional stakeholders and senior management for immunology and autoimmune disease programs.
- Oversee assay development, validation, and execution across platforms (e.g., flow, immunoassays, genomic assays, NGS, imaging biomarkers) at CROs and internally; guide data analysis and interpretation.
- Translate preclinical discoveries into clinical biomarker strategies; identify mechanism-relevant biomarkers to support drug tailoring hypotheses.
- Manage and mentor a diverse biomarker team; ensure best practices alignment across global sites and partner functions.
- Liaison with internal/external stakeholders, including diagnostic vendors and scientific partners.
- Communicate complex biomarker strategies to cross-functional teams and senior leaders.
- Collaborate across business areas to meet project deliverables.
Knowledge and Skills (Required/Preferred):
- Advanced knowledge in immunology, biomarker development, and translational medicine.
- Experience with autoimmune disease research or immunology therapeutic pipelines.
- Strong communication skills across scientific and non-immunology partners; enterprise thinking.
- Deep understanding of drug development process; early and late-stage experience preferred.
- Strategic, agile thinking for emerging biomarker development/validation trends.
- Expertise mentoring fit-for-purpose assay development.
Education and Experience:
- PhD (Immunology/Biochemistry/Molecular Biology/Molecular Pharmacology or related) + 11+ years; or Master’s + 15+ years; or Bachelor’s + 20+ years.
- Typically 5+ years managing experience.
- Demonstrated ability to translate preclinical biomarkers into clinical application.