Senior Director, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

Role Summary

Senior Director, Head of Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) at Moderna. Leads strategic, scientific, and operational QSP efforts across discovery, preclinical, and clinical stages, guiding mechanistic modeling, systems biology, and model-informed drug development to accelerate and de-risk programs. Represents Moderna as a QSP thought leader and oversees a global team of quantitative scientists.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement QSP strategy across therapeutic areas and modalities.
• Embed QSP principles into the R&D decision framework (target validation, animal study design, human dose projection, mechanism-of-action understanding).
• Collaborate with discovery, preclinical, clinical, and platform teams to ensure quantitative hypotheses guide experimental design and portfolio advancement.
• Represent QSP and champion quantitative and systems-based thinking throughout R&D.
• Lead design, development, and application of mechanistic models to inform program decisions.
• Integrate multi-dimensional data into multi-scale mechanistic models for translation and decision support.
• Drive innovation in modeling methodologies, including hybrid mechanistic + ML approaches, digital-twin development, and virtual populations.
• Ensure scientific rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in modeling deliverables.
• Collaborate with Clinical Pharmacology, Translational Medicine, DMPK, and other functions to design integrated quantitative strategies.
• Provide QSP input for INDs, IBs, regulatory filings, and Health Authority interactions.
• Align modeling deliverables with clinical pharmacology to enable model-informed decisions throughout molecule lifecycles.
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing QSP team; manage outsourced work and partnerships.
• Foster an inclusive culture and define roles and growth paths within the QSP organization.
• Represent Moderna in scientific forums and consortia; publish and present work in high-impact venues.
• Contribute to cross-functional special projects or new methodology pilots as needed.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in systems pharmacology, bioengineering, applied mathematics, pharmacology, or related quantitative discipline.
• 10+ years in QSP/mechanistic modeling with at least 5 years in leadership roles.
• Proven track record applying mechanistic/translational models to support drug development (preclinical to clinical).
• Strong PK/PD, systems biology, disease pathway modeling, and biomarker integration knowledge.
• Experience managing and developing quantitative scientists across sites/geographies.
• Proficiency with modeling platforms such as MATLAB/SimBiology, Monolix, R, or Python.
• Strong communication and influencing skills; ability to present quantitative findings to diverse audiences.
• Experience contributing to regulatory filings and Health Authority interactions using model-informed approaches.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with mRNA or novel modalities (gene therapy, biologics, immuno-oncology).
• PBPK modeling, virtual populations, or digital-twin simulation familiarity.
• Experience building scalable modeling infrastructure or toolchains.
• Track record of publications and external visibility.
• Desire to contribute to a high-growth, transformational company with a bold, relentless, curious, and collaborative culture.