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Job Function:
Strategy & Corporate DevelopmentJob Sub Function:
Strategic Partnerships & AlliancesJob Category:
People LeaderAll Job Posting Locations:
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America, La Jolla, California, United States of America, Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of AmericaJob Description:
Location: Cambridge, MA, Spring House, PA, or La Jolla, CA
About the roleJohnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is seeking a Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation to help identify, shape, and advance the next generation of breakthrough science in Immunology. This role is part of the Immunology External Innovation team within the Immunology therapeutic area.
This is a high-impact scientific leadership role at the intersection of discovery science, external partnerships, and emerging technology. The successful candidate will work globally to identify and evaluate novel external opportunities—spanning academia, biotech, and venture-backed innovation—while leading or contributing to scientific diligence and collaboration deal formation.
A defining feature of this role is a strong emphasis on AI-enabled search, critical scientific evaluation, and identification of strategic opportunities in the landscape analysis, enabling faster and deeper insight into the evolving Immunology ecosystem.
- Identify and evaluate cutting-edge external science across Immunology and immune-mediated diseases, from discovery through early clinical stages.
- Help shape external innovation strategy aligned with Johnson & Johnson’s Immunology Therapeutic Area priorities.
- Serve as a scientific ambassador for J&J within global academic and biotech ecosystems.
- Coordinate global Immunology external innovation landscaping across regions and partner with teams within the external innovation.
- Apply AI-driven and data-enabled approaches to discover, prioritize, and assess emerging science, platforms, and assets.
- Track upcoming data readouts for opportunities of interest and manage an effective engagement plan to ensure no strategic opportunity is missed
- Translate complex datasets and landscapes into clear insights that support strategic decision-making.
- Lead or contribute to scientific diligence for collaboration, licensing, venture, and incubation opportunities.
- Critically assess biological rationale, translational strategies, competitive differentiation, and development feasibility.
- Partner closely with internal Immunology experts to deliver rigorous, high-quality evaluations.
- Develop trusted relationships with academic leaders, entrepreneurs, and biotech innovators.
- Lead or co-lead scientific collaboration discussions and help shape partnership structures
- Work cross-functionally with transactors, legal, and finance, to progress opportunities through execution and alliance setup.
- Collaborate closely with External Scientific Innovation (ESI), Business Development, R&D, JJDC, and GCSO leaders.
- Champion best practices in external innovation search, evaluation, and scientific diligence.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide efforts to advance AI adoption in R&D and External Innovation.
PhD or MD in Immunology, biomedical sciences, or a related discipline.
Experience and capabilities- 10+ years of experience across biotech, pharma, and/or academia with deep expertise in Immunology or immune-mediated disease biology.
- Strong background participating in drug discovery and/or early development programs.
- Demonstrated experience evaluating external science, platforms, or assets.
- Applied experience with AI or data-driven approaches to scientific search, evaluation, or decision-making.
- Ability to synthesize scientific, strategic, and competitive insights into clear recommendations.
- Strong communication skills and confidence engaging senior scientific and business leaders.
- Comfort working in complex, cross-functional, and global environments.
- Opportunity to shape first-in-class and best-in-class Immunology pipelines through external innovation.
- High visibility across Immunology R&D, External Innovation, and venture teams.
- Unique opportunity to apply AI and advanced analytics at scale to external innovation.
- Collaborative, purpose-driven culture grounded in Johnson & Johnson’s Credo.
Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
#IMPACTIMM
Required Skills:
Preferred Skills:
Skills Required
- PhD or MD in Immunology, biomedical sciences, or related discipline
- 10+ years of experience across biotech, pharma, and/or academia
- Expertise in Immunology or immune-mediated disease biology
- Experience in drug discovery and/or early development programs
- Experience evaluating external science or platforms
- Experience with AI or data-driven approaches in scientific evaluation
- Strong communication skills to engage senior leaders
- Comfort in cross-functional, global environments
Johnson & Johnson Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Johnson & Johnson and has not been reviewed or approved by Johnson & Johnson.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is characterized as comprehensive across medical, dental, and vision, with added supports like onsite clinics, fitness centers, and Employee Assistance resources. Mental-health services and wellbeing reimbursements are also described as meaningful components of the overall package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are portrayed as a major differentiator, combining a 401(k) with employer matching and an employer-funded pension plan. Stock options and other long-term financial supports are also positioned as part of the broader rewards mix.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-related benefits are presented as notably strong, including paid parental leave for all new parents and additional leave types for caregiving and bereavement. Financial assistance for adoption, fertility treatment, and surrogacy is highlighted as a significant support.
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