Associate Director, Oncology Targeted Discovery

AstraZeneca seeks an Associate Director to lead oncology research scientists in targeted drug discovery at their Cambridge, MA facility. The role combines team management with hands-on expertise in cancer cell biology, in vitro assays, and mechanism-of-action studies to advance oncology therapeutics.

Responsibilities

• Lead laboratory-based scientists in designing, conducting, and analyzing in vitro experiments on candidate drug targets
• Identify and implement disease models, biomarkers of target engagement, and pharmacologic assays for experimental compounds
• Review literature and internal data to identify new targets and contribute to target nomination and validation activities
• Communicate findings to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders in clear scientific context
• Mentor team members and drive creative problem-solving on complex oncology research questions

Requirements

• PhD with 6+ years industry research experience in oncology, cell/molecular biology, or related field; or Master's degree with 10+ years
• Demonstrated expertise designing and overseeing in vitro studies of human tumor cell biology and assay cascades
• Strong background in cancer biology, cell signaling, molecular biology, and genetic perturbation technologies
• Experience analyzing large datasets, generating hypotheses, and interpreting transcriptomic/proteomic/genomic data
• Track record managing multiple direct reports and leading cross-functional scientific teams
• Experience incorporating AI tools into scientific workflows and drug discovery acceleration
• Knowledge of solid tumor and hematology cancer models and targeted therapy mechanisms