Director, Translational Medicine and Hematopathology Lead

WHY JOIN US?

At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to being a Great Place to Work, where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. With an ambitious goal of delivering 20 new medicines by 2030, there is no better place to make a difference in medicine, for patients, and in society.

Join us on this exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare. Our inclusive culture champions diversity and collaboration, and we are always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. As part of our team, you'll contribute to groundbreaking advancements that will shape a healthier future for people everywhere. Be a catalyst for change at AstraZeneca, where your work will have a real impact on improving people's lives.

Recognizing the importance of individualized flexibility, our ways of working allow employees to balance personal and work commitments while ensuring we continue to create a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork by engaging face-to-face in our offices 3 days a week. Our head office is purposely designed with collaboration in mind, providing space where teams can come together to strategize, brainstorm and connect on key projects.

About the Opportunity:
In this hybrid Director-level role, you will lead both program-level translational strategy and hematopathology support across Translational Medicine, Hematology. You will own biomarker strategy end to end, spanning assay design and validation, clinical deployment, and decision-enabling data generation from early development through late-stage trials. Partnering with a small team of pathologists and assay scientists, as well as external labs and CROs, you will ensure delivery of fit-for-purpose HemePath assays (IHC/IF/Flow) and high-quality data that drives patient selection, pharmacodynamic insights, mechanism-of-action understanding, and resistance monitoring.

What You’ll Do:

• Drive Translational Strategy: Lead end-to-end translational planning for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma programs from preclinical through Phase 3. Embed biomarkers into study protocols and analysis plans, define decision points, and integrate cytokine, flow, and other readouts to inform efficacy, safety, and pharmacodynamics.
  

• Lead Hematopathology Capabilities: Own the heme pathology assay roadmap across IHC, IF, and flow cytometry. Oversee assay validation, quality control, and performance monitoring across internal labs and CRO partners. Set interpretation standards and ensure audit-ready pathology and immunophenotyping outputs.
  

• Enable Patient Selection: Design and validate assays for patient selection and enrichment, such as antigen-expression or MRD-based strategies. Partner closely with Precision Medicine and Biosamples teams on documentation, traceability, and potential CDx development.
  

• Shape Portfolio & Cross-Functional Strategy: Collaborate with Oncology Research, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, and Product Development to align translational and pathology strategies with program goals. Lead internal/external collaborations, steer vendors, and represent the organization at scientific forums.
  

Essential Qualifications:

• MD (Pathology) with Hematopathology board certification (or international equivalent); or MD/PhD with substantial hematopathology leadership in clinical trials. Exceptional PhD candidates with deep heme pathology and assay leadership experience may be considered.

• 5+ years of pharma/biotech oncology drug development with in-depth translational hematology/oncology expertise.

• Proven record of designing, validating, and operationalizing clinical trial assays, including patient selection/enrichment.

• Experience with T-cell engagers, antibody-drug conjugates, and/or cell therapies; understanding of resistance mechanisms.

• Strong communication and influence skills; ability to guide decisions at study and program governance forums.

• People leadership experience and vendor/CRO oversight; track record of delivering across multi program portfolios.
  

Demonstrated leadership of HemePath assays:

• IHC/IF for hematologic malignancies and TME features

• Flow cytometry for blood and bone marrow, including rare event detection and MRD-adjacent panels
  

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Expertise across myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma, including disease-specific immunophenotyping.

• Digital Pathology and AI/ML Integration experience: automated image analysis and/or knowledge of AI/ML tools for pathology interpretation and biomarker scoring; implementation of digital workflows.

• Hands-on MRD methodology experience (flow and/or NGS/ctDNA) and clinical deployment.

• Familiarity with CDx pathways and regulatory expectations for analytical validation.

• Experience integrating multi-omic biomarkers (pathology, flow, ctDNA, cytokines) into clinical decision-making.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $241,613.60 - $ 302,017.00USD. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. 

In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program. Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors. 

SO, WHAT’S NEXT?

To be considered for this exciting opportunity, please complete the full application on our website at your earliest convenience – it is the only way that our Recruiter and Hiring Manager can know that you feel well qualified for this opportunity.  If you know someone who would be a great fit, please share this posting with them.

Are you interested in working at AZ, apply today!

AstraZeneca is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a workplace that is free from discrimination. AstraZeneca is committed to accommodating persons with disabilities. Such accommodation is available on request in respect of all aspects of the recruitment, assessment and selection process and may be requested by emailing AZCHumanResources@astrazeneca.com.

#LI-Hybrid

Date Posted

03-Dec-2025

Closing Date

02-Dec-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.