At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at https://www.jnj.com

Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Biological Research

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Spring House, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description:

We are searching for the best talent for our Associate Director, Translational Pharmacology position to be located in Spring House, PA.

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

Purpose: The Associate Director will lead the Translational Pharmacology team within Discovery Technologies & Mechanistic Pharmacology (DTMP). This role requires a visionary leader with exceptional ability to build, inspire, and manage a high-performing team focused on developing physiologically relevant cellular and tissue models for efficacy and in vitro safety assessment.

The successful candidate will have deep expertise in neuroscience, immunology, and advanced cellular systems, including iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons, organoids, and whole-organism imaging. They will serve as a program representative on core strategy teams, driving Research Operating Plans that enable high-throughput screening (HTS), lead optimization, and translational pharmacology.

This position requires impeccable communication and presentation skills, an enterprise mindset, and the ability to influence across functions to deliver innovative solutions. Strong expertise in high-content imaging, AI/ML-driven data analytics, and integration of complex cellular models into automated workflows is essential.

You will be responsible for:

Leadership & Team Development

• Build, mentor, and empower a multidisciplinary team of scientists to deliver cutting-edge cellular pharmacology solutions.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Provide clear direction, prioritize resources, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.

Strategic Representation

• Serve as DTMP representative on program strategy teams, shaping scientific and operational decisions.
• Champion DTMP’s unique capabilities across the organization to accelerate discovery and development.
• Develop and execute Research Operating Plans aligned with portfolio priorities.
• Communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

Technology & Cellular Model Innovation

• Lead development of advanced cellular and tissue models, including iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, iPSC-derived neurons, organoids, and immune cell systems, and employ at scale for screening functional efficacy and toxicity read outs.
• Drive innovation in whole-organism imaging (e.g., zebrafish) and physiologically relevant assays for efficacy and safety.
• Integrate high-content imaging and AI/ML analytics into high-throughput screening and mechanistic workflows.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Ph.D. in Cell Biology, Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Immunology, or related discipline with 8-10 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech settings is required.

Experience:

• Demonstrated success in leading and developing high-performing scientific teams.
• Proven track record in translational cellular pharmacology and advanced model development.
• Expertise in scaling iPSC-derived systems, organoids, and whole-organism imaging.
• Strong background in neuroscience and immunology.
• Experience as a program representative on cross-functional strategy teams.
• Deep understanding of HTS workflows, lead optimization, and Research Operating Plans.
• High-content imaging and AI/ML expertise required.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinker with enterprise mindset and ability to influence across functions.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Johnson & Johnson is an 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, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

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Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Big Data Management, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Developing Others, Drug Discovery Development, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Leadership, Molecular Diagnostics, Operational Excellence, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Product Knowledge, Project Reporting, Scientific Research, Strategic Thinking, Sustainability, Team Management