Director, Immunology Scientific Innovation

Location: Cambridge, MA, Spring House, PA, or La Jolla, CA

About the role

Johnson & 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.

What you will do

Shape the future of Immunology innovation

• 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.

Lead global landscaping and AI-enabled search

• 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.

Scientific evaluation and diligence

• 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.

Build and lead external collaborations

• 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.

Operate as a connector across the enterprise

• 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.

Who we’re looking for

Education

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.

Why this role

• 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.