AstraZeneca
Director, Bacterial Vaccine Discovery
$172K–$259K
US - Gaithersburg - MD · Director · Full-time · Posted Aug 11, 2026
- Experience
- 8+ years of industry experience.
- Education
- PhD in microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline.
About the job
Leads a scientific team discovering and characterizing bacterial vaccine candidates and advancing early-stage programs toward selection and regulatory interactions.
What you'll do
- Lead vaccine discovery research and preclinical characterization, including immunogenicity and efficacy studies.
- Set program strategy, present findings to senior leaders, and coordinate internal teams and external research partnerships.
- Develop translational assays, evaluate scientific and partnering opportunities, and guide early-program IP strategy.
What they ask for
- PhD in microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline.
- Proven leadership managing junior scientists.
- Strong track record in bacterial vaccine research and/or bacterial pathogenesis, including characterization of immune responses and protective efficacy in small-animal disease models.
- Experience collaborating cross-functionally and delivering research programs; ability to develop and manage research and partnership budgets.
Nice to have
- Familiarity with functional immunological assays, such as opsonophagocytic killing assays and serum bactericidal assays.
- Experience supporting or leading interdisciplinary vaccine discovery or development programs from early research through candidate selection.
Pay
$172,466.40 - $258,699.60 (annual base pay)
Tools
carbohydrate conjugate, mRNA, protein-based approaches, opsonophagocytic killing assays, serum bactericidal assays
Model-written summary · the original posting is authoritative