Sr. Director, Translational Bioinformatics

The Role Moderna is seeking a strategic and scientifically rigorous Senior Director to lead the Translational Bioinformatics team within Cancer Vaccines and Bioinformatics Research. This leader will define the computational translational strategy across Moderna’s oncology portfolio, lead a talented team of computational scientists and senior technical experts, and build the capabilities needed to translate complex patient, molecular, and clinical data into mechanistic insight and development decisions. This is a unique opportunity to define how a rapidly expanding portfolio of immuno-oncology therapeutics, including a personalized cancer vaccine with demonstrated clinical activity and emerging modalities such as multiplex T-cell engagers, drive anti-tumor activity in patients. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in cancer biology and immunology together with cancer genomics, multi-omics, quantitative, and AI/ML approaches to elucidate mechanism of action and understand the determinants of response and resistance. They will set the analytical vision, define the critical translational questions, shape the data and analyses needed to answer them, and synthesize complex evidence into mechanistic insights that guide clinical development and the design of future medicines. They will build deep scientific partnerships across experimental, translational, and clinical disciplines and represent Translational Bioinformatics with key alliance partners. As a member of the Cancer Vaccines and Bioinformatics Research Leadership Team, they will also help shape the scientific direction, talent, and culture of the broader organization. What You’ll Do · Define and execute the Translational Bioinformatics vision, strategy, and priorities across the oncology portfolio, aligning capabilities, resources, and analytical approaches with current and emerging portfolio needs and focusing investment on the scientific questions and development decisions with greatest impact. · Lead integrated analyses of tumor, immune, multi-omic, and clinical data to characterize treatment-induced pharmacodynamic effects and mechanisms of action; identify baseline and on-treatment determinants of response, resistance, and patient heterogeneity; and generate hypotheses for reverse translation and future therapeutic strategies. · Act as the senior Translational Bioinformatics leader across key Research and Development interfaces, build strong partnerships across Clinical Development, Translational Medicine, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, Research, and other relevant functions. Align scientific priorities, clarify roles and decision rights, resolve cross-functional dependencies, and establish integrated ways of working that enable rigorous and timely development decisions. · Represent Translational Bioinformatics in the appropriate scientific and strategic forums, anticipating emerging needs and shaping how the function supports critical R&D milestones and decisions. · Advance fit-for-purpose AI/ML and scalable analytics, including reusable and automated workflows, while maintaining high standards for validation, reproducibility, interpretability, and scientific rigor. · Lead and develop a high-performing team of scientists and senior technical experts; set clear priorities, align capacity and resources, and establish standards and ways of working that foster scientific excellence, intellectual curiosity, collaboration, autonomy, and accountability. · Serve as a trusted scientific thought partner to senior R&D leaders and represent the function in cross-functional governance, translating complex evidence and uncertainty into clear recommendations. · Represent Moderna’s translational science with alliance partners and external collaborators, building trusted relationships, shaping joint scientific strategies, and advancing partnerships that bring differentiated data, technologies, and expertise into the oncology portfolio. Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications): · Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, Biostatistics, Computer Science, or a related discipline, plus 11+ years of relevant biotech/pharma or other directly relevant experience. · Deep expertise in tumor immunology, including T-cell biology, antigen processing and presentation, HLA biology, tumor microenvironment, and mechanisms of immune escape. · Demonstrated expertise in cancer genomics, translational bioinformatics, multi-omic integration, and analysis of clinical or translational datasets. · Proven record of leading computational or translational teams in matrixed R&D environments and developing scientists and senior technical individual contributors. · Demonstrated ability to influence program and portfolio strategy through rigorous interpretation of translational evidence and effective cross-functional partnership. · Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to engage technical experts and translate complex science for senior decision-makers. Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications): · Experience in personalized medicine, cancer vaccines, neoantigen biology, immunogenomics, or computational immunology. · Experience supporting oncology programs across clinical development, including biomarker strategy, patient stratification, MoA and MoR analyses. · Experience with emerging translational technologies such as single-cell or spatial profiling, immune-repertoire analysis, immunopeptidomics, circulating biomarkers, or digital pathology. · Track record of scientific impact through influential publications, presentations, collaborations, or development of novel computational approaches. Strong knowledge of statistical, machine-learning, and AI approaches, with sufficient technical depth in Python and/or R and scalable computing environments to critically evaluate analytical strategies and guide their application to translational research. Our Working Model As we build our company, we have always believed that an in-person culture is critical to our success. This role is 100% onsite, reflecting the importance of being physically present to support the work, collaborate closely with colleagues, and contribute to our site-based operations. Working onsite enables real-time collaboration, strong team connections, direct mentorship, and the hands-on partnership needed to deliver our mission. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. Pay & Benefits At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown Savings and investments to help you plan for the future Location-specific perks and extras The salar