Sr. Principal Scientist/Sr. Manager, Cell Therapy Vector Biology

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is recruiting for a Sr. Principal Scientist/ Sr. Manager, Cell Therapy Vector Biology located in Spring House, PA.

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/.

The Senior Principal Scientist / Senior Manager, Cell Therapy Vector Biology position in the Cell Therapy Platform & Discovery group of Therapeutics Discovery offers an exciting opportunity to help develop novel Cell & Gene Therapies for unmet medical needs. We are investigating the use of engineered lentiviral vectors (LVV) for ex vivo and in vivo gene delivery to T cells to treat cancer. We are seeking a highly motivated researcher to lead a Vector Engineering effort with a focus on novel discovery programs. Do you have industry experience with LVV engineering and the ability to lead an enthusiastic team? Come join us in our mission to build the next generation of Cell & Gene Therapies for Oncology.

Primary responsibilities:

• Lead the Cell Therapy Vector Biology team, including vector biology, analytics, and plasmid & vector core
• Design/implement novel LVV pseudotyping screens to engineer cell-specific gene delivery vectors
• Design/implement analytical assays to characterize viral vectors
• Stay ahead of the viral vector engineering field by exploring new technologies, including high-throughput platforms and concepts.
• Execute research timelines to meet program and corporate objectives and deliver quality data
• Oversee plasmid and viral generation (lentivirus and retrovirus) to deliver high quality vectors supporting multiple cell therapy programs in a timely manner
• Contribute to a collaborative, creative, and rigorous culture of scientific discovery

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Virology, Gene Therapy, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or related field with 5-8 years of experience following in the pharmaceutical industry; OR BS or MS with 8-10 years of experience is required
• Expertise in LVV engineering and viral vector analytical methods is required
• Expertise in molecular biology, including plasmid cloning, scale-up, sequencing, and QC, is required
• Experience managing people is required
• Experience managing small teams responsible for supporting multiple project teams is preferred
• Strong critical, scientific, and strategic thinking skills are required
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in parallel and meet timelines, are required
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams is required
• Experience working with high throughput automation is preferred
• This role is based in Spring House, PA and may require up to 10% travel

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and 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, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com.