Lead Resilience R&D Partnerships, Canada

Biopharma Careers; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Well-being resources

Family building benefits

Generous paid time off

Retirement and financial planning

Job summary

Moderna is seeking a leader to drive Canada’s R&D collaboration strategy, bridging global R&D with Canadian institutions and shaping partnership-driven innovation.

You will translate strategy into executable plans, engaging academia, biotech, and government to build durable partnerships and accelerate scientific discovery within Canada’s life sciences ecosystem.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or PharmD) in a relevant scientific discipline.
• Ability to shape strategy and influence senior stakeholders.
• Proven record of leading R&D partnerships or strategic initiatives.
• Experience in strategy development with translating insights into actionable plans.
• Ability to lead cross-functional programs.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead a comprehensive R&D strategy for Canada aligned with global priorities.
• Map and assess the Canadian R&D ecosystem to identify high-value engagement areas.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government, academia, industry, and international partners.
• Originate, evaluate, and advance partnership opportunities with rigorous business cases.
• Drive cross-functional execution of strategic initiatives with clear priorities and timelines.
• Serve as the primary R&D interface for external stakeholders, including academic partnerships.
• Represent Moderna externally through scientific forums and industry engagement.
• Lead multiple complex initiatives with disciplined execution and risk management.

Skills

Strategy leadership

Stakeholder engagement

R&D partnerships

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Education

PhD/MD/PharmD

Job description

The Role

This role will lead Moderna’s R&D collaboration strategy in Canada, shaping and expanding the company’s footprint within the national life sciences ecosystem. The lead will define and execute a clear vision for partnership-driven innovation, identifying and advancing opportunities that accelerate scientific discovery and strengthen Moderna’s long-term position in Canada.

With deep knowledge of Canada’s R&D landscape, the lead will serve as a critical bridge between Moderna’s global R&D organization and leading Canadian scientific institutions, aligning external opportunities with enterprise priorities and Canada’s broader biomanufacturing and life sciences strategy.

The role is accountable for translating strategy into execution: developing robust business cases, aligning on value creation and capture, and driving delivery through cross-functional coordination. They will engage senior stakeholders across academia, biotech, and government to build durable partnerships and a shared understanding of impact.

This individual will identify, evaluate, and advance partnership models including research collaborations, joint ventures, technology licensing, and ecosystem development initiatives. They will ensure disciplined execution through structured planning, resource allocation, and risk management, while coordinating interdependencies across global and local teams.

The role reports to the Executive Director, Resilience R&D and Partnerships, and is a member of the Moderna Canada Leadership Team and global Resilience R&D and Partnership team, which includes colleagues in the UK and Australia.

Joining Moderna offers the opportunity to help shape the future of medicine through mRNA technology, working across a diverse pipeline of programs and partnering globally to drive meaningful impact on public health.

Here’s What You’ll Do

Define and lead a comprehensive R&D strategy for Canada aligned with Moderna’s global priorities and long-term platform vision.

Map and continuously assess the Canadian R&D ecosystem to identify high-value areas for engagement, investment, and collaboration.

Build and maintain strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across government, academia, industry, and international partners.

Originate, evaluate, and advance partnership opportunities, developing rigorous business cases and securing internal alignment.

Drive cross-functional execution of strategic initiatives, ensuring clarity on priorities, timelines, and value delivery.

Serve as the primary R&D interface for Canadian external stakeholders, including oversight of academic partnerships and business development activities.

Represent Moderna externally through scientific forums, industry engagement, and thought leadership within the Canadian ecosystem.

Lead multiple complex initiatives concurrently, ensuring disciplined execution, effective risk management, and strong cross-functional collaboration.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Basic Qualifications)

Advanced degree (PhD, MD, or PharmD) in a relevant scientific discipline, with significant experience spanning industry, academia, or government.

Demonstrated ability to shape strategy and influence senior stakeholders across complex, multi-sector environments.

Strong track record of building and executing high-impact R&D partnerships or strategic initiatives with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Experience in strategy development (consulting or equivalent) with the ability to translate insights into actionable plans.

Proven ability to lead cross-functional programs and manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.

Excellent judgment, problem-solving, and risk management capabilities in ambiguous, high-stakes environments.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders.

Prioritize the platform: Advance R&D strategies that reinforce and expand Moderna’s mRNA platform in alignment with global priorities.

We obsess over learning: Continuously evaluate the external landscape to identify, test, and scale high-impact partnership opportunities.

We question convention: Challenge traditional partnership models to unlock new sources of value across the Canadian life sciences ecosystem.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you, at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class 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 building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support


• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, 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 benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day,

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at [e-mail] .

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