Director of Translational Pathology & Biomarker Strategy

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED

Cambridge

Hybrid

GBP 120,000 - 160,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Competitive remuneration

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Performance recognition scheme

Job summary

AstraZeneca UK Limited is seeking a Scientific Director to lead the Translational Pathology portfolio, combining strategic oversight with hands-on scientific leadership across histopathology and biomarker science. You will guide experimental plans, data interpretation, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver decision-enabling insights for development programs.

The role requires substantial post-PhD experience, leadership of multiple projects, and a strong track record in pathology,

Qualifications

Significant postdoctoral or equivalent professional experience, typically within a substantial post-PhD range.
Substantial practical and scientific experience in histopathology, preferably within a research, translational, drug discovery, or pharmaceutical environment.
Demonstrable expertise in immunohistochemistry, including assay development or optimisation, antibody and control selection, staining assessment, and data interpretation.

Responsibilities

Provide scientific leadership across the Translational Pathology portfolio, ensuring studies are fit for purpose and generate interpretable data to inform programme decisions.
Act as an expert in histopathology, tissue‑based biomarkers, immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, image analysis, tissue quality, staining interpretation, and data review.
Develop and challenge experimental plans, work packages, assay strategies, controls, endpoints, sample requirements, analytical approaches, timelines, and success criteria.
Maintain an integrated view of project scope, milestones, dependencies, risks, decisions, resource needs, and delivery across active and planned work.
Lead assigned scientific projects or workstreams, contributing to experimental design, pathology review, data interpretation, scientific discussions, and delivery of high‑quality outputs.
Ensure pathology activities align with applicable GCP requirements, approved protocols, controlled procedures, company policies, and quality standards.
Coordinate the preparation, quality review, interpretation, documentation, and handover of complete pathology data packages and supporting metadata.
Plan and prioritise team capacity across pathology review, immunohistochemistry, image analysis, and other specialist capabilities, balancing scientific value, urgency, risk, feasibility, and business priorities.
Lead, support, mentor, and develop scientists, promoting scientific excellence, accountability, collaboration, effective prioritisation, and continuous professional growth.
Partner with discovery, biology, pharmacology, toxicology, biomarker, genomics, bioinformatics, clinical, regulatory, and programme teams to integrate pathology into development strategies.
Present portfolio updates, scientific recommendations, resource proposals, risks, and decisions to project teams, governance forums, and functional leaders, providing clear and actionable progress reports.
Contribute to Translational Pathology strategy, technology and operating‑model development, implement improvements in ways of working, and apply relevant advances in pathology, biomarker science, and therapeutic research.