Director - Translational Pathology - Oncology

ASTRAZENECA UK LIMITED; Hartford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pharmaceutical company in the UK seeks a Director for Oncology R&D to lead translational pathology efforts. You will develop pathology strategies, oversee clinical trials, and facilitate cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate holds an M.D. or D.V.M., possesses extensive tissue diagnostics knowledge, and has strong project management skills. This role demands significant expertise to drive innovative drug development and ensure best practices are followed.

Qualifications

• Board certified in anatomical/surgical pathology or similar qualification.
• Strong relevant experience in tissue diagnostics.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and developments.

Responsibilities

• Consultation as the point of contact for pathology.
• Overseeing the development of IHC and ISH assays.
• Providing oversight in clinical trials.

Skills

Tissue biomarker discovery and analysis

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Project management

Team working skills

Education

Medical (M.D.) or veterinary degree (D.V.M.)

Ph.D. degree in experimental or human pathology

Tools

Digital and computational pathology

Job description

Are you ready to lead the charge in translational pathology within Oncology R&D? As a Director, you'll be at the forefront of developing new knowledge and technology, advising on scientific aspects, and tackling complex drug projects. Recognized as an expert, you'll provide innovative solutions to challenging scientific problems. Are you up for the challenge?,

Responsibilities

• Acting as a senior expert in Translational Pathology, providing consultation and serving as the point of contact for pathology.
• Developing pathology strategies for Translational Medicine/Cancer Biomarker Development, ensuring alignment with AstraZeneca's goals.
• Overseeing the development and implementation of IHC and ISH assays for clinical trials.
• Maintaining awareness of developments affecting Translational Pathology and sharing insights with team members.
• Reviewing slides for IHC assay optimization and validation, including Quality Control/Quality Assurance aspects.
• Establishing morpho-molecular correlations for biomarker studies.
• Performing annotations to support machine-learning algorithm validation.
• Assessing image analysis tools to enhance efficiency while maintaining data quality.
• Providing oversight in clinical trials, including protocol review and data interpretation.
• Serving as a consultant pathologist on product teams in Early and Late Oncology settings.
• Building networks with teams and external stakeholders to leverage opportunities and share best practices.
• Integrating data on new compounds to support drug development processes.
• Acting as an expert resource in methods for proof of concept.
• Presenting findings to support strategic decision-making.
• Coordinating steps for Companion/Complementary Diagnostic (CDx) assay development with partners.
• Managing or supporting technologies to improve processes or introduce new approaches.

Qualifications

• Medical (M.D.) or veterinary degree (D.V.M.) and board certified in anatomical/surgical pathology or similar qualification.
• Moderate to strong relevant experience in tissue biomarker discovery and analysis (preferably in pharmaceutical/diagnostic industry).
• Extensive knowledge in tissue diagnostics (histology, cytology, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, molecular pathology, genetics).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Some project management experience.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and developments.

Desirable Skills / Experience

• Ph.D. degree in experimental or human pathology or a related field.
• Familiarity with digital and computational pathology.
• Strong team working skills.
• Ability to effectively interact with internal and external business partners.
• Expert reputation within the business and industry.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by our passion for science and our commitment to making a difference. We fuse data and technology with scientific innovations to achieve breakthroughs that redefine what's possible. Our inclusive environment encourages collaboration across academia, biotechs, and industry, creating swift impacts on disease. With opportunities for lifelong learning and career development, we empower our team to explore without limits and make bold decisions that impact patients' lives globally.