Senior Director, Non-Clinical Safety Lead, CPSS Cell Therapy

AstraZeneca; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical company in Cambridge seeks an experienced Senior Director to lead the Nonclinical Safety team for innovative cell therapies. The role requires a PhD and over 10 years of experience in safety sciences, along with strong leadership skills. Candidates will oversee project design and ensure compliance with safety standards. Flexible working options are available with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Flexible employee benefits fund

Holiday purchase

Pension contributions

Performance recognition scheme

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in nonclinical safety sciences for CAR-T & TCR therapies.
• Proven track record in designing safety strategies for cell therapies.
• Experience leading regulatory submissions and interactions.

Responsibilities

• Lead global team to deliver safe cell therapies.
• Manage talent development and team performance.
• Conduct evaluations for business development opportunities.

Skills

Leadership skills

Nonclinical safety sciences

Drug R&D impact

Regulatory interactions

Education

PhD in Toxicology, Biology, or Immunology

Job description

Overview

Senior Director, Non-Clinical Safety Lead, CPSS Cell Therapy

Location: Cambridge, UK (on-site 3 days per week)

About AstraZeneca

At AstraZeneca, we’re not afraid to do things differently. We’re building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together.

We believe in the potential of our people, and you’ll develop beyond what you thought possible. We make the most of your skills and passion by actively supporting you to ensure realization of your potential. You’ll join an energized team and work on projects that offer a wide range of on-going learning and career development opportunities.

Are you passionate about shaping the future of Cell Therapy? We are seeking an entrepreneurial leader to head our Nonclinical Safety Sciences team in our new global multi-functional Cell Therapy group within the Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS) department. As the Nonclinical Safety Sciences Head, you will play a crucial role in bringing the next generation of innovative life-changing medicines to patients. You will oversee a team of toxicologists and laboratory-based specialists to influence and enable the design and development of safe cell therapies across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. You will report to the Global Head of CPSS Cell Therapy and will become a member of the CPSS Cell Therapy Leadership Team contributing to both strategy and operational discussions and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead global team of toxicologists and laboratory based specialists to design and deliver safe cell therapies, across different platforms (autologous, allogeneic, in vivo), engineered with CAR-T and TCR-T, and across therapeutic areas.
• Ensure appropriate resource allocation and program and project prioritization for timely delivery towards a dynamic and expanding cell therapy portfolio. Provide oversight and guidance to enable project and portfolio investment decisions.
• Lead and manage talent development, recruitment and evaluate team performance on a regular basis. Promote inclusion and diversity to build high-functioning teams within and across departments. Align to AZ’s culture and values and further solidify our reputation as a great place to work.
• As a seasoned subject matter expert in Nonclinical Cell Therapy Safety, use experience, expertise and leadership to influence Cell Therapy Safety Science project strategies. Anticipate and manage potential project-related nonclinical safety concerns and support global regulatory submissions and health authority requests.
• Be responsible and accountable for Cell Therapy Safety Sciences strategy and deliverables.
• Build and promote collaborative and inclusive networks and workstreams to ensure alignment with key global stakeholders.
• Initiate, lead and manage internal and external collaborations to access latest scientific developments and innovations, expanding business opportunities for the company resulting in enhanced impact and external scientific leadership in the field of cell therapy.
• Performs business development-related asset, platform or technology evaluations.
• Perform evaluation and due diligence for in licensing, out-sourcing or collaboration opportunities.

• Contribute to wider scientific strategy on cell therapy within the CPSS Cell Therapy team and cross-functionally with relevant partners in AZ.

Requirements

• PhD relevant field (Toxicology, Biology, Immunology) with over 10 years of experience.
• Excellent understanding of nonclinical safety sciences in the context of CAR-T & TCR cell therapies and proven prior experience in the field.
• Extensive experience supporting nonclinical safety assessment of cell therapies, including different modalities and platforms, from target identification through clinical development.
• Experience of global IND / BLA / IIT submissions, leading regulatory interactions within area of expertise and responding to global regulatory questions.
• Proven and excellent experience in designing, developing and implementing cell therapy safety strategies.
• Strong leadership skills and line management experience with a positive team engaging attitude and a track record in the leadership, management and talent development of individuals and teams.
• Track record of leading impact on drug R&D within the pharmaceutical industry or biotech sector with a strong focus on safety assessment.
• Leader of collaborations with academia, biotech and/or pharma industry to enhance pre-clinical safety assessment of T-cell therapies.
• Track record of scientific innovation in the safety assessment arena.
• Recognized as a leader and influencer in the cell therapy field with proven track record of publishing relevant results and tools in journals, conferences, and other scientific proceedings.

In Office Requirement

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.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca when we see an opportunity for change, we seize it and make it happen, because any opportunity, no matter how small, can be the start of something big. Delivering life-changing medicines is about being entrepreneurial - finding those moments and recognizing their potential. Join us on our journey of building a new kind of organization to reset expectations of what a bio-pharmaceutical company can be. This means we’re opening new ways to work, pioneering cutting-edge methods and bringing unexpected teams together. Interested? Come join our journey.

Competitive salary and benefits package on offer.

The successful candidate will have access to a flexible employee benefits fund, including holiday purchase and flexible time off, pension contributions, Share Save Plans, A performance recognition scheme and a competitive, generous remuneration package.

Date Posted 16-Sept-2025

Closing Date 22-Sept-2025

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.