Associate Director, Translational Science

Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating and, one day, curing life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, we are advancing the next generation of cell therapy through a portfolio of innovative technologies, including autologous, allogeneic, and in vivo cell therapy approaches. Our research spans chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T), T-cell receptor (TCR-T), natural killer (NK) cell-based therapies, and other emerging platforms designed to transform the treatment of serious diseases. From our global network of research and development sites, we are committed to discovering and developing safe, effective, and cutting-edge therapies for patients worldwide. Legend Biotech entered into a global collaboration agreement with Johnson & Johnson to jointly develop and commercialize CARVYKTI® (ciltacabtagene autoleucel; cilta-cel). Through this strategic partnership, we combine complementary expertise and capabilities to advance innovative immunotherapies for patients living with multiple myeloma. Legend Biotech is seeking an Associate Director, Translational Science as part of the Early Drug Development team based in Somerset, NJ . Role Overview The Associate Director of Translational Science will bridge the gap between early-stage discovery research and clinical development. This role requires a unique blend of deep immunological expertise and advanced computational proficiency. You will be responsible for designing and executing translational strategies, identifying biomarkers, and leveraging large-scale multi-omic datasets to provide actionable insights into mechanism of action (MoA), patient stratification, and drug resistance in both autoimmune and oncology disease area. Key Responsibilities Translational Strategy: Lead the development and execution of program-specific translational plans from lead optimization through Phase II clinical trials. Data Integration & Analysis: Oversee the analysis of high-dimensional datasets (e.g., scRNA-seq, CITE-seq, flow cytometry, and spatial transcriptomics) to identify pharmacodynamic markers and predictive signatures, to interpret and provide insight into the biological mechanisms. Clinical Collaboration: Partner with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations to implement biomarker assays in clinical protocols and ensure high-quality data collection. External Partnerships: Manage relationships with Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and academic collaborators for specialized assay development and advanced data processing. Cross-Functional Leadership: Represent Translational Science on program teams, providing expert input on disease biology, target engagement, and competitive landscape. Scientific Communication: Author high-quality technical reports, regulatory documents (IND/IB/NDA), and contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Requirements PhD or MD/PhD in Immunology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related field. 5+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry or an equivalent academic leadership role within translational research. Extensive knowledge of human auto-immune disease and oncology diseases, specifically in areas such as immuno-oncology, autoimmune diseases, or cell therapy (CAR-T/TCR-T). Demonstrated experience with genomic data analysis. Practical and hand on experience data analysis pipeline, ability to guide data integration, knowledge integration from multiple datasets is essential. Proven track record in the development, validation, and clinical implementation of complex biomarkers. Experience working with relevant disease areas, deep understanding of the biological mechanisms related to diseases(auto-immune, oncology, or/both). Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for biomarker-driven clinical trials. Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead multiple programs in a fast-paced environment. High scientific curiosity, driven, motiv…