Sr. Director, Head, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology

The Role

Moderna’s Clinical and Quantitative Pharmacology (CQP) function is seeking an innovative, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as Senior Director, Head of Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP) capability.

In this role, you will provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for Moderna’s mechanistic and systems pharmacology capabilities. This leader will define and execute the vision for how mechanistic modeling, systems biology, and model-informed drug development (MIDD) approaches are applied across discovery, preclinical, and clinical stages to accelerate early development decisions, strengthen translational understanding, and optimize dose, schedule and patient selection strategies.

You will work closely with internal modelers, quantitative scientists, matrix partners, and external collaborators, while collaborating deeply across research, platform sciences, translational, biomarker, DMPK, and clinical functions. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring that QSP strategies and deliverables not only deliver scientific and technical rigor but also strategic insight and cross-functional alignment to accelerate and de-risk Moderna’s research and early development pipeline. In addition to leading QSP strategy and capabilities, this role is expected to serve directly as the CQP representative within key program teams, driving model-informed drug development strategy and enabling portfolio decisions in close partnership with cross-functional leaders. You will also represent Moderna as a thought leader in QSP and translational modeling.

Here’s What You’ll Do

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Develop and implement QSP strategy across priority therapeutic areas and modalities.
• Embed QSP principles and deliverables into Moderna’s R&D decision framework, including target validation, animal study design, human dose projection, and mechanism-of-action understanding.
• Partner with discovery, preclinical, clinical and platform teams to ensure quantitative and biological hypotheses guide experimental design and portfolio advancement.
• Represent QSP and champion quantitative and systems-based thinking throughout R&D.

Scientific Leadership & Modeling Excellence

• Lead design, development, and application of mechanistic models (disease progression, target engagement, immune dynamics, biomarker relationships, etc.) to inform key program decisions.
• Integrate multi-dimensional data and knowledge into multi-scale mechanistic models for translation and decision support.
• Advance innovative approaches in model architectures and computational methodologies.
• Ensure scientific rigor, transparency, and reproducibility in all modeling deliverables.

Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Leadership

• Collaborate closely with Clinical Pharmacology, Translational Medicine, DMPK, research, bioinformatics, clinical development and platform sciences to design integrated quantitative strategies.
• Provide QSP input for INDs, IBs, regulatory filings, and Health Authority interactions.
• Align modeling deliverables with clinical and quantitative pharmacology to enable model-informed decision-making throughout the program lifecycle.

QSP Capability & Matrix Leadership

• Provide scientific and functional leadership for QSP activities across internal contributors, matrix partners, external vendors, and academic collaborators.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that promotes learning, creativity, and scientific excellence.
• Help shape QSP capability development, operating model, and talent strategy as the portfolio evolves.
• Oversee outsourced modeling work, budget, and strategic partnerships with CROs and academic collaborators.

External & Thought Leadership

• Represent Moderna in global scientific forums, regulatory workshops, and consortia to shape the future of QSP and model-informed drug development.
• Publish and present scientific work in high-impact journals and conferences.

Other Duties

• As needed, contribute to or lead cross-functional special projects, ad hoc initiatives, or new methodology pilots.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)

• Ph.D. in systems pharmacology, bioengineering, applied mathematics, pharmacology, or a related quantitative discipline. Exceptional MS-degree candidates with extensive (20+ years) relative experience also considered.
• 10+ years of industry or equivalent experience in QSP / mechanistic modeling, including at least 7 years supporting oncology drug development, with deep immuno-oncology expertise; experience with T cell engagers, adoptive cell therapy, or other cancer immunotherapy approaches strongly preferred.
• Proven track record of applying mechanistic and translational models to support drug development (preclinical through clinical).
• Deep understanding of PK/PD, systems biology, disease pathway modeling, and biomarker integration.
• Demonstrated scientific leadership, mentoring, and development of quantitative scientists, preferably across sites, geographies, or matrix settings.
• Proficiency in modeling platforms such as MATLAB/SimBiology, Monolix, R, or Python.
• Strong communication and influencing skills; ability to translate quantitative findings for multidisciplinary and executive audiences.
• Ability to operate strategically while remaining scientifically hands-on in a fast-evolving portfolio environment.
• Experience contributing to regulatory filings and Health Authority interactions leveraging model-informed approaches.

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

• Experience in mRNA or novel therapeutic modalities (e.g. gene therapy, biologics, immuno-oncology).
• Familiarity with PBPK modeling, virtual populations, or digital-twin simulation.
• Experience building infrastructure or toolchains for scalable modeling and data integration.
• Track record of scientific publications and external visibility.
• A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

Pay & Benefits

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

• Competitive 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 planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, 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 salary range for this role is $196,700.00 - $353,400.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs.

The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure 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 people are 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. 

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. 

Our Working Model 

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. 

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

Equal Opportunities

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity 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.  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, please apply!

Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

Accommodations

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 accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation 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 team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

Export Control Notice
This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.
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