Associate Director, Next-Generation Sequencing Innovation

Title:Associate Director, Next-Generation Sequencing Innovation

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Job Description:

We areseekingan entrepreneurial and visionary Associate Director toleadand transform our Next-Generation Sequencing(NGS)capabilities within Biologics Engineering at AstraZeneca. This is not a role formaintainingthe status quo—we need a strategic innovator who will activelyidentifyunmet needs, forge partnerships withcutting-edgevendors, and build novel in-house capabilities, particularly forbiologicsdiscovery. You will be empowered to challenge conventional approaches and driveadoptionof transformative NGS applications across our global organization.

What Makes This Role Unique

This position offers significant autonomy to shape NGS strategy and make technologydevelopmentdecisions,leading a high-performing NGS team directly embedded within an innovativebiologicsdiscovery group.You'llhave the opportunity to build something transformative rather thanmaintainexisting infrastructure, with scope toimpactdiscovery across multiple therapeutic areas while working oncutting-edgebiologics programs.

Key Responsibilities:

• NGS team management: Lead a high-performing NGS team delivering core and custom solutions across the companyina timelyand effective manner. Contribute toglobalstrategy and steering decisionsregardingtheuseand analysisof NGS.

• ProactiveEngagement: Systematically engage with discovery teams, therapeutic areas, and leadership toidentifybottlenecks and opportunities where NGS could accelerate or transform research outcomes—thendesignandimplementsolutions.

• Wet and dry lab solutions:Bridge our wet labandbioinformaticsscientiststoimplementanalysis solutions for every discovery platform.Build strategic relationships with technology vendorsand academicsto gainearly accessto emergingplatforms,ordevelop custom solutions.Evaluate when toleverageexternal solutions versus developing proprietary in-house methods, balancing speed-to-impact with competitive advantage.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology,Biochemistry,Genetics, or related field with 10+ years of experience building and using NGS technologies, including a proventrack recordofidentifyingand implementing novel technologies that delivered measurable impact beyond standard vendor workflows.

• Previousexperience managingahigh performing team, especiallyfortechnologydevelopment

• Extensive experience with various NGS platforms (e.g.Illumina, PacBio) and their applications inbiologicsresearch. Astrong background in laboratory automationand high-throughput workflowsis desired,as isexpertisein bioinformatics, data analysis, and HPC environments.

• Demonstrated success building and empowering teams that push boundaries, with an entrepreneurial mindset comfortable with ambiguity and calculated risk-taking. 

• Ability to influence,buildingcoalitions across organizational boundaries andinspiringadoptionofnew technology. Strongpresentation skillsare highly desiredwith the ability toarticulate complex technical capabilities to diverse audiences.

The annual base pay for this position ranges from $180,740.80 - $271,111.20 USD AnnualHourly and salaried non-exempt employees will also be paid overtime pay when working qualifying overtime hours. Base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, our positions offer a short-term incentive bonus opportunity; eligibility to participate in our equity-based long-term incentive program (salaried roles), to receive a retirement contribution (hourly roles), and commission payment eligibility (sales roles). Benefits offered included a qualified retirement program [401(k) plan]; paid vacation and holidays; paid leaves; and, health benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans. Additional details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base pay (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.