Team Leader in Target Science at AstraZeneca

Are you a driven and experienced scientist thriving for a position where your expertise can have an outstanding influence? Join the team that passionately follows the science and puts the patients first. This is the place for curious minds. Dig deep into the biology of complex disease and uncover breakthroughs.

In this exciting and developing role as Team Leader in Target Science, you'll join our Translational Science and Experimental Medicine (TSEM) organisation. Within TSEM, we are working in an open environment with a strong science focus and our work bridges basic science with clinical development. Our mission is to understand disease mechanisms at the molecular level closing the gap between bench science and bedside clinical practice.

This position is an opportunity for an engaged and scientifically passionate individual to play an important part within our Early Respiratory and Immunology (R&I) organisation. The position will be placed at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg (Sweden), and you will belong to the Target Science team. Our main focus is to identify novel targets and mechanisms addressing key biological disease drivers to enable a precision medicine approach to treating respiratory and immunological diseases. We are committed to selecting the right targets for the right patient populations.

What you will do:
This leadership role requires a strong scientific background and a genuine interest in team leadership. Success depends on effective working with other teams in a global, matrixed organisation and requires outstanding team working skills and a proven track record of working collaboratively, ensuring scientific excellence and robust delivery to the Early R&I portfolio. You will lead a team of dedicated Target Scientists and have a key role in successfully delivering:

* TSID (Target Selection Investment Decision) milestone transitions.
* TSID data packages enabling successful TSID decisions based on high quality experimental target validation.
* Novel targets from new sources including genomics, phenotypic screening and the application of artificial intelligence for target identification.
* Innovative target ideas and target proposals based on in house science as well as full awareness of the external scientific environment.
* Development of disease-relevant experimental model systems.
* Deep disease knowledge and mechanistic understanding of the biological drivers in the respiratory and immunology disease space.

You are accountable for overseeing the development of robust TSID packages, providing support as well as constructive challenge to Target Scientists and Target Champions outside Target Science. The role also includes the responsibility for advancing innovative TSID proposals, with a focus on TSIDs originating from in house de novo target identification to increase the proportion of novel targets in the Early R&I portfolio.

Essential in the role:

* PhD or MD with at least 3 years of post-doc life science research experience.
* At least 5 years of industry experience in drug discovery and development.
* Excellent understanding of the Respiratory and Immunology disease areas and associated disease biology, including cell types, molecular pathways and mechanisms.
* Broad understanding of state of the art approaches to target identification and validation, including genomics, functional genomics and analysis of complex "omics" data sets.
* Proven delivery in target identification and target validation and good understanding of the drug development process, from lead generation through clinical development.
* Strong ability to generate and test scientific hypotheses and suggest next steps based on the experimental data.
* Strong leadership skills and demonstrated experience of career development of reporting scientists.

The successful candidate is encouraged to make the role "their own" and to drive the development of the position, growing business impact. You have the ability to work productively in a matrix team environment and thrive when collaborating and supporting your team members to grow in their roles. With your excellent communicational and networking skills you will bring our work and team forward with a strong delivery focus. Previous line management experience preferred.

Why AstraZeneca?
Our workforce reflects the people we serve - diversity is embedded in everything we do. We're at our best and most creative when drawing on our different views, experiences and strengths. Thrive in an energizing environment where challenging work goes hand in hand with development.

So, what's next! If this sounds like your next career opportunity - apply today!

We look forward to get to know you better. Welcome to send us your application as soon as possible, but no later than 27th June, 2021.

For further details around this position you are welcome to contact the recruiting manager Henric Olsson on email: henric.k.olsson(at)astrazeneca.com

Additional information:
Our Gothenburg site: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-science/gothenburg.html
Life in Gothenburg: https://www.movetogothenburg.com/
About BioPharmaceuticals R&D: https://www.astrazeneca.com/r-d.html