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Associate Director Translational Science Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Legend Biotech USA, Inc.

Role OverviewThe 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 ...

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Associate Director Translational Science information

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$30.5K

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How much do associate director translational science jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate director translational science in the United States is $102,728.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,000.00 and $141,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an associate director translational science do?

An Associate Director of Translational Science leads and manages research projects that bridge basic scientific discoveries and clinical applications in areas such as drug development or disease treatment. They collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design and implement studies, analyze data, and ensure that findings can move efficiently from the laboratory to patient care. This role often involves overseeing regulatory compliance, managing budgets, and mentoring junior scientists. The Associate Director plays a key role in advancing innovative therapies and supporting the organization's strategic research goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate director translational science?

To thrive as an Associate Director Translational Science, you need a strong background in biomedical sciences, drug development, and project management, typically supported by a PhD or advanced degree in a relevant field. Familiarity with bioinformatics tools, laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and regulatory compliance standards is often required. Strong leadership, cross-functional communication, and problem-solving skills help drive collaboration between research and clinical teams. These competencies are crucial for effectively translating scientific discoveries into clinical applications and advancing therapeutic programs.

What are some common challenges faced by an associate director translational science when bridging preclinical and clinical research teams?

One of the main challenges is ensuring clear and effective communication between diverse teams, such as laboratory scientists and clinical trial coordinators, who may have different technical backgrounds and priorities. As an Associate Director, you'll often need to translate complex scientific findings into actionable clinical strategies, ensuring that research is aligned with regulatory requirements and patient needs. Balancing innovation with compliance, managing cross-functional projects, and keeping timelines on track are also central to the role. Successful candidates are those who can foster collaboration, adapt to evolving project goals, and anticipate potential obstacles in drug development pipelines.

What is the difference between Associate Director Translational Science vs Associate Director Clinical Research?

AspectAssociate Director Translational ScienceAssociate Director Clinical Research
Primary FocusBridging laboratory research to clinical applications, developing translational strategiesManaging clinical trial operations, ensuring regulatory compliance
Required CredentialsPhD or equivalent in life sciences, experience in translational researchMaster's or PhD in life sciences, clinical research experience
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, collaborative with scientists and cliniciansClinical trial sites, CROs, pharmaceutical companies
Industry UsageBiotech, pharma, research institutionsPharmaceutical companies, CROs, biotech firms

The Associate Director Translational Science focuses on transforming laboratory findings into clinical applications, while the Associate Director Clinical Research oversees the execution of clinical trials. Both roles require advanced degrees and industry experience but differ in their core responsibilities and work settings.

What are the career paths in associate director translational science?

Career paths for an Associate Director in Translational Science often lead to senior leadership roles such as Director, Vice President, or Head of Translational Research, with opportunities to specialize in areas like biomarker development, clinical strategy, or regulatory affairs. Progression typically involves gaining experience in project management, scientific expertise, and cross-functional collaboration, often supported by advanced degrees and industry certifications. Advancement depends on demonstrated leadership, successful project execution, and industry experience within pharmaceutical or biotech environments.

What cities are hiring for Associate Director Translational Science jobs?

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Infographic showing various Associate Director Translational Science job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,728 per year, or $49.4 per hour.

Associate Director, Translational Science

Somerset, NJ • Hybrid

Legend Biotech US
See more jobs at Legend Biotech USexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 24 days ago

Job description

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, motivated in deep understanding of the biology behind both disease and therapies.

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