Head, Innate Immunity & Cancer Cell Death BiologyPurpose & Scope Following the success of PADCEV, Astellas is actively advancing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates, including innovative modalities such as the ASP2988 dual-payload ADC. Reporting to the Head, Cancer Biology, the Head, Innate Immunity & Cancer Cell Death Biology provides global scientific and strategic leadership to identify, prioritize, and translate disease and biological insights into differentiated ADC product concepts and research strategies. The role also leads and develops a diverse global research organization, fostering scientific excellence, talent growth, and disciplined execution to ensure that deep understanding of disease biology, cancer cell death mechanisms, and patient needs is effectively integrated with Astellas' ADC platforms and capabilities to deliver transformative therapies for cancer patients.
Role and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership
- Serve as a member of the Cancer Biology leadership team and help shape, communicate, and execute the vision and priorities of Oncology Research in close collaboration with other sub-functions.
- Partner closely with Oncology Research strategy teams to establish disease- and biology-informed ADC strategies with explicit priorities, decision points, and resource implications.
- Bring an integrated product architecture perspective to determine how target biology, antibody format, epitope, linker, payload, drug-to-antibody ratio, and combination strategy should work together as an ADC product.
- Translate deep understanding of disease biology, patient segments, resistance mechanisms, and treatment context into differentiated product concepts and executable research plans.
- Maintain an end-to-end perspective from target and concept incubation through translational strategy, biomarker development, clinical candidate selection, and clinical proof of concept.
- Initiate and oversee external collaborations with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, scientific advisors, and vendors when external innovation can strengthen the portfolio.
Scientific Leadership & Oversight
- Scientifically define the intended ADC product profile by applying emerging antibody concepts, including bispecific and biparatopic formats, to address specific biological and clinical hypotheses.
- Work closely with Biologics Engineering and other modality teams to incorporate state-of-the-art antibody engineering, linker technologies, conjugation approaches, and developability considerations into ADC products.
- Propose and prioritize novel payloads based on a clear biological rationale, including mechanisms linked to cancer cell death, innate immune activation, tumor context, resistance, and therapeutic window.
- Go beyond expertise in individual ADC components by integrating them into a coherent product design capable of delivering differentiated and clinically meaningful patient value.
- Guide experimental design and data interpretation across in vitro, in vivo, translational, and biomarker studies, ensuring that studies test the most critical assumptions and enable timely decisions.
- Establish rigorous criteria for program initiation, progression, redesign, and termination, and ensure a sustainable flow of high-quality candidate nomination and IND-enabling opportunities.
- Monitor external scientific and competitive developments and translate relevant advances into portfolio choices, research priorities, and new program concepts.
Team Leadership & Management
- Lead and develop a cross-site biology organization of approximately 20-25 scientists and research leaders across Tsukuba (Japan) and SSF (US), fostering strong collaboration, talent development, and alignment of research priorities across locations.
- Lead, hire, develop, coach, and manage the performance of a diverse global team of scientific staff.
- Create a strong sense of urgency around milestone delivery while maintaining scientific rigor, quality, and patient focus.
- Promote an early-termination mindset when data no longer support the product hypothesis, enabling resources to be redirected rapidly toward higher-value opportunities.
- Inspire team members, guide scientists from different disciplines, backgrounds, cultures, and locations, and serve as a trusted mentor who strengthens both scientific judgment and leadership capability.
- Foster a collaborative, transparent, accountable, and creative environment in which hypotheses are tested rapidly, constructive challenge is welcomed, and decisions are driven by evidence.
- Set team priorities and manage investments, operational budgets, capacity, and talent in alignment with the overall Oncology Research strategy and portfolio needs.
Required Qualifications - PhD, MD, or equivalent advanced degree in a life science discipline.
- Typically 15+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including significant expertise in oncology drug discovery and a proven track record in scientific and organizational leadership.
- Demonstrated experience leading the discovery and development of ADC therapeutics in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting, with deep understanding of target biology, antibody formats, linker and conjugation technologies, payload mechanisms, translational science, and therapeutic window optimization.
- Proven ability to integrate disease biology and multiple ADC components into differentiated product concepts and research strategies that address unmet patient needs.
- Track record of advancing oncology programs from early discovery into clinical development, with strong ability to connect preclinical hypotheses to biomarker strategies, patient selection approaches, clinical development plans, and proof-of-concept studies.
- Strong scientific judgment, strategic thinking, and decision-making skills, with the ability to evaluate complex scientific opportunities and communicate recommendations effectively to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Significant experience leading multidisciplinary teams in highly matrixed environments. Experience managing global research organizations across cultures, geographies, and scientific disciplines is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to build productive partnerships and influence stakeholders across Research, Development, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Business Development, and external scientific organizations.
- Established external scientific network in industry ecosystem in the US.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English, combined with a collaborative leadership style, high personal accountability, resilience, and the ability to inspire and develop scientific talent.
- Strong commitment to scientific integrity, patient safety, ethical conduct, and regulatory and corporate compliance.
- Demonstrated accountability for responsible management of organizational resources, budgets, and portfolio investments.
Preferred Qualifications
- A strong record of peer-reviewed publications, patents, or industry-recognized contributions.
Location and Working Environment- This position is based in South San Francisco, CA, and requires on-site work and leadership presence in principle.
- Frequent domestic and international business travel is required to collaborate with global research and development teams and external partners.
- As a global leader, regular participation in meetings scheduled across time zones, including early mornings or evenings, is required.
Salary Range$197,400-$282,000 (Final compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to skills, experience and organizational equity considerations.)
Benefits:- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
- 401(k) match and annual company contribution
- Company paid life insurance
- Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
- Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
- Company fleet vehicle for eligible positions
- Referral bonus program
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