Head, Discovery Data Science

Key Skills

Aartificial intelligence, Data Analytics, Data science techniques, Deep Learning, Leadership Skill, Machine learning techniques, Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Job Description

Janssen Research & Development LLC, a Johnson & Johnson company, is recruiting for a Head of Data Science, Discovery, Product Development and Supply (DPDS), reporting to the Chief R&D Data Science Officer. This position is flexible to New Brunswick, NJ; Titusville, NJ; Raritan, NJ; Spring House, PA; San Francisco, CA; San Diego, CA; preferred home office location is Spring House, PA. Up to 15% domestic and international travel.

About the Role:

We are looking for a seasoned professional with deep experience in data science, target identification, molecule discovery, pre-clinical development, and manufacturing. This individual must have a strong strategic perspective, desire to drive innovation and inform discovery & development projects through the application of data science and AI/ML approaches to the discovery and development pipeline for Janssen’s core modalities. 

The Head of Data Science DPDS, reporting to the Chief Data Science Officer in R&D, will be a key leader in a highly matrixed environment developing, implementing and managing our overall Data Science strategy in that area. This leader will work closely with the Janssen Discovery, Product Development & Supply team and across therapeutic areas including Oncology, Immunology, Neuroscience, CVMPHR within Janssen. This individual must be “bilingual” in both data science and discovery & product development.

The Head of Data Science DPDS will:

• Lead the development & execution of Janssen’s Research and Development Data Science strategy for discovery, pre-clinical development, and manufacturing.
• Deploy strategy in collaboration with Janssen R&D leadership, Janssen R&D Data Science & Digital Health team (JRD DSDH), the Janssen R&D Discovery, Product Development, and Supply (JRD DPDS), Janssen R&D therapeutic areas (JRD TA), and external partners.
• Ensure scientific impact and alignment with JRD DPDS and JRD TAs goals.
• Interface with data scientists within the JRD DSDH Analytics & Insights team and JRD DPDS
• Interface with strategic leaders in DPDS (e.g., In Silico Discovery, Large Molecule Data Integration and Modeling, etc.) to co-develop priorities and roadmaps for the development of data science solutions.
• Recruit and manage a team of (~5) experts who are bilingual in data science and discovery & development, focused on interfacing with JRD DPDS & JRD TAs to deliver impact on key projects in discovery and development.
• Identify, evaluate, and collaborate with academic and external partners aimed at gaining valuable insights from state-of-the-art data and analytic approaches.
• Manage a portfolio of data science projects, in partnership with JRD DPDS and JRD TAs
• Play a leadership role in the JRD data science community.
• Collaborate with other leaders in data science in DSHS and DPDS to deliver therapeutic programs to the clinic and to industrialize the process of doing so with machine-learning driven optimization of each stage.
• Partner and lead in a highly matrixed environment with cross functional teams, DPDS and TA teams, scientists, data scientists, engineers, external partners (when relevant), etc.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of experience relevant to discovery and development, specifically in a biopharma industry setting is required.
• Experience with and a vision for transforming discovery, development, and manufacturing, including target identification, screening, hit discovery, hit to lead, lead-optimization, toxicity quantification and prediction, PKPD, manufacturing processes with the use of computational modeling and machine learning (AI/ML)
• Minimum education of a master’s degree or MBA is required; PhD or MD is highly preferred.
• Experience as a member or leader on multiple active discovery/preclinical candidate program teams, collaborating with leaders across disciplines.
• Experience hiring, managing, and mentoring teams engaged in molecule discovery and development activities in a matrixed environment is required.
• Working knowledge and proven experience with the drug discovery, development, and manufacturing process
• Proven project leadership and the ability to influence and engage with strategic and technical/scientific stakeholders is required.
• Strong track record of collaboration and leadership in matrix organizations
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and written skills
• Dynamic entrepreneurial mindset
• Broad understanding and application of machine learning and AI algorithms (supervised, unsupervised learning, deep neural network, large language models, etc.) in biomedical research and/or healthcare settings.

• Ability to travel both domestic and international on an as-needed basis (up to 15% yearly)

Preferred:

• This is a discovery and development-focused role, and candidates are expected to have industry experience. Experience in clinical development, post-marketing data science, or data analytics and infrastructure is preferred but not required.
• Broad knowledge of applications of AI/ML de-novo & applied algorithmic development.
• Expertise in current AI/ML methodologies, including but not limited to: a range of deep learning architectures (e.g. Transformers, encoder-decoders, CNNs); generative AI applied to multiple modalities (NLP, imaging, genomics); graph ML, causal inference; and other techniques such as one-shot learning, transfer learning, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, and active learning applied to the field of molecule discovery and development

Salary

For US based candidates, the base pay range for this position is $182,000 USD to $315,100 USD. Some U.S. states have recently instituted certain pay transparency disclosure requirements. This means that for jobs posted by J&J corporate legal entities in Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York (collectively the “Enumerated States”). If the job can be performed in one of these identified states or the job can be performed remotely, the posting must include the anticipated pay range for the position in question, and in certain circumstances, benefits information.