Job Description

The Role:
This exciting opportunity will establish and lead the R&D Collaboration strategy and plans to increase Moderna's footprint in the life science ecosystem in Canada and partnerships to continue advance scientific discoveries.
As a world leader in mRNA science, Moderna will be investing significantly in Canada's mRNA and relevant therapeutic areas R&D ecosystem over the long-term. This role will play a key role in identifying areas of opportunity for investment across areas such as: Research Collaborations, Joint Ventures, Clinical Trials, Technology Licensing, and Industry Development programs.
With a deep knowledge of Canada's R&D environment, this individual will connect Moderna's Global R&D organization with the best science in Canada and work across the ecosystems and various stakeholders in alignment with Moderna's priorities and Canada's life science strategy.
The role will report to the General Manager, Moderna Canada with a a strong interface to the global R&D organization.
Here's What You'll Do:
Develop a long-term R&D workplan and subsequent annual R&D operational plans in alignment with the global R&D strategy and considering the Canadian market landscape.
Undertake and maintain a detailed mapping of Canada's mRNA and relevant therapeutic areas R&D ecosystem to identify areas of engagement and investment for Moderna
Maintain a strong connection with Moderna's Global R&D organization to understand the priority areas for R&D prioritization and align this with external opportunities within Canada.
Represent Moderna in the Canadian R&D ecosystem, forging strong relationships with universities, research organizations, and the broader R&D industry
Develop and effectively manage key strategic relationships with a broad range of senior-level government, industry, academic and international stakeholders, influencing complex groups of stakeholders both within and external to Moderna
Lead all R&D deliverables and discussions with the Government of Canada in the context of the long-term strategic pandemic collaboration between Government of Canada and Moderna.
Present research opportunities and business cases to Moderna's Global R&D and Business Development teams
Work across the matrix of R&D employees in Canada and globally to enhance the R&D Workplan and deliver on it, leveraging synergies and emerging opportunities.
Liaise and be the primary point of contact - internally and externally - for all R&D activities with Canadian stakeholders, including University activities and business development opportunities.
Drive and be accountable to deliver on all R&D related commitments to Government of Canada. Assess and track performance of projects and develop plan to course correct if needed.
Support and lead various scientific speaking engagements in the ecosystem, as relevant.
Oversee R&D collaborations and investments to ensure compliance with the broad R&D Investment plan.
Here's What You'll Bring to the Table:
PhD and/or MBBS/MD level qualification, in a relevant scientific discipline (in conjunction with extensive relevant experience in a commercial environment, university or government
Substantial experience in influencing and bringing together complex groups of internal and external stakeholders to develop and manage major research and/or engagement partnership initiatives with demonstrated ability to provide strategic level advice and commercial thinking in relation to these opportunities
A detailed understanding of Canada's biotech and innovative R&D ecosystem with a proven ability to build meaningful, strategic, and successful partnerships with industry partners
Ability to problem solve, risk manage and apply judgement to complex and/or sensitive issues.
Ability to develop partnership structure and execute on them, including negotiation of collaboration agreements.
Proven exceptional interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a high performing team and to quickly establish rapport and manage collaborative working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and levels across academia and external public or private sector organizations
Outstanding communication, influencing and negotiation skills
Strong project management experience in a complex environment with competing priorities, including demonstrated ability to manage workflows, undertake multiple complex projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
The personification of Moderna's values of being Bold, Curious, Collaborative and Relentless
Moderna offers personalized benefit programs and well-being resources as unique as our global workforce so employees can do their best work.
We recognize and appreciate your diverse needs and interests and do our best to support you at work and at home with:
Quality healthcare and insurance benefits
Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being
Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
Family planning and adoption benefits
Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, and a discretionary winter break
Educational resources
Savings and investments
Location-specific perks and extras!
The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.
About Moderna
In over 10 years since its inception, Moderna has transformed from a research-stage company advancing programs in the field of messenger RNA (mRNA), to an enterprise with a diverse clinical portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics across seven modalities, a broad intellectual property portfolio in areas including mRNA and lipid nanoparticle formulation, and an integrated manufacturing plant that allows for rapid clinical and commercial production at scale. Moderna maintains alliances with a broad range of domestic and overseas government and commercial collaborators, which has allowed for the pursuit of both groundbreaking science and rapid scaling of manufacturing. Most recently, Moderna's capabilities have come together to allow the authorized use and approval of one of the earliest and most effective vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moderna's mRNA platform builds on continuous advances in basic and applied mRNA science, delivery technology and manufacturing, and has allowed the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune diseases. Moderna has been named a top biopharmaceutical employer by Science for the past seven years. To learn more, visit www.modernatx.com .
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free and drug-free work environment.
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