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Vice President, R&D Data Science Discovery, Product Development and

Company:
J&J Family of Companies
Location:
Zug, Switzerland
Posted:
July 18, 2025
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Description:

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at

**Job Function:**

Data Analytics & Computational Sciences

**Job Sub** **Function:**

Multi-Family Data Analytics & Computational Sciences

**Job Category:**

People Leader

**All Job Posting Locations:**

Zug, Switzerland

**Job Description:**

Job Description

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is recruiting for **Vice President, R&D Data Science – Discovery, Product Development and Supply (DPDS).** The position has a primary location of Titusville NJ. Secondary locations available are New Brunswick, NJ; Spring House, PA; Cambridge, MA; San Diego, CA; or Zug, Switzerland. This position will require up 50% domestic and international travel.

North America USA NJ PS CA Requisition R-023846

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow.

Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at

The Vice President, Data Science Discovery, Product Development and Supply (DPDS) will report to the Chief Data Science Officer in R&D and play a pivotal role in a highly collaborative environment. This leader will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing our comprehensive Data Science strategy in alignment with the DPDS organizational priorities. The candidate will be a member of the DPDS LT and will work with each Team member and function to grow Data Science competencies tied to the specific needs of the team. This role is a critical role to prioritize, deploy and grow core Data Science and AI capabilities within these divisions by leveraging and allocating deep AI/ML scientists, AI researchers and data scientists to enable DPDS priorities. In addition, this role will play a critical role rationalizing and aligning the technology roadmap with the data, data science and AI deployment needs of the DPDS organization. Proficiency in both data science and AI/ML and drug discovery and/or translational research is required.

**Key Responsibilities:**

+ **Strategic Leadership:** Design, deploy and grow data science and AI capabilities within DPDS that support and accelerate the overall vision and objectives of the division. Collaborate closely with DPDS teams in Therapeutic Discovery (TD) Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety (PSTS) as well as Therapeutics Development & Supply (TDS) to outline both short-term and long-term data science projects, and accountable for prioritizing and deploying needed capabilities with a clear roadmap (that includes data strategy, AI/ML, gen AI, and AI research) to support their mission.

+ **Servant Leadership:** Work with the DPDS senior leadership team to pinpoint critical areas where data science can lead to substantial business value. Adapt model of support and capability mix to the unique needs and data readiness of the divisions, ensuring scientific impact and alignment with DPDS goals.

+ **Data Science and Technology Interface:** Foster and grow strong collaboration between quantitative scientists within the DSDH and DPDS teams, maintaining accountability for the data science portfolio within DPDS, including project prioritization, resource allocation, and deliverables. Integrate and synchronize the technology roadmap with the data science and AI roadmap in support of the business needs.

+ **Biological Insights:** Partner with PSTS scientists to enable them to derive biological insights and data analytics by integrating molecule attribute data alongside biological data related to on- and off-target pathways, pharmacokinetics (PK), and in silico, in vitro, and in vivo clinical data to inform translational PK-PD and safety.

+ **Therapeutics Development Insights:** Partner with TDS scientists to drive therapeutic development, platform and delivery insights, optimizing process development and scale-up, clinical supply from across DPDS and IMSC to enhance product knowledge, optimize processes, and control supply chains adaptively.

+ **External Collaborations:** Engage with the DPDS and DSDH External Innovation and Alliance teams to identify, evaluate, and partner with academic and external entities to leverage cutting-edge data and analytic methodologies.

+ **Therapeutic Program Delivery:** Partner with data science leaders in DSDH and DPDS to advance therapeutic programs to clinical stages and industrialize the processes, utilizing machine-learning-driven optimization techniques throughout each phase.

+ **Matrix Leadership:** Lead within a highly matrixed environment involving cross-functional teams, including DPDS and TA teams, scientists, data scientists, engineers, and external partners. Establishing a strategic partnership and model of collaboration with R&D IT is critical.

+ **Community Engagement:** Assume a leadership position within the Johnson & Johnson IM R&D data science community.

**Qualifications:**

+ A minimum of 14 years of relevant experience in discovery and development within the biopharma industry or academia is required.

+ Proven vision for transforming discovery, development, and supply through predictive biology, including target identification, validation, and understanding disease mechanisms using computational modeling and AI/ML techniques. Familiarity with technical processes in drug discovery and development are required.

+ A PhD in Computational Biology, Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Machine Learning or Translational Medicine or similar field of study is required

+ A track record of participation or leadership in multiple active discovery/preclinical candidate program teams, working alongside leaders across various disciplines.

+ Experience in hiring, managing, and mentoring teams focused on target discovery and development activities within a matrixed structure is essential.

+ In-depth understanding and proven experience with drug discovery, development, and manufacturing processes.

+ Strong project leadership capabilities and the ability to influence and engage with strategic and technical/scientific stakeholders.

+ A distinguished history of collaboration and leadership within matrix organizations.

+ Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and writing skills.

+ Comprehensive knowledge of machine learning and AI algorithms (supervised, unsupervised learning, deep neural networks, large language models, etc.) within biomedical or healthcare research environments.

**Preferred:**

+ This role focuses on discovery and product development; and industry experience is expected. Familiarity with clinical development, post-marketing data science, or data analytics and infrastructure is preferred, though a strong appreciation for data handling in regulated environments is key.

+ Broad knowledge in AI/ML de-novo & applied algorithmic development.

+ Expertise in contemporary AI/ML methodologies, including various deep learning architectures (e.g., Transformers, encoder-decoder models, CNNs), generative AI for different modalities (NLP, imaging, genomics), graph ML, causal inference, alongside techniques such as one-shot learning, transfer learning, diffusion models, reinforcement learning, systems modeling, and active learning as it relates to target discovery and development.

At Johnson & Johnson, we’re on a mission to change the trajectory of health for humanity. That starts by creating the world’s healthiest workforce. Through cutting-edge programs and policies, we empower the physical, mental, emotional, and financial health of our employees and the ones they love.

Johnson & Johnson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Working with Johnson & Johnson can change everything. Including YOU!

#jrdds #JNJDataScience #JNJIMRND-DS

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