Director, Analytical Chemistry

About the Role Lead Moderna's analytical chemistry for discovery-stage mRNA-LNP research, providing scientific, strategic, and organizational leadership to drive rapid design-make-test-learn cycles. This role partners with medicinal chemistry, formulation, and development teams to advance analytical strategies and enable candidate progression. What You'll Do

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of analytical scientists across discovery-stage programs and matrix-lead additional scientists as needed to support analytical chemistry, characterization, and platform functions.
• Set the analytical chemistry vision and strategy for discovery-stage mRNA-LNP programs; align analytical deliverables with program milestones.
• Provide strategic oversight of method development, qualification, transfer, characterization, impurity identification, and analytical control strategies relevant to discovery and translational research.
• Serve as a senior analytical partner to medicinal chemistry, formulation, delivery sciences, platform biology, and selected development functions to accelerate molecular design and data-informed decisions.
• Guide analytical approaches spanning small molecules, polymers and lipid characterization, impurity profiling, structure elucidation, orthogonal physicochemical characterization, and fit-for-purpose evaluation of RNA, lipid, and nanoparticle attributes.
• Translate complex data into actionable scientific decisions; build decision-quality analytical packages and oversee transfer to internal teams and external CRO/CDMO partners.
• Build Moderna's technical model for analytical leadership, communicating strategy, and ensuring analytical deliverables meet program milestones.
• Manage or influence CRO/CDMO relationships to ensure high-quality, timely analytical support.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, and continuous improvement; leverage high-throughput methods and, where appropriate, AI/ML approaches to enhance decision-making. What We're Looking For
• Deep expertise in modern analytical chemistry with strong separation science, characterization, and structure elucidation skills; proven leadership experience.
• Ability to translate complex data into actionable scientific decisions and decisions-quality analytical packages.
• Experience supporting transitions from discovery through IND-enabling or early clinical development.
• Familiarity with high-throughput methodologies is highly desirable.
• Familiarity or exposure to artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated ability to build productive partnerships across internal teams and external collaborators; capability to manage cross-functional programs and external CRO/CDMO partnerships.
• Track record of influencing program milestones and working effectively in matrix organizations. Nice to Have
• High-throughput and AI/ML capabilities; experience leveraging such approaches in analytical workflows.
• Additional experience in nucleic acid medicines, mRNA-LNP platforms, or related translational research Compensation & Benefits
• Not disclosed in posting; Cambridge, MA location; full-time role.