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Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Pharmaceutical Product R&D

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium

Job Description:

Job Description

Associate Director, Mass Spectrometry Group Leader

Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare company focused on advancing human health through Innovative Medicine and MedTech. Within Innovative Medicine, rigorous science and patient-centered innovation are applied to address complex diseases and develop transformational medicines.

Advanced Materials Characterization and Investigations (AMCI) is part of Analytical Development within Therapeutics Development & Supply and provides end-to-end scientific support across R&D and the commercial product portfolio. AMCI serves as a center of expertise for complex analytical investigations and advanced characterization, supporting synthetic molecules, new therapeutic modalities and drug-delivery platforms. Its capabilities span molecular and materials characterization from the atomic to the macroscopic scale, including mass spectrometry, chromatography, spectroscopy and NMR; trace organic and inorganic impurity analysis, including nitrosamines; structure elucidation and proof of structure; impurity isolation; polymer science; particulate and colloidal systems; advanced imaging and particle identification; and packaging, device and combination-product characterization. Through deep scientific understanding, high-end technologies and strong internal and external collaboration, AMCI enables data-driven decisions, product and process understanding and right-first-time development.

Within AMCI, the Advanced Molecular Analysis (AMA) group brings together mass spectrometry, advanced chromatography, spectroscopy and NMR capabilities. AMA supports the synthetic-molecule and new-modalities portfolios through structure elucidation, proof of structure, advanced chemical characterization, trace-impurity identification and quantification, and investigational support across R&D and the commercial portfolio. The Mass Spectrometry team applies high-resolution LC-MS and GC-MS, tandem-MS workflows, impurity isolation and advanced data analysis to characterize organic impurities and degradants, support process understanding, and address complex investigations involving traditional synthetic molecules, oligonucleotides, peptides, antibody-drug conjugates and other emerging modalities.

This role is based at the Johnson & Johnson site in Beerse, Belgium, where AMCI operates as an end-to-end development hub. The Associate Director will lead the AMA Mass Spectrometry team, set strategic direction, guide portfolio priorities and develop organizational capability. The leader will work across Analytical Development, Drug Product R&D, Chemical Process R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, CMC Regulatory Affairs and external partners to ensure aligned, high-quality delivery and strong visibility of the team’s impact.

 

Objectives and Responsibilities

·       Lead the AMCI Mass Spectrometry group with primary accountability for people leadership, strategic direction, portfolio prioritization, resource deployment and reliable delivery across development and the commercial portfolio.

·       Translate the Analytical Development and AMCI strategy into clear short- to mid-term priorities, capability plans and measurable outcomes, enabling the team to focus on the highest-value business and patient needs.

·       Build and develop a high-performing team by setting clear expectations, coaching talent, strengthening succession and capability development, and fostering an inclusive, collaborative, innovative and accountable culture.

·       Provide scientific oversight and sound decision-making across mass spectrometry activities, drawing on broad MS knowledge and internal or external subject-matter experts rather than serving as the deepest technical expert.

·       Coordinate effectively across Drug Product Development, Drug Substance Development, CMC Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Supply Chain and external laboratories to convert complex needs into aligned plans, decisions and delivery.

·       Promote innovation and modernize the MS capability through data science, digitalization, automation, advanced data workflows, technology scouting and strategic external collaborations.

·       Ensure robust scientific support for regulatory requirements, submissions and responses to Health Authority questions, with clear governance, appropriate expert input and high-quality data packages.

·       Ensure safe, compliant and efficient operations in accordance with applicable GMP, quality, data-integrity, environmental, health and safety requirements.

Main Duties / Additional Duties / Sphere of Authority

·       Own the strategic and operational direction of the Mass Spectrometry group, including portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, workload balancing, capability planning and delivery against agreed timelines and quality expectations.

·       Guide the team’s response to complex analytical investigations and product-quality issues, ensuring fit-for-purpose strategies, access to the right expertise, clear decisions and timely escalation of risks.

·       Provide governance and scientific oversight for impurity-management and nitrosamine programs, including alignment of analytical strategies, data review, risk assessments and regulatory deliverables.

·       Support CMC regulatory strategies, submission content and responses to Health Authority questions by coordinating experts and ensuring scientifically robust, consistent and decision-ready evidence.

·       Strengthen the internal and external visibility of the MS team by representing its capabilities, priorities and impact in governance forums, cross-functional networks, scientific communities and external partnerships.

·       Expand and govern a fit-for-purpose outsourcing network across CROs, academic groups, instrument vendors and technology partners; establish clear partner strategies, performance expectations and scientific oversight for outsourced work.

·       Create an environment that promotes innovation, experimentation and continuous improvement, with particular emphasis on data science, digitalization, automation and scalable analytical data workflows.

·       Own or contribute to budget planning, capital investment, instrument lifecycle strategy, capacity planning and business continuity, balancing internal capability with external sourcing.

·       Monitor performance through meaningful delivery, quality, innovation, capability and people-development indicators; identify risks early and implement sustainable improvements.

Profile needed for this function

Knowledge and experience

·       Minimum 8-10 years of relevant experience, including demonstrated people leadership in direct, indirect or matrix settings.

·       Strong record of leading teams, setting direction, developing talent and creating an inclusive, collaborative, innovative and accountable culture.

·       Proven ability to prioritize a complex portfolio, allocate resources, manage dependencies and deliver through others in a global matrix environment.

·       Broad working knowledge of mass spectrometry, chromatography and pharmaceutical analytical development sufficient to guide strategy, challenge proposals, assess risk and ensure appropriate scientific oversight.

·       Understanding of pharmaceutical R&D, product development, lifecycle management, GMP, data integrity and analytical method lifecycle principles.

·       Working knowledge of impurity-management expectations, including mutagenic impurities, nitrosamines, degradation products and control strategies, and experience supporting regulatory submissions or Health Authority responses.

·       Demonstrated ability to sponsor innovation and translate opportunities in data science, digitalization and automation into practical, compliant capability improvements.

·       Experience building and managing internal and external networks, including effective governance of CROs, academic partners, vendors and outsourced scientific work.

·       Executive-level communication, stakeholder management, decision-making and influencing skills, with the ability to represent the team credibly in scientific, regulatory and governance forums.

Degree

·       Minimum Bachelor degree in analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry; Master degree or PhD preferred.

·       Advanced scientific training and directly relevant pharmaceutical or mass spectrometry experience may be considered in combination with the overall experience requirements.

Languages

·       Fluent written and spoken English.

Specific know-how of systems and equipment

·       General knowledge of high-resolution and tandem mass spectrometry platforms, associated chromatography systems and analytical data workflows, sufficient to provide leadership and scientific oversight.

·       Familiarity with regulated laboratory and data environments, including instrument software, data-processing platforms, ELN and data-integrity expectations; routine hands-on operation is not required.

·       Ability to evaluate emerging technologies, automation, digital tools and data-science opportunities and translate them into a prioritized, compliant and scalable capability roadmap.

 

 

Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Budget Management, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), Clinical Trial Protocols, Data Governance, Developing Others, Drug Discovery Development, Inclusive Leadership, Industry Analysis, Interdisciplinary Work, Leadership, Market Research, Process Improvements, Product Development, Product Strategies, Prototype Development, Researching, Scientific Research, Team Management

  

 

The anticipated base pay range for this position is:

€96.000,00 - €165.025,00

 

 

Benefits:

In addition to base pay, we offer the following benefits*: an annual bonus with set target (% of pay) depending on pay grade / location, where the actual amount is based on the employees’ and companies’ performance of the previous calendar year, or sales commissions. Moreover, we offer vacation days, parental leave for a minimum of 12 weeks, bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well-being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health. We also offer service anniversary and recognition awards, and subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees - and in some location’s eligible dependents - can participate in several insurance plans. For more information, visit Employee benefits | Supporting well-being & career growth | Johnson & Johnson Careers.

 

*This is for informative purposes only. Amounts and actual benefits may vary by location and are subject to change.