Senior Principal Scientist - Veterinary Anatomic Pathologist

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Job Function:

Discovery & Pre-Clinical/Clinical Development

Job Sub Function:

Clinical Development & Research – MD

Job Category:

Scientific/Technology

All Job Posting Locations:

Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium

Job Description:

Job description

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is recruiting a Senior Principal Scientist to join the Global Pathobiology Team within Preclinical Sciences and Translational Safety. This role is designed for a future-ready pathologist who can lead through a rapidly changing scientific and regulatory landscape by pairing deep mechanistic and translational expertise with strategic, digital, and communication strengths. The successful Senior Principal Scientist will work globally as a scientific leader in a cross-disciplinary matrix environment, leading risk assessment, multidisciplinary data integration and interpretation, and decision-making on projects across discovery and development.

Key job responsibilities

·        Support drug discovery and development end to end by providing scientific input in the design and conduct of toxicology experiments (not limited to in vivo studies) that focus on understanding and assessing human risk of novel therapeutic targets and/or mode of action for toxicity in nonclinical studies.

·        Serve as study pathologist or peer review pathologist on toxicology, discovery, and pharmacology studies, including shaping fit-for-purpose experimental and research protocols, gross and microscopic evaluation of tissues, and reporting of integrated results for nonclinical studies aimed at improving nonclinical-to-clinical translation of safety and efficacy.

·        Lead with a “drug-hunter” enterprise mindset, integrating anatomic pathology expertise with clinical pathology, biomarkers, immunotoxicology, investigative pathology, and NAMs to generate decision-ready scientific narratives.

·        Actively collaborate with other subject matter experts to generate integrated safety assessments and investigational or de-risking activities.

·        Frame pathology findings through risk, options, and impact, including mechanistic hypotheses, weight-of-evidence interpretation, translational relevance, clinical monitorability, and mitigation considerations.

·        Advance applications of digital pathology, AI, and data science principles for greater scientific insights and workflow efficiencies while maintaining pathology oversight and scientific rigor.

·        Interpret and effectively communicate the biological and translational relevance of in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data within a fit-for-purpose, context-of-use, and weight-of-evidence framework.

·        Provide pathobiology leadership within interdisciplinary nonclinical development teams to advance compound progression and resolve issues in close collaboration with cross-functional subject matter experts (SMEs). Review and co-author regulatory documents and provide input on hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk management, including scientific leadership on issue resolution and mitigation strategies.

·        Identify and lead collaborative scientific efforts with internal and external partners and academic investigators.

·        Optionally combine the pathology role with leading a project team as nonclinical safety lead.

Qualifications

Education & experience required

·        DVM or equivalent degree.

·        PhD in Integrative Pathobiology or related discipline required.

·        Board certification by the American, European, or equivalent College of Veterinary Pathologists, with relevant 5+ years experience in toxicologic pathology, investigative pathology, drug discovery, nonclinical safety, or a biopharmaceutical setting.

Summary of key competencies:

The successful candidate will combine anatomic pathology expertise with a future-ready Pathobiology mindset: curiosity, adaptability, strategic judgment, mechanistic and translational depth, digital fluency, and clear communication of risk, options, and impact. They will integrate traditional pathology with NAMs, digital pathology, AI-enabled tools, biomarkers, and cross-functional scientific input to generate and effectively communicate decision-ready interpretations that support discovery, development, and regulatory confidence.

 

 

Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Clinical Research and Regulations, Clinical Trials, Clinical Trials Operations, Collaboration, Consulting, Data Management and Informatics, Drug Discovery Development, Industry Analysis, Innovation, Leadership, Market Research, Regulatory Affairs Management, Research Ethics, Scientific Evaluation, Scientific Research, Stakeholder Management, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility

  

 

The anticipated base pay range for this position is:

€97.500,00 - €167.785,00

 

 

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.