Associate Director, ADC platform in Oncology Drug Discovery

Novartis is hiring an Associate Director, ADC platform in Oncology Drug Discovery. It pays $153k-$283k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Novartis.

Level's read on this job

On Level's scale, this role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
The posting mentions oncology drug discovery, antibody drug conjugates and cancer biology among its tools and skills.
Level classes it as a lead role.
Novartis has 870 other open roles on Level.

AI in this role

Associate Director needed to lead scientific strategy and payload/linker development for antibody-drug conjugates in oncology.

oncology-drug-discoveryantibody-drug-conjugatescancer-biologypharmacologymedicinal-chemistry

Job Description Summary

#LI-Onsite
Location: Cambridge, MA, USA

About the Role
We are seeking an accomplished Associate Director to join our discovery organization and lead scientific strategy across ADC payloads, linker technologies, and conjugation approaches. This role is central to advancing differentiated antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and related targeted therapeutics by integrating deep payload expertise, linker/conjugation knowledge, and biology-driven mechanism-of-action insights.
The ideal candidate brings strong industry experience in ADC discovery or development, with a proven track record of applying payload, linker, and conjugation expertise to therapeutic program strategy. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to design, evaluate, and advance next-generation ADC concepts with the goal of delivering transformative therapies to patients.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Lead scientific strategy for ADC payload selection, linker design, conjugation approaches, and related platform innovations
Apply deep expertise across payload classes, mechanisms of action, potency, resistance biology, bystander activity, and tolerability to guide program design
Partner with chemistry, biology, protein engineering, pharmacology, translational sciences, and CMC teams to advance next-generation ADCs
Evaluate and prioritize novel payloads, linker technologies, and conjugation approaches for internal programs and external opportunities
Provide biology-driven insights into payload mechanism of action, tumor context, therapeutic index, and combination strategies
Design and guide experimental strategies to assess ADC activity, selectivity, resistance mechanisms, linker stability, and payload-related pharmacology
Contribute to next-generation ADC platform strategy, including differentiated payload-linker concepts and biology-aligned ADC design
Represent payload/linker expertise in cross-functional project teams, governance discussions, and external collaborations
Monitor scientific, clinical, competitive, and IP landscapes related to ADC payloads, linkers, and emerging targeted modalities
Mentor scientists and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing research environment

Essential Requirements

Ph.D. in cancer biology, pharmacology, chemical biology, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, bioengineering, or related discipline
5–10 years of relevant industry experience in ADC discovery, targeted therapeutics, or oncology drug discovery
Extensive expertise in ADC payloads, including mechanism of action, potency, resistance biology, and therapeutic index considerations
Strong knowledge of linker and conjugation technologies, including stability, release mechanisms, site-specific conjugation, and developability
Deep understanding of ADC biology including tumor targeting, internalization, trafficking, payload release, bystander effects, and pharmacology
Demonstrated ability to integrate biology, chemistry, and translational data into actionable program strategies
Proven experience leading cross-functional scientific discussions and influencing program direction
Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills

Novartis Compensation and Benefit Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $152,600-$283,400 USD Annual per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$152,600.00 - $283,400.00

Skills Desired

Analytical Skill (Inactive), Analytical Skill (Inactive), Analytical Thinking, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, Clinical Research, Clinical Trials, Collaboration, Communication Skills (Inactive), Curious Mindset, Data (Inactive), Data Analysis, Decision Making, Design of Experiments (DOE), Detail-Oriented, Drug Development, Drug Discovery Process, Ethics, Gene Therapy- Leadership (Inactive), Influence (Inactive), Laboratory (Inactive), Leading Project Teams, Lifesciences (Inactive), Machine Learning (ML), Medical Research {+ 11 more}

How we rate this

Associate Director, ADC platform in Oncology Drug Discovery at Novartis rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.

Classification

Little AI. AI is not part of the work.

●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
●○○○ Little AI0 to 39

Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.

Key facts

Associate Director, ADC platform in Oncology Drug Discovery is an open job at Novartis.
Level rates this role AI Level 1 of 4: Little AI.
The listed salary is $153k-$283k a year.
The role is based in Cambridge (USA).
The job was posted on July 6, 2026.
Seniority: lead.
Applications are handled by Novartis. Apply on Novartis

Prepare for this job

Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.

Skills and AI tools this role asks for

Oncology Drug DiscoveryAntibody Drug ConjugatesCancer BiologyPharmacologyMedicinal Chemistry

Questions you could be asked

Tell me about a project where oncology drug discovery was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where antibody drug conjugates was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where cancer biology was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where pharmacology was part of your work. What did you do?
Tell me about a project where medicinal chemistry was part of your work. What did you do?

Adapt your resume

List these exact terms on your resume: Oncology Drug Discovery, Antibody Drug Conjugates, Cancer Biology, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Chemistry. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.

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