The Role
Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.
As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.
Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.
Moderna's mission is to establish a leading-edge research, development, and manufacturing facility at Harwell, as part of a long-term commitment to onshore mRNA vaccine production for respiratory diseases. This initiative will create a multitude of highly skilled jobs and foster collaboration with academic, NHS and government partners across the UK. We're looking for global experts eager to join us in this endeavour, contributing to a future where access to life-saving vaccines is a reality for all.
In this pivotal role, the Associate Director will take charge of Logistics and Operations at Moderna’s UK Clinical Biomarker Laboratory in Harwell. With both strategic oversight and operational accountability, you will be responsible for ensuring the performance and evolution of the lab’s sample lifecycle systems, biobanking, infrastructure, and regulatory readiness.
You’ll shape and implement solutions across specimen logistics, digital platforms, laboratory equipment, and facilities. Acting as a global representative of UK operations, you’ll engage cross-functional partners and U.S.-based teams to ensure excellence in compliance and consistency across our clinical programs. This is an opportunity to lead a growing team in a high-impact space, driving clinical readiness and enabling transformative mRNA research. You’ll also gain exposure to the integration and optimization of generative AI tools in operational workflows and digital lab environments.
Here’s What You’ll Do
Your key responsibilities will be:
- Provide strategic direction and executional leadership for clinical specimen management, biobanking, and regulated workflows in a UK-based clinical biomarker lab.
- Act as the business owner for laboratory operational systems, driving implementation, optimization, and continuous improvement.
- Represent UK lab operations in global forums, ensuring harmonization and alignment with Moderna’s global clinical infrastructure.
- Serve as operational lead on laboratory capital projects, managing infrastructure and equipment lifecycles with precision and scientific foresight.
- Develop and manage financial tools and procurement activities for lab operations, ensuring budget transparency and cost-effective delivery.
Your Responsibilities Will Also Include
- Ensure complete regulatory compliance with HTA, GCP, and HSE standards across sample accessioning, tracking, and biobanking.
- Own lab infrastructure planning, including space management, environmental monitoring, and lifecycle maintenance of lab systems.
- Lead the integration of digital systems (e.g., LIMS, SmartView, Maximo) into daily lab workflows and regulatory frameworks.
- Develop and uphold SOPs, risk assessments, and lead audit preparedness activities with a culture of quality and operational excellence.
- Build and mentor a high-performing team across logistics, biobanking, and lab operations to meet clinical program goals and scale future capabilities.
The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:
- We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description. In this role, you will not only lead systems and infrastructure but be accountable for the strategic outcomes and readiness of the entire lab operation.
- We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients. Your role will champion the adoption and optimization of digital tools across the laboratory, leveraging platforms like LIMS and Maximo—and incorporating generative AI—into clinical logistics and operations.
Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)
Education
- BSc (or higher) in Life Sciences or a related field. Advanced training in operations, compliance, or project management is a plus.
Experience
- 10+ years in biotech, pharma, CRO, or clinical lab settings
- 7+ years leading operations or logistics teams with direct people management
Technical Expertise
- In-depth knowledge of HTA, GCP, GCLP, and UK HSE
- Proven success in sample logistics, biobanking, and LIMS deployment
- Experience managing lab infrastructure, equipment lifecycle, and facility operations
- Skilled in procurement systems, vendor engagement, and cost optimization
- Proficient in tools for budgeting, procurement tracking, and operational analytics
Leadership & Communication
- Strong influencer with excellent cross-functional communication
- Effective in audits, inspections, and leadership-level discussions
- Strategic thinker with a practical execution mindset
Mindsets & Mobility
- Bold, curious, collaborative, and resilient
- Willing to travel internationally several times per year (mainly to the US)
- This position is site-based, requiring you to be at Moderna’s site full-time. This position is not eligible for remote work.
- As part of Moderna’s commitment to workplace safety, this role may require an enhanced pre-employment check.
At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.
- Quality healthcare and insurance benefits
- Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being
- Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes
- Family planning and adoption benefits
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments
- Location-specific perks and extras!
The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.
About Moderna
Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.
By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.
We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.
As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.
If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities.
Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.
Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!
Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.
We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best.
Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at
[email protected].
