Program Lead, Cell and Gene Therapy

Program Lead, Cell and Gene Therapy Employer Legend Biotech Location Raritan, New Jersey Salary $168372 - $220988 Start date Apr 22, 2026 View more categories View less categories Discipline Science/R D , Biotherapeutics , Genetics Required Education Bachelors Degree Position Type Full time Apply now Save job Click to add the job to your shortlist You need to sign in or create an account to save a job. Send job Job Details Company Job Details Legend Biotech is a global biotechnology company dedicated to treating, and one day curing, life-threatening diseases. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, we are developing advanced cell therapies across a diverse array of technology platforms, including autologous and allogenic chimeric antigen receptor T-cell, T-cell receptor (TCR-T), and natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy. From our three R D sites around the world, we apply these innovative technologies to pursue the discovery of safe, efficacious and cutting-edge therapeutics for patients worldwide. Legend Biotech entered into a global collaboration agreement with Janssen, one of the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, to jointly develop and commercialize ciltacabtagene autolecuel (cilta-cel). Our strategic partnership is designed to combine the strengths and expertise of both companies to advance the promise of an immunotherapy in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Legend Biotech is seeking a Program Lead, Cell and Gene Therapy as part of the Global Manufacturing and Supply team based in Raritan, NJ. Role Overview The program Lead will be responsible for developing and executing the internal commercial manufacturing strategy for iLVV (in vivo Lentiviral Vector). This role will lead strategic planning, drive execution, propose options to senior leadership, of the commercial manufacturing introduction activities across late-stage and commercial programs, ensuring technical excellence, regulatory readiness, operational execution, and seamless cross-functional alignment. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams including R D, process development, MSAT, global facility & engineering, Quality, procurement, regulatory affairs, and finance. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership Define and drive the internal commercial manufacturing strategy for iLVV. Evaluate internal/external options for iLVV commercial manufacturing, and seek stakeholder feedback. Present options and recommendations to senior leadership for decision-making. Provide clear, concise, and timely updates to senior management regarding program progress, risks, and strategic considerations. Motivate and inspire cross-functional teams, building momentum, alignment, and ownership. Make decisive, data-driven, and sometimes tough decisions to advance program objectives under aggressive timelines.

Planning & Execution:

Develop detailed business and implementation plans and timeline for late stage clinical and commercial manufacturing to deliver launch milestones. Oversee facility fitness and readiness and ensure alignment with stakeholders on commercial tech transfer and production timelines. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with R D for process development and technology transfer. Work closely with engineering and Somerset facility teams for infrastructure planning. Drive decision-making that balances scientific rigor, speed, risk, and business impact. Coordinate with regulatory and quality teams to ensure compliance with global standards. Collaborate with finance to manage budgets and cost projections. Process Development & Transfer Working with MSAT to drive commercial process transfer activities from development to manufacturing. Coordinate generation of process descriptions, control strategies, equipment requirements and Bill of Materials. Drive establishment of raw material requirements, QC method readiness and facility fit. Ensure robust scale-up and validation of vector manufacturing processes. Manufacturing Site & Operational Readiness Ensure manufacturing facilities are prepared for the new product including capacity, equipment, utilities, and staffing. Partner with Supply Chain to secure long-lead materials, single-use components, and critical suppliers.

Oversee line-of-business readiness:

QA, QC, MSAT, warehouse, digital systems, labeling, analytics. Align on operational procedures (SOP updates, batch records, deviations/corrective actions). Quality and Compliance Ensure compliance with applicable global GMP, ICH, and regulatory expectations. Support CMC submissions, PPQ documentation, change controls, and validation packages. Collaborate with Quality to ensure inspection readiness and audit support. Continuous Improvement & Lifecycle Management Identify opportunities to optimize manufacturing robustness, cost, and yield post-launch. Implement lessons learned, knowledge management systems, and NPI best practices. Support product lifecycle changes such as process improvements, site expansions, and supply chain enhancements. Requirements Education BS is required, Ph.D. preferred in Biotechnology, Biochemical Engineering, or related field. Experience Minimum 10+ years in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Viral vector late processes development/manufacturing experience is required. Proven experience in facility scale and layout planning, and commercial process transfer and validation. Strong understanding of cGMP requirements and regulatory frameworks for cell and gene therapy products. Skills Strategic thinking and ability to build consensus among peers and influence senior leadership. Excellent project management and cross-functional leadership skills. Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities. Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Highly goal-oriented, ownership-driven, and laser-focused on execution. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and making quick, high-impact decisions. #Li-BZ1 #Li-Hybrid The base pay range below is what Legend Biotech USA Inc. reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, skills, qualifications, and geographic location. The company reserves the right to modify this range as needed and in accordance with applicable laws.

Other Types of Pay:

Performance-based bonus and/or equity is available to employees in eligible roles.

Benefits and Paid Time Off:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one. We offer eight (8) weeks of paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment, and a paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and eleven (11) company holidays. Additional voluntary benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, legal assistance, and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance. We also provide voluntary commuter benefits, family planning and care resources, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs; demonstrating our ongoing commitment to building a culture where our people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to do their best work. Pay Range (Base Pay): $168,372 - $220,988 USD Please note: These benefits are offered exclusively to permanent full-time employees. Contractors are not eligible for benefits through Legend Biotech. EEO Statement It is the policy of Legend Biotech to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions and lactation), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances. Employment is at-will and may be terminated at any time with or without cause or notice by the employee or the company. For information related to our privacy notice, please review: Legend Biotech Privacy Notice . Company Legend Biotech was founded as an early-stage cell therapy company in 2014. The company was the brainchild of visionary scientists who recognized that antibody-based therapeutics could potentially treat disease and possessed the backgrounds in immunology and gene editing to take the leap. For two years, Legend Biotech, then known as the "Legend Project," operated in a room the size of a freight elevator, with the goal of creating a cell therapy for multiple myeloma, a hematological cancer that often relapses and can become refractory. The team produced nanobodies for single-domain antibody drugs and ultimately extended the half-life of the nanobodies with proprietary technologies. In 2015, Legend's scientists focused on research for chimeric antigen-receptor T-cells (CAR-T) targeting the BCMA protein, making the biotech one of the first companies in the world to engineer CAR-T cells for the BCMA protein. In 2016, investigator-initiated trials began in China. In 2017, data from the trials were presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), which led to a partnership with biopharmaceutical company Janssen Biotech, Inc. to co-develop the anti-BCMA CAR-T, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel). Applications seeking approval of cilta-cel for the treatment of patients with RRMM are currently under regulatory review by several health authorities around the world.

CARVYKTI

™ (ciltacabtagene autoleucel) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2022 and received conditional marketing approval from the European Medicines Agency in May 2022. Today Legend Biotech is a global, commercial-stage company driven by a passion for patients. We continue to build our pipeline of cell therapy platforms, which includes CAR-T, CAR-NK, CAR-γδ T and non-gene-editing CAR technologies. Our goal is to bring hope and opportunity to patients and their families by continuing to explore unique technologies. Company info Location Somerset New Jersey United States Share this job Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Apply now Send job Apply now Save job Click to add the job to your shortlist You need to sign in or create an account to save a job. Get job alerts Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox. Create alert