Head of Technical Services

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 Head of Technical Services as part of the IT team based in Somerset, NJ. 

Role Overview

The Head of IT Technical Services is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing and advancing the organization's core technology infrastructure and capabilities. This role encompasses data management, artificial intelligence (AI), IT infrastructure, and operations—ensuring all platforms and services are robust, scalable, secure, and aligned with strategic business objectives. The ideal candidate will lead cross-functional teams, manage key vendor relationships, and spearhead digital transformation initiatives that foster innovation, operational efficiency, and business agility.

Key Responsibilities  

•  Strategic Leadership & Planning:
  • Develop and execute the strategic vision for IT Technical Services in alignment with organizational goals.
    
  • Drive continuous innovation through the adoption of AI, automation, and cloud technologies.
    
  • Define and maintain comprehensive technology roadmaps across data, AI, and infrastructure domains.
• Data & Analytics Management:
  • Lead the design, governance, and lifecycle management of enterprise data architecture.
  • Enable data-driven decision-making through secure, scalable, and accessible analytics platforms.
    
  • Collaborate with business units to define data strategies, ensuring alignment with legal guidance on data privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Artificial Intelligence & Automation:
  • Champion the adoption of AI and machine learning to optimize business outcomes, particularly in drug development and manufacturing.
    
  • Oversee the evaluation, development, and ethical deployment of AI initiatives.
    
  • Ensure AI activities uphold governance, transparency, and privacy standards.
• IT Infrastructure & Operations:
  • Lead the design, deployment, and support of on-premises, cloud, and hybrid IT environments.
  • Ensure high availability, performance, and security of systems and networks.
  • Oversee IT service management (ITSM), incident response, and disaster recovery planning.
• Team Leadership & Vendor Management:
  • Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary IT team.
    
  • Manage external vendors and strategic partnerships, including contracts and service-level agreements (SLAs).
    
  • Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-focused service delivery.

Requirements

• Leadership & Interpersonal Skills:
  • Demonstrated leadership with excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
    
  • Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
    
  • Ability to integrate deep technical knowledge with broad business acumen.
• Education & Experience:
  
  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field; master’s degree preferred.
    
  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience across infrastructure, data, and applications, preferably within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry.
    
  • In-depth knowledge of R&D and manufacturing operations in biotech/pharma environments.