Director of Biology

Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled leader with a strong background in oncology, targeted protein degradation (TPD) and drug discovery who can lead a growing scientific team and be responsible for managing research projects for the company. The company is looking for an experienced scientific leader to work closely with senior leadership to plan and direct new programs, from initial discovery efforts, through in vivo proof of concept, and, ultimately towards the clinic. A successful candidate will aid drug discovery strategy, lead TPD programs for glues and PROTACs, spearhead development of relevant assays and models, assess MOA pharmacology, and contribute to regulatory documents. The individual will have in-depth knowledge of therapeutic approaches in oncology, signaling pathways, immune-oncology and drug resistance, and related areas. The individual will be responsible for preparation of scientific presentations and manuscripts as needed.

Education and Experience:

· Ph.D. in biology (preferably cancer biology or immunology or molecular or cell biology) with minimum 10-12 years of oncology and small molecule drug discovery experience in the biotech /pharmaceutical industry

· Project leadership from target identification/validation to delivering pre-clinical data packages for IND filing

· Management of multiple projects in a fast-paced work environment with cross-functional collaborations and working knowledge of drug design, drug metabolism, PK, PD and in vivo evaluation of drug candidates

· Extensive experience in building and managing teams of internal/CRO biologists and academic/clinical collaborators, and mentoring internal scientists

· Strong publication/patent record and excellent written, oral and presentations skills

· Expert in use of small molecule inhibitors, proteomics, and genetic manipulation (shRNA, CRISPR) and phenotypic screens, wide array of molecular and cell biology assays, assay development and optimization, high-throughput cellular assays, western blots, immunoprecipitation, qPCR, ELISA, multicolor flow cytometry, Fluorescent microscopy, establishment of stable/drug-resistant cell lines, viral vector design and transduction techniques (retroviral, lentiviral)

Responsibilities and Expectations:

· Lead multiple TPD projects from early discovery to delivery of preclinical data package for IND filing

· Expand and lead a team of internal/CRO scientists and maintain cross-functional collaborations to support drug discovery and translational efforts

· Design, execute and analyze experiments with a variety of biochemical, cellular, genetic, and pharmacological techniques to advance multiple candidates from discovery research to clinical development

· Deliver data packages in a timely manner for internal milestones that aid in drug discovery strategy

· Responsible for generating pharmacology sections of patents and regulatory documents such as IND

· Monitors advances in oncology and immune-oncology therapeutic areas by staying abreast with recent literature, attending conferences, and interacting with academic and clinical collaborators

· Routine presentation of data at internal meetings and domestic/international conferences

· Promote professional growth of internal scientists and biologists and provide them with mentorship and support