Vice President of Biology
Stealth stage biotech · San Diego, California, United States
FULL TIMEpermanent
Job Description
About the Company
Take the next step in your career now, scroll down to read the full role description and make your application.
Institutionally backed biotech focused on neuroscience and the development of novel therapeutics.Position OverviewWe are seeking a Senior Director or Vice President of Biology to lead therapeutic program executionfrom discovery through investigational new drug (IND) submission, with direct responsibility for the biology, pharmacology, and nonclinical toxicology workstreams. This leader will own program strategy and timelines and use experimental results to guide candidate selection and program advancement.The role is centered on target biology, pharmacology, and translation. The successful candidate will lead and grow an existing team of approximately seven scientists, take direct responsibility for nonhuman primate (NHP) studies, and establish the assays and translational frameworks needed to connect binding, internalization, exposure, and pharmacology with program decisions for peptide targeting ligands used in therapeutic fusions and conjugates.This is a player-coach role for a scientific leader who remains close to experiment design, raw data, and program decisions. This leader will carry the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work through IND submission, then work with the executive team to transition primary program leadership as the program enters clinical development. In the near term this position reports directly to the CEO.We will calibrate the title to the candidate’s experience and breadth. A Vice President candidate should be ready to lead the full biology function and have the potential to expand into broader Research leadership. A Senior Director candidate may bring a narrower initial scope while demonstrating the ability to grow into greater responsibility.Key ResponsibilitiesTherapeutic Program Leadership• Own integrated program strategies, timelines, milestones, and decision criteria from discovery through IND submission, with particular accountability for biology, pharmacology, and toxicology.• Translate target biology and pharmacology findings into clear recommendations on study design, candidate selection, program risk, and advancement.• Lead milestone-based program reviews, identify critical scientific questions, and support evaluation of new targets by assessing biological rationale, translational feasibility, and program risk.3210 Merryfield San Diego, CA 9212Diaxis Therapeutics, NHP and Translational Pharmacology• Own the design, execution, and interpretation of NHP studies, including model and endpoint selection, dose and sampling strategy, direction of contract research organizations (CROs), and integration of study results into program decisions.• Develop a credible blood-brain barrier translation strategy using the pharmacological tools needed to understand binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and tolerability.• Direct in vitro assay development, in vivo pharmacology, disease models, translational studies, and nonclinical safety and toxicology work needed to support an IND.• Evaluate data across studies and modalities, resolve conflicting results, and define follow-up experiments that address the most important program risks.Assay Strategy and Program Translation• Develop and apply fit-for-purpose cellular and translational assays that connect target engagement, binding, internalization, trafficking, and cellular activity with program decisions.• Integrate biochemical, cellular, pharmacology, PK/PD, biodistribution, and in vivo data to guide candidate selection, study design, and advancement decisions.• Translate findings from peptide targeting-ligand fusions and conjugates into clear hypotheses, success criteria, and follow-up experiments for therapeutic programs.• Collaborate with peptide, biochemistry, conjugation, and other research colleagues to interpret results, identify program risks, and define the data needed to resolve them.Team Leadership and Research Operations• Lead, develop, and expand a team of scientists across in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, identifying capability gaps and adding talent as the portfolio advances.• Remain hands-on in experimental design, data review, and scientific troubleshooting; provide practical support in the laboratory when the team needs it.• Set standards for experimental rigor, data quality, documentation, and reproducibility, and establish a research operating model that can scale with the portfolio.• Set priorities and allocate internal and external resources against program milestones, includingmanagement of CROs, study budgets, and external scientific partners.IND Transition and Communication• Partner with the executive leadership as programs approach IND submission, retain leadership of the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work through submission, and provide the scientificcontinuity needed for an effective transition into clinical development.• Present program plans, data, risks, and recommendations clearly to company leadership and cross-functional teams.• Contribute scientific expertise to intellectual property, regulatory, and partnering activities as programs advance.3210 Merryfield San Diego, CA 9212Diaxis Therapeutics, QualificationsRequired Experience• PhD in pharmacology, biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, or a related discipline.• Substantial biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience leading therapeutic discovery and preclinical programs through candidate selection, IND-enabling work, and IND submission.• Direct ownership of nonhuman primate and nonclinical safety or toxicology studies, including study design, CRO execution, data interpretation, and program decisions based on the results.• Deep pharmacology experience spanning relevant in vitro assays and in vivo models, with the ability to integrate binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and safety or tolerability data.• A demonstrated ability to learn new indications and disease biology quickly. Prior expertise in a specific therapeutic area is not required.• Experience leading scientific teams and external research partners, with clear communication and the judgment to make recommendations when data are incomplete or conflicting.• A hands-on operating style suited to an early-stage company, including direct involvement in experiment design, data review, troubleshooting, and program planning.Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable• Experience with blood-brain barrier biology, CNS delivery, receptor-mediated transport, or another targeted delivery system.• Experience with peptide discovery, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, or pharmacology, particularly peptide targeting ligands and their use in therapeutic fusions or conjugates.• Deep expertise in at least one relevant therapeutic modality and the ability to work across biologics, fusions, conjugates, and other complex therapeutics.• Experience building research capabilities in an early-stage biotechnology company, with the breadth and potential to assume broader Research leadership as the company grows.Growth PotentialThe immediate priority is internal scientific and program leadership rather than serving as the external face of the company. Over time, a successful leader may expand into broader Research and scientific leadership. xzbcwsv At the Vice President level, the role may also grow to include leadership of confidential scientific diligence, presentation of the company’s platform and programs, preparation ofresponses to technical questions, and potential progression toward a Chief Scientific Officer role.
Take the next step in your career now, scroll down to read the full role description and make your application.
Institutionally backed biotech focused on neuroscience and the development of novel therapeutics.Position OverviewWe are seeking a Senior Director or Vice President of Biology to lead therapeutic program executionfrom discovery through investigational new drug (IND) submission, with direct responsibility for the biology, pharmacology, and nonclinical toxicology workstreams. This leader will own program strategy and timelines and use experimental results to guide candidate selection and program advancement.The role is centered on target biology, pharmacology, and translation. The successful candidate will lead and grow an existing team of approximately seven scientists, take direct responsibility for nonhuman primate (NHP) studies, and establish the assays and translational frameworks needed to connect binding, internalization, exposure, and pharmacology with program decisions for peptide targeting ligands used in therapeutic fusions and conjugates.This is a player-coach role for a scientific leader who remains close to experiment design, raw data, and program decisions. This leader will carry the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work through IND submission, then work with the executive team to transition primary program leadership as the program enters clinical development. In the near term this position reports directly to the CEO.We will calibrate the title to the candidate’s experience and breadth. A Vice President candidate should be ready to lead the full biology function and have the potential to expand into broader Research leadership. A Senior Director candidate may bring a narrower initial scope while demonstrating the ability to grow into greater responsibility.Key ResponsibilitiesTherapeutic Program Leadership• Own integrated program strategies, timelines, milestones, and decision criteria from discovery through IND submission, with particular accountability for biology, pharmacology, and toxicology.• Translate target biology and pharmacology findings into clear recommendations on study design, candidate selection, program risk, and advancement.• Lead milestone-based program reviews, identify critical scientific questions, and support evaluation of new targets by assessing biological rationale, translational feasibility, and program risk.3210 Merryfield San Diego, CA 9212Diaxis Therapeutics, NHP and Translational Pharmacology• Own the design, execution, and interpretation of NHP studies, including model and endpoint selection, dose and sampling strategy, direction of contract research organizations (CROs), and integration of study results into program decisions.• Develop a credible blood-brain barrier translation strategy using the pharmacological tools needed to understand binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and tolerability.• Direct in vitro assay development, in vivo pharmacology, disease models, translational studies, and nonclinical safety and toxicology work needed to support an IND.• Evaluate data across studies and modalities, resolve conflicting results, and define follow-up experiments that address the most important program risks.Assay Strategy and Program Translation• Develop and apply fit-for-purpose cellular and translational assays that connect target engagement, binding, internalization, trafficking, and cellular activity with program decisions.• Integrate biochemical, cellular, pharmacology, PK/PD, biodistribution, and in vivo data to guide candidate selection, study design, and advancement decisions.• Translate findings from peptide targeting-ligand fusions and conjugates into clear hypotheses, success criteria, and follow-up experiments for therapeutic programs.• Collaborate with peptide, biochemistry, conjugation, and other research colleagues to interpret results, identify program risks, and define the data needed to resolve them.Team Leadership and Research Operations• Lead, develop, and expand a team of scientists across in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, identifying capability gaps and adding talent as the portfolio advances.• Remain hands-on in experimental design, data review, and scientific troubleshooting; provide practical support in the laboratory when the team needs it.• Set standards for experimental rigor, data quality, documentation, and reproducibility, and establish a research operating model that can scale with the portfolio.• Set priorities and allocate internal and external resources against program milestones, includingmanagement of CROs, study budgets, and external scientific partners.IND Transition and Communication• Partner with the executive leadership as programs approach IND submission, retain leadership of the biology, pharmacology, and toxicology work through submission, and provide the scientificcontinuity needed for an effective transition into clinical development.• Present program plans, data, risks, and recommendations clearly to company leadership and cross-functional teams.• Contribute scientific expertise to intellectual property, regulatory, and partnering activities as programs advance.3210 Merryfield San Diego, CA 9212Diaxis Therapeutics, QualificationsRequired Experience• PhD in pharmacology, biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, or a related discipline.• Substantial biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience leading therapeutic discovery and preclinical programs through candidate selection, IND-enabling work, and IND submission.• Direct ownership of nonhuman primate and nonclinical safety or toxicology studies, including study design, CRO execution, data interpretation, and program decisions based on the results.• Deep pharmacology experience spanning relevant in vitro assays and in vivo models, with the ability to integrate binding, internalization, exposure, biodistribution, PK/PD, efficacy, and safety or tolerability data.• A demonstrated ability to learn new indications and disease biology quickly. Prior expertise in a specific therapeutic area is not required.• Experience leading scientific teams and external research partners, with clear communication and the judgment to make recommendations when data are incomplete or conflicting.• A hands-on operating style suited to an early-stage company, including direct involvement in experiment design, data review, troubleshooting, and program planning.Additional Experience That Would Be Valuable• Experience with blood-brain barrier biology, CNS delivery, receptor-mediated transport, or another targeted delivery system.• Experience with peptide discovery, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, or pharmacology, particularly peptide targeting ligands and their use in therapeutic fusions or conjugates.• Deep expertise in at least one relevant therapeutic modality and the ability to work across biologics, fusions, conjugates, and other complex therapeutics.• Experience building research capabilities in an early-stage biotechnology company, with the breadth and potential to assume broader Research leadership as the company grows.Growth PotentialThe immediate priority is internal scientific and program leadership rather than serving as the external face of the company. Over time, a successful leader may expand into broader Research and scientific leadership. xzbcwsv At the Vice President level, the role may also grow to include leadership of confidential scientific diligence, presentation of the company’s platform and programs, preparation ofresponses to technical questions, and potential progression toward a Chief Scientific Officer role.
Details
| Company | Stealth stage biotech |
| Location | San Diego, California, United States |
| Type | FULL TIME |
| Niche | general |
| Experience | permanent |