AlivaMab Discovery Services is seeking an outstanding Director of Protein Sciences to lead and grow our protein production and characterization capabilities. This position will head a team of scientists responsible for the expression, purification, and characterization of antibody-based therapeutics including advanced modalities such as multispecifics and CARs, as well as the generation of reagents and tool compounds for therapeutic antibody discovery and engineering. The Director will report to the VP of Antibody Engineering and Protein Sciences and work closely with scientists and leaders in Antibody Discovery and Antibody Engineering.

AlivaMab Discovery Services is a rapidly growing leader in the discovery of human antibody therapeutics, trusted by top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to deliver panels of drug-quality human antibodies. We deliver on our partners' design goals, from simple to extraordinarily challenging, through collaborative access to our scientists' creativity and experience combined with proven technologies, including the AlivaMab® Mouse suite of transgenic mice. We excel in the rapid and efficient delivery of molecularly diverse therapeutic antibody candidates, well-characterized for function, kinetics, and developability, with expanding capabilities for engineering advanced modalities, including multispecifics and CARs.

Our organization is dedicated to creating a healthier world through partnerships that bring better medicines to patients faster, and we recognize our success starts with hiring people who share our passion for science. The annualized anticipated base annual salary for this Director position ranges from $190K to 226K Additionally, this position offers an annual bonus, equity, and other benefits. Please note that individual total compensation for this position will be determined at the Company’s sole discretion and may vary based on several factors, including but not limited to: location, skill level, years and depth of relevant experience, and education.

Other benefits offered include a 401K retirement savings plan, paid time off (vacation/personal days, holidays, and sick time), long- and short-term disability, health benefits (medical, prescription drug, dental and vision insurance), gym access, and more.

The Director position requires the candidate to lead Protein Sciences through scientific and strategic guidance and collaborate across disciplines for early binder discovery, lead identification, engineering, functional assays, and developability assessment. This role also requires the ability to establish high-level strategies and contribute to the expansion of Protein Sciences capabilities including high-throughput workflows, automation, antigen production, structural characterization, and new technologies for antibody drug discovery.

• Lead the team for recombinant protein expression, purification, and characterization for supporting the discovery of next-generation protein therapeutics including but not limited to mAbs, multispecifics, CARs, and difficult-to-handle antigens.
• Strong understanding and experimental background with demonstrated expertise in recombinant protein expression in mammalian, E. coli, and other eukaryotic systems.
• Ensure the development of robust and high-yielding expression and purification processes for generating small- to mid-scale recombinant proteins and build automated high-throughput protein production workflows.
• Ensure development of pre-formulation and stability assessments of candidates using state-of-the-art biologics characterization and QC methods.
• Implement structural biology approaches for antibody and antigen design.
• Provide scientific direction and support to functional and project teams.
• Interact and collaborate with project leaders and teams across antibody discovery, antibody engineering, and project management on project delivery, data communication, and new technology development.
• Partner with Business Development to pursue new partnerships.
• Represent ADS’s scientific goals and interests at scientific conferences, partner meetings, and other events.
• Establish a network of external partners from academia and industry to strengthen capabilities and capacity.
• Develop and manage Protein Sciences operating budget.
• Provide growth opportunities and career development support for staff. Carry out performance management/reviews for staff.

Key Skills and Requirements:

• D. in a relevant scientific area, such as protein sciences, protein biochemistry, or biotechnology, plus a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in biologics research and/or development required.
• Recognized leader in protein production and characterization as evidenced by publications, participation in international conferences, membership on journal editorial boards, etc.
• Deep understanding of the production of diverse biologics formats including bi- and multispecific antibodies, CARs, and difficult-to-handle antigens, including membrane proteins.
• Experience with transient (E. coli, HEK, CHO) and stable (CHO) protein expression.
• Experience with diverse purification approaches for different antibody formats, analytical characterization (SEC-HPLC, cGE, mass spec, cIEF, SEC-MALS), and developability assessment (thermal stability, poly specificity, hydrophobicity, forced degradation, serum stability) is required.
• Experience with building automation and developing high-throughput processes to improve efficiency and process reproducibility.
• Knowledge of utilizing structural approaches to design and stabilize antigens as immunogens and producing membrane proteins will be a plus.
• Experience in effectively managing the performance of team members and planning their career development.
• Excellent communicator and highly effective in interacting with key internal and external stakeholders.
• Team player and builder, possess great coaching skills and have great organizational skills.
• High degree of integrity and professionalism.
• High functioning in an environment dedicated to exceptional quality and integrity.

About AlivaMab Discovery Services

AlivaMab Discovery Services (ADS) sets its partners’ antibody discovery programs on the fastest and most de-risked path through discovery and development. Trusted by top-tier pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, ADS delivers drug-quality, fully human antibodies on exceptional timelines. ADS achieves its partners’ design goals for antibody drug discovery and engineering, from simple to extraordinarily challenging, rapidly and efficiently through the generation and fit-for-purpose screening of large, molecularly diverse panels of antibodies, characterized for function, kinetics and developability, and engineering for advanced modalities, including multispecifics and CARs. The ADS team’s experience in antibody drug discovery and development comes from many of the world’s top 15 pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche/Genentech, and translates across more than 500 discovery programs and 35 clinical candidates. This experience, combined with the use of trusted, proven technologies, including Ablexis’ AlivaMab® Mouse platforms, ensures the highest probability of success.

AlivaMab Discovery Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to religion, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, alienage or citizenship status, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

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