Director, Translational Medicine

Location:
Remote primary with weekly in-person meeting in the San Francisco Bay Area

Meet Life Sciences is representing a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our client is seeking a Director of Translational Medicine to lead translational strategy across its pipeline, connecting discovery and preclinical research with early clinical development.

This opportunity offers significant scientific ownership within a growing biotech, combining strategic leadership with hands-on execution across biomarker development, human disease biology, and clinical readiness.

• Develop and execute translational medicine strategies supporting preclinical and early clinical programs, aligning mechanisms of action, biomarkers, and clinical hypotheses.
• Lead pharmacodynamic, predictive, and exploratory biomarker strategies from discovery through IND/CTA-enabling activities and clinical development.
• Integrate human disease biology and preclinical findings to guide target validation, indication selection, dose rationale, and clinical development plans.
• Partner with research, clinical development, clinical operations, regulatory, and external collaborators to advance programs into the clinic.
• Lead translational contributions to regulatory submissions and clinical protocols.
• Oversee CROs and academic partners conducting translational studies and developing and running biomarker assays.
• Analyze preclinical, translational, early clinical, and large omics datasets to generate hypotheses and inform program decisions.
• Communicate scientific findings, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Contribute to publications, conference presentations, intellectual property, and the development of scalable translational processes.

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a relevant biomedical or life sciences discipline.
• At least 10 years of relevant biotechnology and/or pharmaceutical industry experience, including Director-level or equivalent leadership.
• Demonstrated ownership of translational strategies bridging preclinical research and early clinical development.
• Deep expertise in immunology, inflammation, human disease biology, and translational biomarkers.
• Experience directing external CROs in assay development and execution.
• Experience supporting IND/CTA-enabling activities and early-phase clinical programs, including healthy-volunteer studies.
• Strong analytical and hypothesis-generation skills, including demonstrated experience analyzing large omics datasets.
• Prior startup or small biotech experience, with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on delivery.
• A record of scientific contributions through publications and/or patents.
• Rheumatoid arthritis and/or fibrosis experience would be advantageous.

• Shape translational strategy across a growing pipeline.
• Work closely with scientific and clinical leadership in a collaborative, science-driven environment.
• Take on meaningful responsibility and influence over program direction.
• Receive a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Candidates must be available for weekly in-person meetings at the company’s Palo Alto headquarters.