Associate Director​/Director, Biology – Targeted Protein Degradation

SERAC Biosciences AG is looking for an Associate Director / Director, Biology in Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD).

We are seeking an experienced biology leader to drive oncology / inflammation / immunology / immuno-oncology degrader programs from target validation through lead optimization to development candidate nomination. The successful candidate will bring a proven track record of advancing degraders through the pipeline and will provide scientific and project leadership across discovery biology, translational pharmacology, biomarker strategy and pre-IND package preparation.

As biology lead, you will play a key role in the organization, working with cross-functional core teams spanning biology, chemistry, DMPK and toxicology on program strategy, milestones and risk mitigation across the pipeline.

• Lead oncology / inflammation / immunology / immuno-oncology degrader programs from target identification and validation through lead optimization, candidate selection and IND-enabling pharmacology and translational packages.
• Define and execute integrated biology and translational plans supporting lead identification and optimization, candidate selection, dose/regimen rationale, and first-in-human (FIH) study design for PROTAC and molecular glue programs.
• Oversee design, execution, and interpretation of ex vivo / in vivo efficacy and PD studies in relevant disease models, integrating PK/PD/degradation readouts to inform dose selection and biomarker strategy.
• Partner with DMPK and toxicology to ensure appropriate PK/PD-degradation integration, safety pharmacology input, and GLP/non-GLP study design aligned with IND expectations for small-molecule degraders.
• Develop and implement biomarker and PD strategies that capture degradation (eg, target protein levels, pathway modulation, transcriptional signatures) and link these to efficacy and safety in preclinical models and early clinical studies.
• Develop and implement mechanism-of-action (MoA) and degradation pharmacology (including ternary complex formation and cooperativity, target engagement and ubiquitination assays, and degradation and resynthesis kinetics) to support go/no-go decisions and clinical translation.
• Design and oversee cell-based and biochemical assays tailored to induced-proximity modalities (including ubiquitin remnant profiling, quantitative proteomics-based degrader target identification, and neo-substrate discovery for molecular glues).
• Evaluate and prioritize E3 ligases based on tissue distribution, disease context, safety liabilities, and druggability; collaborate with chemistry on hit identification, hit validation and ligand optimization strategies.
• Manage internal resources and external partners (CROs, academic collaborators) to deliver high-quality degrader pharmacology and translational data on time and within budget.
• Present program strategy, key data, and go/no-go recommendations to senior leadership and governance forums. Contribute to portfolio and modality strategy for TPD.
• Build, lead, and mentor a team of scientists (PhD, MSc, BSc) in discovery biology, in vivo pharmacology, and/or translational science, promoting innovation, rigorous experimental design, data integrity, clear communication and knowledge sharing across programs.

• PhD in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Molecular/Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field.
• 8-12+ years of industry experience in biotech/pharma, with a clear track record of advancing small-molecule oncology / immunology / immuno-oncology programs from target validation through lead optimization to development candidate nomination.
• Deep/broad expertise in at least two of the following: oncology, tumor immunology, immune checkpoint pathways,…