Scientific Director, Biologics, Discovery and Development

Job Title:

Scientific Director, Biologics Discovery and Development

Location:

Stevenage, with travel to London offices Job Type: Permanent

Agencies:
We will only work with recruitment partners on our preferred supplier list and will not engage with speculative CVs submitted.

Are you passionate about making life science life changing and delivering impact for patients? We want to hear from you.

Life Arc has a strong track record in antibody therapeutics and has contributed to the development of five approved drugs, including the world’s top-selling oncology drug, pembrolizumab. The Scientific Director of Biologics Discovery and Development is a key scientific leadership position at Life Arc, responsible for a team focussed on human antibody discovery using a transgenic mouse platform, cutting‑edge B‑cell selection technology, and antibody humanisation.

The Biologics Discovery and Development group leads internal drug discovery projects in rare diseases, childhood cancers, and infectious diseases, as well as supporting a range of early‑stage commercial collaborations with biotech companies and academic groups.

The group comprises ~30 experienced scientists with diverse skill sets who support all stages of the antibody discovery process, from antigen design and expression, immunisation and screening, protein production, biophysical assessment, and detailed antibody characterisation.

The team plays a key role in Life Arc’s wider therapeutic discovery capabilities alongside the Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology and Chemical Biology teams. The role is based at our state‑of‑the‑art, superbly equipped laboratories at the Stevenage Biomedical Catalyst campus, with a small team located at the Francis Crick Institute in London.

As an experienced and recognised leader in antibody discovery and engineering, you will have a strong track record delivering molecules that have entered further development. You will have a deep understanding of the required processes, technologies and work streams and experience in a similar role in a biotech or pharma environment, with extensive line management and leadership experience.

You will work closely with other Life Arc Functions, including Data Sciences, Clinical Development, and Business Development.

Key responsibilities of the role include identifying and championing new project ideas aligned with Life Arc’s priority diseases, identifying and leading external collaborations, and recommending and implementing technology improvements to the biologics platform capabilities.

• Reporting to the Senior Director, Therapeutic Platforms, leading and line managing the Biologics Discovery and Development Group, ensuring delivery of projects to time and budget
• Generating antibody hit panels and lead molecules for further progression to well‑characterised and fit‑for‑development candidate molecules for our in‑house portfolio or to external partners as part of commercial collaborations
• Developing the team and individuals within the group, to ensure scientific and operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Ensuring high‑quality data delivery, and monitor and ensure data integrity
• Identifying opportunities for Life Arc to secure intellectual property from its biologics discovery projects
• Working closely with the Chief Scientific Officer;
  Senior Director, Therapeutic Platforms;
  Senior Director Platform & Project Strategy and other Scientific Directors to manage budgets, objectives, and project plans
• Working with external collaborators to develop strategies and work plans and ensure that collaborative projects are delivered to high scientific standards
• Presenting projects to the Life Arc governance committee, collaborating closely with project leaders, and project managers
• Working with other Scientific Directors and groups to ensure synergies are exploited and cross‑department and cross‑modality support is used wherever possible.
• Developing and presenting new project concepts and therapeutic ideas and participate in the assessment of new project opportunities
• Making recommendations for enhancements to the antibody platform that will improve…