Team Leader - Cell Biology

Nucleome Therapeutics

Oxford, United Kingdom

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Team leader with expertise in cell biology, a self-starter, who would thrive in the dynamic environment of a growing biotechnology company. The position has a strong focus on team management and leadership, and the successful candidate will be responsible for the in vitro cellular pharmacology function within the drug discovery team. You will use your extensive experience in people management to build, lead, and develop a high-performing team of cellular biologists, managing all aspects of their performance management, objective setting, recruitment, and career development. The cellular pharmacology function will undertake primary and secondary cellular assay development, with a focus on immunological disease and on both biologics and small molecule drug discovery. The team will also provide matrix team support to deliver biological validation data in addition to cellular drug screening assays across multiple asset programmes. Working together with the target validation principal scientist, you will provide expertise and team leadership to support asset programmes as they progress through target nomination and hit identification through to pre-clinical candidate selection. You will provide critical input into internal asset programmes and play a key role in our interactions with both Industry Partners and Contract Research Organisations. You will be a role model to scientists within the team and across the company, motivating team members to realise their full potential. As an independent thinker you will plan and implement experiments, interpret the data, and distil complexity into concise communication. Working in a rapidly growing company, you’ll need a flexible mindset, with the ability to continually adapt to new challenges. You will be part of an interdisciplinary team and closely collaborate with computational and genomics scientists to guide drug target discovery efforts. You will have an integral role in the venture, take ownership of the work and demonstrate an exceptional work ethic towards discovering breakthrough medicines that will improve patients’ lives.

What we are looking for

Essential Knowledge

Thorough understanding of the principles and practice of early drug discovery, gained from direct practical experience in pharma or biotech industry, ideally in an immunological disease area;
Strong understanding of all aspects of in vitro cellular pharmacology as applied to drug target validation, mechanism of action and early drug discovery, including the development of phenotypic assays, primary cell assays and drug screening cascade design;
Practical understanding of in vitro cellular pharmacology gained from direct experience with antibody biologics;
Understanding of the key principles of the wider drug discovery process, from preclinical development through to the clinic.

Essential Experience/Skills

PhD level qualification or MSc and equivalent experience in a relevant pharmacological or biological science;
6+ years of experience in an industrial biopharmaceutical setting, working in early drug discovery through to candidate selection;
Experience with drug target identification, prioritisation and validation;
Strong leadership skills and a track record in contributing directly to the delivery of preclinical candidates across multiple projects to deliver on objectives in defined timelines;
Proven experience of leading and managing scientific teams in a drug discovery setting;
Extensive experience of building and managing teams, recruitment, personal development, and performance management;
Previous experience of management of drug discovery projects via Contract Research Organisations (CROs);
Ability to design research project plans including short-term and long-term experimental plans, needs assessment, prioritise follow-up studies (timelines, costs, deliverables);
Ability to design and run experiments, interpret data, troubleshoot, and suggest next steps and identify alternative approaches, delivering high-quality, consistent results in a timely fashion;
Ability to develop and improve new skills and knowledge necessary to successfully support assigned projects;
Ability to work independently as well as thrive working in a multidisciplinary team;
Outstanding communication, organisational and leadership skills, with a successful track record of collaborating with cross-functional, matrix teams;
Strong organisational and time management skills; ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, as well as ability to prioritise and balance competing demands;
A positive “can-do” and result oriented attitude, with openness to new ideas and ability to work flexibly in a highly dynamics environment.

Preferred experience

Direct personal experience of leading early-stage drug discovery projects through stage transition to candidate selection;
Practical understanding of in vitro cellular pharmacology for areas of drug discovery outside of primary area of expertise;
Experience of biochemical/biophysical mechanism of action studies;
Understanding of in vivo efficacy study design and the principles of in vivo;
Experience of complex cell culture/co-culture systems and/or establishment of ex vivo assays;
Experience in working in the Autoimmune Disease Therapeutic Area;
Previous experience of interaction with external partners and/or managing academic collaborations.

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