Director, Antibody Drug Conjugate

Overview

SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE (Basic purpose of the job):

As a member of the biotherapeutics group, the incumbent plays a key role in leading the efforts for advancing the discovery and development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) at Exelixis by leveraging his/her knowledge of medicinal chemistry. The incumbent supports efforts in discovery research and early process development activities of ongoing and new ADC projects.

• Lead, build and execute antibody on Exelixis' ADC pipeline programs.
• Provide ADC chemistry expertise in state-of-the-art ADC technologies including linkers, payloads, novel conjugation methods, analytical assessments and testing; bring novel ideas to proof of concept (POC).
• Serve as a technical expert from the Biotherapeutics group on ADC-related internal projects.
• Interact and collaborate with internal departments and external colleagues to discuss and resolve project needs and issues in research and early development of ADCs.
• Provide support in evaluation of ADC research platforms and preclinical licensing candidates as needed.
• Provide critical scientific/technical data analysis, interpretation of experiments and report writing.
• Design, implement and oversee the execution of in vitro bio-functional assays (e.g., efficacy, bystander, metabolite assessments, bioanalysis, mechanism of action studies) for bioconjugate candidate screening and selection from discovery to lead optimization.
• effectively communicate scientific concepts, study findings and interpretations to multi-disciplinary teams.
• Interacts and collaborates with internal departments to deliver quality and timely findings in support of drug candidate advancement.
• Lead scientific efforts in cancer target identification/validation.
• Manage, supervise, plan and prioritize workflow for laboratory-based scientific staff.
• Follow company intellectual property and compliance policies and practices.
• Complies with company health and safety policies and general laboratory practices.

• Supervises staff, including hiring, scheduling and assigning work, reviewing data, setting criteria for product quality and scalable and developable processes, reviewing performance, and recommending salary actions, promotions, transfers, demotions or terminations.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or a related discipline and a minimum of thirteen years of related experience; or,
• Master's degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or a related discipline and a minimum of eleven years of related experience; or,
• PhD degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or a related discipline and a minimum of eight years of related experience; or,
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience:

• Strong scientific understanding of mechanism of action of cytotoxins and ADCs is essential.
• Development of ADC therapeutics from screening to development candidate nomination.
• Hands-on laboratory experience in ADC discovery including critical reagent generation, identification and optimization of ADCs, protein production, purification, analytics and characterization.
• Demonstrated drive for rigorous scientific excellence. Ability to think critically and creatively to identify and solve scientific problems.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of state-of-the-art in different aspects of ADC research including conjugation technologies, linkers and payloads.
• Extensive knowledge of ADC platforms, applications and development. Comprehensive understanding of current approaches and emerging technologies in ADCs.
• Strong background in chemistry and/or biochemistry.
• Knowledge of intellectual property matters, and issues related to ADCs.
• The knowledge to apply advanced scientific and technical principles, theories and concepts, and contribute to the development of new principles and concepts.
• Ability to work independently, excellent time management and organization skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal communication skills.
• A strong team player.
• Good tracking record and report writing.
• Environment: primarily working in laboratories or in office.
• Exposures encountered, such as hazardous materials, extreme cold.

Our office is a modern, open-plan space that fosters collaborations and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.

• Travel required (10%)

Disclaimer The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Equal Opportunity Employer We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not…