VP, TCR therapy and Immunology

About Us

We are a biotech startup based in San Francisco, CA and have developed a proprietary single-cell platform that enables functional studies of immune cells at unprecedented selectivity and throughput, unlocking a key bottleneck in immunotherapy. We utilize the platform to functionally profile immune cells and use this knowledge to develop effective cell therapies against solid tumors. We are an interdisciplinary team of experienced engineers and scientists who are dedicated to creating effective therapies to improve human health. We also boast of a highly prolific scientific advisory board consisting of leading professors in Immunotherapy.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the VP of TCR Therapy and Immunology Research would be an accomplished scientific leader, who can effectively execute the research initiatives towards the company’s vision and strategy. This role will lead the R&D function on the therapeutics side and play a critical part in developing biopharma partnerships. An ideal candidate will be an R&D leader with a passion for immuno-oncology, immune cell profiling, and cell therapy.

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We are looking for an organized leader that has a self-starter attitude and a strong background in immune-oncology and cell therapy.

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Responsibilities

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• Collaborate with the CEO, the platform team and various advisors to scale and refine the receptor discovery pipeline such that TCRs and antibodies can be identified and characterized for both external partnerships and in-house therapeutic programs.

• Establish a strategic roadmap by analyzing and forecasting the immunotherapy landscape to present key data-driven updates to the organization that impact pipeline milestones and company objectives.

• Lead efforts to scale the organization in the way of scientific talent, and capital equipment.

• Establish & maintain new relationships with external collaborators such as targeted clinicians, biotech and pharma leadership, and key opinion leaders in the field of immuno-oncology and immunotherapy.

• Organize the strategic communications with each partner and with the internal team, tailored specifically to our strategy and vision.

• Promote an open culture of ideation, innovation, and deep scientific rigor.

Qualifications And Experience

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• Ph.D. in a field related to immuno-oncology and 10+ years of industry experience in designing, managing, and leading R&D programs is required.

• Domain expertise in cell therapy & immunology/immuno-oncology as well as deep expertise in directing cell therapy programs into the clinic

• Proven ability in TCR target evaluation from early-stage discovery, validation to IND and beyond

• Articulated and thoughtful leader who effectively communicates across all levels of the organization. Ability to gauge each team member’s abilities and know how to get the best out of each person in the team.

• Adaptability and experience scaling an early-stage company to commercial success while maximizing resources to achieve successful outcomes.

• Ability to plan decisions with discipline and possess an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Pre-established relationships with pharma companies and partners.

• Ability to present clearly and concisely to the executive team, board members, and external stakeholders as a thought leader and trusted advisor.

• Passionate about the startup environment, and able to work from the ground up to help develop the team and grow junior people

• Team player who can maintain professional and productive relationships with internal colleagues and external collaborators.

I manage a range of other permanent and contract positions for a broad portfolio of clients (Biotech, CRO and Pharma). If the above role isn’t for you but you’d nevertheless like to discuss your options in the market, I’d welcome a confidential discussion by phone or email. Contact Surbhi Dhar at +1 (619) 329 7878 or surbhi.dhar@rbwconsulting.com