China Discovery Biology Head

SUMMARY

Brii Biosciences is seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientific leader to join the fast-paced biopharmaceutical research group. The incumbent will have responsibilities for management of activities for a growing discovery biology team in China. The candidate will lead our China biology laboratories and be accountable for all science conducted by that team. In this role, the biology head will work closely with a multidisciplinary team across our sites in China and the US. The candidate will have a specific expertise in RNAi as a drug modality and demonstrated track record for progressing novel siRNA or ASO drug candidates through discovery into early development. In addition, this role will be accountable for new target assessment, portfolio progression and ensuring the research team are trained and implanting the latest methods and technologies. A deep understanding of drug discovery and early development across all common drug modalities will be critical. The candidate will have a passion for developing and advancing cutting-edge therapeutics through driving scientific innovation. The candidate must have good organizational, writing and strong communication abilities in both Chinese and English and a demonstrated successful history of delivering drug candidates for clinical development. This role also involves management of a team of biologists ranging from technician to senior level scientists. The candidate will have demonstrated ability to effectively manage a multilevel team to set objectives, provide motivation and ensure effective development of team members.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strong scientific leadership and experimental guidance from exploratory-to-clinical candidate programs for a team of scientists with diverse in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo biological expertise.
• Ensure laboratory infrastructure and capabilities including personnel and equipment are meeting the needs of the Brii Discovery organization.
• Work with leadership to refine capital budget needs and long term planning to ensure the Discovery Laboratory is able to grow and reflect the requirements of the overall business strategy objectives
• Identify opportunities to implement novel platform technologies and innovation; Grow biological capabilities that enable and align objectives to advance new technologies and broader scientific vision
• Grow Brii’s laboratory capabilities in China and lead implementation of science to deliver exploratory and discovery strategic priorities; Develop evaluation plans to assess platform technologies and new drug modality areas of interest; Work cross-functionally in complex and fast-paced research organization
• Manage resource allocation across various drug discovery projects
• Ensure lab output meets the highest data integrity standards; Set an example for high integrity ensuring data is correctly interpreted and enable robust decision making; Drive integration of state-of-the-art LIMS technologies including use of electronic lab notebook across the organization
• Communicate with scientific and executive leaders; Represent Brii Bio Discovery both internally and externally at scientific meetings, and through high impact scientific communications
• Manage a team of direct and indirect reports, including setting objectives, evaluating performance, establishing priorities, and providing leadership to drive team success.

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD or equivalent in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, chemistry or a related discipline with 10+ years of pharmaceutical or biotech industry experience.
• Experience leading a team of biologists
• A track record of developing and leading early programs focused on RNAi therapeutics.
• Performance management leadership and experience
• Understanding of advancing platform technology areas including CRISPR/Cas9, gene editing, oligonucleotide therapeutics, vector delivery methods, antibody drug conjugates, mRNA vaccines and bioinformatics systems
• Solid track record of leading teams to address challenging technical problems
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills and ability to work efficiently and productively in a dynamic, scientifically rigorous, and fast-paced environment.