Associate Director - Protein Engineering and Production
About The Position
Introduction to Role: Are you a proven leader ready to drive the future of protein production in the biopharma space? We are seeking an Associate Director to lead our Protein Engineering and Production team, with a strong focus on large-scale, multi-specific antibody therapeutics. In this role, you’ll oversee a high-performing team of scientists, collaborate across multi-disciplinary engineering groups, and help shape the evolution of automated, high-throughput workflows. We’re looking for someone who brings production leadership, scientific rigor, and a passion for operational excellence. Bonus if you bring an understanding of automation technologies or have led automation-driven innovation in production settings.
Requirements
- PhD in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or related field with 5+ years of post-degree experience in protein production or engineering.
- (Master’s with 10+ years, or Bachelor’s with 15+ years will also be considered.)
- Proven leadership experience, preferably with direct people management and oversight of a production or operations team.
- Deep expertise in molecular biology, cloning, expression, and purification of therapeutic proteins.
- Demonstrated experience working in or with multi-disciplinary engineering teams (e.g., automation, software, bioengineering).
- Hands-on experience with automated liquid handling systems (e.g., Hamilton, Lynx).
- Excellent problem-solving abilities and familiarity with high-throughput technologies.
- Strong organizational and project management skills; proven ability to drive timelines and deliverables.
- Excellent communication skills; able to translate complex science into actionable plans and presentations.
Nice To Haves
- Experience developing or optimizing automated workflows and using scheduling software (e.g., Green Button Go).
- Familiarity with Python, Jupyter notebooks, or data analysis tools.
- Experience with CHO or HEK293 cell lines and tissue culture.
- Exposure to design of experiments (DoE) for process optimization.
- Background in antibody discovery, imaging, or flow cytometry (iQue, FlowJo, Attune).
- Track record of scientific publications, patents, or conference presentations.
Responsibilities
- Lead, manage, and mentor a production-focused team of scientists in a high-throughput, fast-paced environment.
- Provide strong leadership with an emphasis on team development, scientific excellence, and delivery on production goals.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with automation engineers, software developers, and scientific teams to optimize and scale production processes.
- Oversee design and execution of protein expression and purification workflows, integrating automation to improve throughput and quality.
- Ensure scientific robustness in production of multispecific antibody formats, with a focus on timelines and operational efficiency.
- Present complex data and strategic updates to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Drive continuous improvement through workflow optimization, problem-solving, and technological innovation.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
