Director, Cell Engineering, Cell Therapy

Roche • South San Francisco, CA

5d

About The Position

A healthier future. It’s what drives us to innovate. To continuously advance science and ensure everyone has access to the healthcare they need today and for generations to come. Creating a world where we all have more time with the people we love. That’s what makes us Roche. The Opportunity The Director of Cell Engineering in Cell Therapy within gRED (Genentech Research and Early Development) will oversee and direct the foundational cell engineering technology development and enabling research efforts for cell therapy products. Reporting directly to the Head of Cell Therapy, the selected candidate will be responsible for leading and managing a group composed of several Principal Scientists and their scientific personnel, and will sit on the Cell Therapy leadership team. This individual will work closely with other functional leaders and their teams within the department on engineering of therapeutic cell types, as well as coordinate reagent and analytical needs with cross-functional teams in research and technical operations/manufacturing. A comprehensive understanding of cell engineering as it pertains to chimeric receptors, signaling pathways, transcriptional activity, synthetic biology and metabolic pathways is highly desirable. In this role, you will: Build, develop and guide innovative technical and scientific talent in achieving its department objectives, including overseeing research programs executed through high quality laboratory research. Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement; set team goals, manage performance, and facilitate professional development. Collaborate within Cell Therapy and across the Company (Research, CMC, Genentech, and Roche Subsidiaries) to ensure collective leadership and seamless partnership in support of cell therapy discovery and development. Develop and implement the overall strategic plan(s) for innovative engineering approaches to engineer intrinsic cell properties using advanced genomic/epigenomic methods. Identify novel strategies for safe and efficient multiplex editing strategies that achieve technical design criteria without adversely compromising cell viability and safety. Integrate metabolic engineering strategies into existing spectrum of genomic/epigenomic editing platforms to further enable modulation of critical cellular properties for enhanced functional potency. Ability to lead and contribute productively to various types of genotoxicity assays that require development to fulfill safety and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific field such as cell biology, molecular biology, immunology, or bioengineering with a minimum of 3 years of Postdoctoral experience
• Extensive knowledge of cell engineering strategies and implementation in primary (e.g. T cells) and pluripotent stem cells.
• Understanding of different editing tools, associated benefits and caveats to efficiently achieve complex engineered cell profiles.
• A minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience (can include Ph.D. work & Postdoctoral Fellowship) in a relevant field, of which at least 5 years of industry experience is preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressively increasing level of responsibility in people leadership, in direct and matrixed organizations
• Capable of guiding cross-functional teams while effectively communicating complex scientific data and strategy to diverse audiences, from lab scientists to executive management.
• Reputation and credibility as an emerging leader in the field, evidenced by a strong publication record or validated contributions in advancing Science
• Demonstrated track record as an effective inclusive leader
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)

Responsibilities

• Build, develop and guide innovative technical and scientific talent in achieving its department objectives, including overseeing research programs executed through high quality laboratory research.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement; set team goals, manage performance, and facilitate professional development.
• Collaborate within Cell Therapy and across the Company (Research, CMC, Genentech, and Roche Subsidiaries) to ensure collective leadership and seamless partnership in support of cell therapy discovery and development.
• Develop and implement the overall strategic plan(s) for innovative engineering approaches to engineer intrinsic cell properties using advanced genomic/epigenomic methods.
• Identify novel strategies for safe and efficient multiplex editing strategies that achieve technical design criteria without adversely compromising cell viability and safety.
• Integrate metabolic engineering strategies into existing spectrum of genomic/epigenomic editing platforms to further enable modulation of critical cellular properties for enhanced functional potency.
• Ability to lead and contribute productively to various types of genotoxicity assays that require development to fulfill safety and regulatory requirements.

Benefits

• Relocation benefits are available for this job posting.
• The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $181,900 - $337,900.
• Actual pay will be determined based on experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
• A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.
• This position also qualifies for the benefits detailed at the link provided below.

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