Director of Discovery Sciences

iQ Biosciences•Alameda, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

About iQ Biosciences iQ Biosciences provides high quality biospecimens and research services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostic, and academic organizations worldwide. We are more than a vendor. We are a trusted partner to the biomedical community, united by a mission to help cure disease. As we enter a new phase of growth, we are seeking a motivated leader who reflects our culture and values: sound judgment, clear communication, curiosity, urgency, focused passion, intelligence, and empathy. This role offers meaningful growth potential as we expand our Discovery Sciences division, supported by the newly formed Commercial Operations and Project Management business units. This is a unique opportunity to engage across a broad range of drug development strategies. You will work with emerging biotechs and global pharma at the intersection of scientific innovation and commercial strategy, with a focus on Immunology, Oncology, and related therapeutic modalities. Position Description: Director of Discovery Sciences (Discovery Sciences Leader; SCI501): The Director of Discovery Sciences reports to the Chief Scientific Officer and works closely with the Executive Committee to provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership across iQ Biosciences’ Cellular Products, Bioservices, Bioconjugation, and Internal Research and Development teams. The role is accountable for delivering high quality client programs while advancing internal innovation to expand iQ’s portfolio of products, assays, and services. The role may support special Executive Committee projects (i.e. spinout companies, external diligence of business opportunities, patent filings, etc.). This leader combines strong scientific judgment with operational rigor and polished client facing leadership. As the division’s senior scientific representative, the Director partners closely with Commercial Operations and Project Management to assess technical landscapes, shape study designs, and provide clear interpretation of data and results. Internally, the Director sets priorities, delegates effectively, maintains oversight of cross departmental execution, and supports budgeting and forecasting to inform key decisions. The role also drives workflow optimization to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, while exploring new R&D strategies that can translate into differentiated products or service offerings and revenue growth. The Director is a subject matter expert in early research and preclinical stage cellular immunology, immuno-oncology, and oncology, with experience across therapeutic modalities including small molecules, biologics, and cell-based therapies. Success in this role depends on building high performing teams through mentorship, coaching, and clear accountability while developing next generation managers. This is a highly visible leadership position that requires clear written and verbal communication, a consultative mindset, and consistent follow through. The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable across scientific and business contexts, and deeply curious, able to rapidly learn new concepts and translate them into client value and organizational impact.

Requirements

Ph.D. or MS in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field, with 7 plus years of discovery research experience and progressive leadership in a CRO, biotech, or pharmaceutical setting.
Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple concurrent programs with strong prioritization and follow through.
Strong client facing presence, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear study designs and actionable project strategies.
Track record of developing and launching new assays, services, or platforms that drive scientific differentiation and commercial value.
Extensive hands-on expertise in immunological and biochemical assays, including flow cytometry, ELISA and MSD, western blotting, cell-based assays, and tissue culture, with preferred experience characterizing early-stage therapeutics.
Broad knowledge of therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, and cell-based therapies such as CAR-T/NK/Treg.
Operational strength in budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, and quality management.
Experience improving execution efficiency and reducing costs through workflow optimization, systems development, and process improvement.
Strong leadership and communication skills, with demonstrated success mentoring, coaching, and developing high performing teams.
Effective cross functional collaboration experience with Commercial Operations, Project Management, and Human Resources.
Entrepreneurial and strategic mindset, with the ability to lead Executive Committee sponsored special projects and deliver measurable impacts.

Responsibilities

Lead the Cellular Products, Bioservices, and Bioconjugation groups with scientific rigor, operational excellence, and alignment to corporate strategy.
Guide group managers in project planning, resource allocation, and execution while providing scientific oversight, mentorship, and accountability.
Oversee internal R&D, including assay development, validation, product innovation, and exploratory research that expands service capabilities.
Monitor scientific and competitive landscapes to prioritize new technologies, therapeutic modalities, service opportunities, and pricing strategy.
Own the end-to-end client project lifecycle as the senior scientific representative, from inquiry through closeout, ensuring scientific quality, timeline adherence, and alignment to business objectives:
Develop scopes of work, technical proposals, and cost estimates with scientific subject matter experts, Commercial Operations, and Project Management, and partner with Legal and Business Development on MSAs, NDAs, BDAs, and related contract documentation.
Lead client and internal meetings by setting agendas, preparing materials, tracking action items, documenting decisions, and mitigating risk while communicating clearly about workflows and scope.
Collaborate and implement scalable project workflows, utilizing Project Management best practices, including training for junior project managers and client facing scientific teams, to improve execution efficiency and the client experience.
Collaborate with cross-functional partners on pricing templates that accurately reflect project costs, including materials, methods, and relevant operational factors, and translate strategic priorities into actionable plans with clear milestones, deliverables, and risk tracking.
Partner with Customer Service, Sales and Marketing to strengthen target client profiles, improve proposal relevance, and drive acquisition and outreach by translating client experience and scientific insight into actionable tactics.
Define and track key scientific and operational metrics, identify execution bottlenecks, and implement iterative process improvements in collaboration with cross functional stakeholders.
Challenge the status quo with sound judgment and evidence-based recommendations, applying relevant case studies and prior experience to build stronger systems for the future.