Senior Director, Protein Sciences & Biopharma Discovery

CEVA SANTE ANIMALE•Philadelphia, PA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director, Protein Sciences & Biopharma Discovery leads biotherapeutics discovery and preclinical sciences at Ceva’s Biopharma Campus in Philadelphia. Reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, the role sets scientific direction for a multidisciplinary team of approximately 12 scientists working across protein and antibody engineering, AAV vector development, preclinical sciences, and assay development. The Senior Director is accountable for advancing Ceva’s pipeline from early discovery through proof-of-concept studies and serves as the campus’s senior scientific voice and primary connection to Ceva’s global R&D organization, particularly the Pharma & Biopharma Discovery teams in Libourne, France. The role combines strategic leadership and hands-on scientific oversight. It defines and executes the campus discovery roadmap, contributes to portfolio prioritization, oversees scientific platforms and programs, and leads selected programs through proof of concept and stage-gate review. The Senior Director partners with veterinary science, regulatory affairs, CMC/industrial development, and business development to advance scientific opportunities and portfolio value. The role also leads external asset evaluation, intellectual property and knowledge management, regulatory and quality alignment, budget and resource allocation, laboratory operations, and scientific productivity measures. The position leads, coaches, and develops up to four direct reports and approximately 12 scientists, with responsibility for performance management, development planning, succession, recruitment, and retention. It requires close collaboration across US and French teams, periodic early-morning or evening meetings, and overnight travel of approximately 10–20%, including international travel to Ceva R&D sites and scientific conferences. The work is conducted in a combined office and laboratory environment at the Ceva Biologics Center, with laboratory exposure to biological materials, chemicals, and equipment under site biosafety and EHS procedures.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Protein Science, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a closely related discipline.
At least 12 years of progressive experience in biotherapeutics discovery and development, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Demonstrated record of advancing biotherapeutic candidates from early discovery through proof of concept or IND-enabling (or veterinary equivalent) stages.
Deep experience in protein engineering, including rational design and directed evolution, and antibody engineering, including species adaptation, monospecific and multispecific formats, and alternatives to IgG.
Hands-on knowledge of half-life extension technologies, such as Fc fusion, PEGylation, albumin binding, and HLE mutations.
Proficiency with mammalian (CHO, HEK293), microbial (E. coli), and/or yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression systems.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional and international collaborations in a matrix organization.
Strong peer-reviewed publication record and patent portfolio reflecting innovation in protein sciences or biologics.
Expertise in biotherapeutics discovery, including protein and antibody engineering, species adaptation, half-life extension, and recombinant expression systems.
Ability to direct bioanalytical and assay strategy, introduce new technologies, and resolve complex troubleshooting situations.
Ability to build preclinical plans, lead their implementation, and critically assess discovery and development dossiers from partners.
Advanced networking, influencing, negotiating, and scouting skills, including identifying external concepts and partners and coordinating scientific assessments.
Expert project management skills, delivering large strategic programs within time, budget, and quality constraints across a multidisciplinary team.
Advanced communication and presentation skills, including presenting to key opinion leaders and senior leadership; excellent spoken and written English.
Advanced scientific writing skills, including authoring white papers, study protocols, reports, and publications and critically reviewing others’ work.
Intermediate knowledge of veterinary medicinal product development requirements in the US and EU and relevant GxP expectations for early-stage work.
Ability to work in a combined office and laboratory environment, use laboratory equipment and appropriate PPE, and participate in periodic early-morning or evening meetings due to collaboration across time zones.
Ability to travel overnight, including internationally, approximately 10–20%.

Nice To Haves

Postdoctoral training.
Background in structural biology, including X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or computational structural analysis.
Experience with PK/PD modeling in veterinary species.
Experience with AAV vector development or other gene therapy modalities, including non-viral gene delivery platforms.
Prior experience in veterinary biologics or the animal health industry.
Experience managing sample repositories and biological material traceability systems.
Experience in species adaptation including caninization or felinization.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the Ceva Biopharma Campus biotherapeutics discovery roadmap in alignment with Ceva’s Pharma/Biopharma R&D strategy; contribute to portfolio prioritization and identify relevant veterinary biologics assets.
Direct protein and antibody engineering strategies, including rational design, directed evolution, species adaptation, multispecific formats, and half-life extension approaches.
Provide scientific oversight across biopharma technologies, preclinical, and assay platforms; ensure studies are robust and delivered on time and within budget, and oversee CHO and alternative expression-system work to produce suitable material for proof-of-principle and proof-of-concept studies.
Lead selected programs through proof of concept and prepare data packages and recommendations for innovation governance bodies; ensure materials, processes, and documentation are fit for purpose and ready for technology transfer beyond the development D0 stage-gate.
Lead, coach, and develop up to four direct reports and approximately 12 scientists; manage performance, development planning, succession, recruitment, and retention.
Serve as the primary scientific liaison between the Philadelphia campus and Libourne R&D for joint project management and knowledge transfer; collaborate with veterinary science, regulatory affairs, CMC/GID, and business development, and represent the campus in global R&D governance and portfolio reviews as required.
Lead scientific evaluation of external biotherapeutic assets and technologies, including data-room analysis and due diligence, and provide recommendations to the CSO and business development.
Drive intellectual property generation and protection with IP and Legal; maintain a scientific and patent watch and ensure knowledge is captured and shared across Ceva’s global R&D network.
Design discovery and preclinical work with downstream regulatory requirements in mind, apply GLP-compliant practices to proof-of-concept study materials where applicable, and contribute scientific expertise to regulatory strategy with Regulatory Affairs.
Manage the biologics discovery budget and resource allocation; oversee laboratory operations and equipment lifecycle management; establish and monitor KPIs for productivity, quality, and timelines.
Build a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, collaboration, and development across the team.
Travel overnight, including internationally to Ceva R&D sites and scientific conferences, approximately 10–20%.