Sr Director, Protein Therapeutics

Gilead Sciences•Foster City, CA

12d

About The Position

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference. Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact. We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Gilead and help create possible, together. Job Description Sr. Director, In Silico Antibody Discovery, Protein Therapeutics The Protein Therapeutics Department at Gilead Research is seeking a dynamic group leader with substantial experience in antibody discovery and engineering. This role will provide support across all three therapeutic areas including Virology, Oncology, Inflammation, and lead antibody discovery initiatives utilizing in silico methods in close collaboration with in vivo and in vitro antibody discovery teams. Leadership experience in managing biologics projects from lead identification through therapeutic candidate selection and optimization, as well as a demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams within an industry environment, are essential qualifications for the ideal candidate. As Gilead Sciences Inc. operates within a highly matrixed structure, effective collaboration with multiple functional groups is a key requirement for this position.

Requirements

Basic qualifications: 10+ years with Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology, structural biology, or equivalent degrees in a highly related discipline
Comprehensive knowledge in antibody discovery and engineering, with proficiency in large-scale antibody sequence analysis software tools.
A strong record of achievement as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications and issued patents in the field of antibody discovery and engineering.
Working knowledge of biologics expression, purification, foundational functional screening assays, and developability assessments.

Nice To Haves

Preferred qualifications: 14+ years with Ph.D. and postdoctoral trainings plus significant industry experience
Significant experience in antigen design, immunization processes, and next-generation sequencing for antibody discovery with defined mechanisms of action and alignment to target product profiles is highly advantageous.
Expertise in structural biology, immunology, or B cell biology is strongly preferred.
Experience preparing technical reports and investigator’s brochures (IB) for IND filings is highly desirable.
Candidates with demonstrated project leadership within an industry setting and substantial understanding of biologics drug discovery and development processes will be given preference.

Responsibilities

Lead the in silico antibody discovery team in identifying novel binding proteins with optimal drug-like characteristics, targeting unmet medical needs through distinct mechanisms of action.
Collaborate closely with in vivo and in vitro antibody discovery groups to extensively analyze B cell repertoires from immunized animals and library selection outputs using both paired and unpaired next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Partner with Research Data Sciences to construct sequence analytics pipelines, identify antibody hits in silico for hit-to-lead screening and evaluation, and develop AI/ML models to streamline antibody lead identification via synthetic approaches.
Apply protein structural insights to expand antibody lead sequences for enhanced affinity, reduced liabilities, and improved developability.
Develop a clear team vision and strategic direction that fosters sustained innovation, advances technology platforms, and promotes operational excellence.
Support the development of world-class organizational capabilities and capacity to increase the frequency and impact of antibody discovery campaigns.
Communicate transparently and promptly with key stakeholders to foster strong partnerships and collaborative experiences within a highly matrixed organization.
Demonstrate scientific rigor, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality, speed, and scalability.
Effectively manage a diverse team of scientists, establishing best practices for integrating NGS and informatics pipelines into routine antibody discovery workflows.
May serve as project team leader or core team member to drive the discovery and engineering of large molecule drug candidates.

Benefits

This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package.
Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.

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