Vice President, Translational Medicine

Annexon Biosciences•Brisbane, CA

6d•$310,000 - $340,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Annexon Biosciences is seeking an accomplished development leader to serve as Vice President, Translational Medicine. This role will shape and execute translational strategy across the company’s portfolio of classical complement biology programs for diseases of the body, brain, and eye. The VP will partner with Clinical Development, Discovery, Regulatory, Clinical Operations, and Medical Affairs to translate mechanistic hypotheses into human biology evidence, biomarker strategies, and data-driven development decisions. The position leads translational planning and execution for flagship and next-wave programs, including tanruprubart (ANX005) for Guillain-Barré syndrome, vonaprument (ANX007) for dry AMD with geographic atrophy, and neurodegenerative programs including Huntington’s disease and ALS. The role also builds and leads a high-performing Translational Medicine organization across biomarker science, translational bioinformatics and omics, assay development and operations, and sample and data strategy. It oversees computational biology and the application of LLMs, AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics in Translational Medicine. The VP will guide biomarker and human evidence generation, integrating clinical, biomarker, imaging, and omics data to support development decisions. The position contributes to regulatory documents and scientific communications, oversees external collaborations, represents Annexon with scientific and medical stakeholders, and serves as a liaison to executive leadership. The role is based at Annexon’s Brisbane, California headquarters, with regular in-office presence expected; hybrid arrangements and non-local candidates are considered.

Requirements

MD, PhD, or MD/PhD required.
At least 15 years of experience in pharma or biopharma with leadership responsibility in Translational Medicine, Biomarkers, and/or Clinical Development interfaces.
Demonstrated experience leading translational medicine organizations, including strategy and execution, team building, biomarker planning, and influencing clinical development decisions.
Experience building and leading translational bioinformatics capabilities.
Experience applying machine learning and advanced computational methods to translational datasets while maintaining scientific rigor, interpretability, reproducibility, and regulatory readiness.
Experience using observational cohorts, natural history studies, real-world data, and external control datasets to inform biomarker strategy and clinical development.
Deep domain expertise in at least one of neurology/neuroimmunology, ophthalmology, or immunology/rheumatology.
Expertise in biomarker strategy, assay development and qualification, clinical sample strategy and operations, quantitative translational data integration, longitudinal disease modeling, biomarker response modeling, model-informed drug development, clinical trial simulation, and integration of mechanistic and statistical models for development decisions.
Experience partnering with Regulatory Affairs and interacting with regulatory authorities in support of biomarker or translational strategy.
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and influence cross-functional teams at all organizational levels.
Willingness to work in the office regularly.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex scientific and clinical concepts to diverse audiences.
Business acumen and strategic thinking focused on clinical differentiation and long-term value creation through human biology evidence.

Nice To Haves

Advanced clinical or scientific training.
Experience across multiple areas among neurology/neuroimmunology, ophthalmology, and immunology/rheumatology.
Experience supporting successful regulatory filings.
Experience with companion diagnostic development.

Responsibilities

Serve as Translational Medicine Lead across Annexon programs and set an integrated portfolio-level strategy linking mechanism of action to clinical outcomes.
Partner with Program Team Leaders, Clinical Development leads, and program teams to define translational hypotheses, proof-of-mechanism and proof-of-concept strategies, and development decision criteria.
Lead translational prioritization, resource planning, and execution in a fast-paced environment consistent with a lean biotech operating model.
Build and lead a high-performing Translational Medicine organization spanning biomarker science, translational bioinformatics and omics, assay development and operations, and sample and data strategy.
Oversee computational biology and the development and application of LLMs, AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics within Translational Medicine.
Develop and execute biomarker strategies for target engagement and pathway modulation, pharmacodynamic effects and dose or interval rationale, patient stratification and enrichment, disease biology and progression, and treatment response.
Guide biomarker integration into clinical protocols across neurology and ophthalmology programs, including fluid biomarkers, imaging endpoints, functional measures, and exploratory omics.
Oversee translational assay development, qualification, and fit-for-purpose validation, including vendor selection, governance, and quality oversight.
Lead interpretation and integration of clinical, biomarker, imaging, and omics datasets in partnership with Biometrics and Data Sciences.
Provide translational leadership for programs in Guillain-Barré syndrome, ophthalmology and geographic atrophy, and neurodegeneration, including Huntington’s disease and ALS.
Align translational strategies with clinical endpoints, regulatory expectations, and differentiation objectives, while maintaining awareness of the competitive landscape and scientific positioning.
Work with Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Development on translational sections of regulatory documents and briefing packages, including IND/CTA updates and BLA/MAA modules as appropriate.
Provide scientific leadership and oversight for abstracts, manuscripts, and study reports.
Oversee current collaborations and identify and build new partnerships that advance the portfolio.
Represent Annexon in engagements with KOLs, academic collaborators, consortia, CROs, and scientific meetings.
Collaborate across Discovery, Translational Sciences, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, and Commercial.
Serve as a liaison between Translational Medicine and executive leadership, providing updates on biomarker strategy, human biology learnings, and program implications.
Cultivate teamwork, innovation, accountability, and high scientific standards across the translational organization.