Associate Director - Antibody Discovery

4,000 professionals, 0 days wasted, 1 incredible purpose. Together, we are beating cancer.
Associate Director - Antibody Discovery
Salary: Starting from £80000 - £100,000 per annum depending on experience and negotiable
Reports to: Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full time 35 hours per week (flexible working requests will be considered if they meet business needs)
Location: Granta Park, Cambridge
Closing date: 29 February 2024
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.
We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we we're looking for someone talented, someone innovative and ambitious, someone like you.
We have an exciting opportunity for an Associate Director to set and drive an innovative Antibody Discovery strategy. In this role, you will lead a high-performing team to provide all aspects of Antibody Discovery expertise, including protein engineering, antibody screening, therapeutic antibody characterisation and optimisation. You will play a key role on our Drug Discovery Leadership Team.
About Cancer Research Horizons
At Cancer Research UK, our focus is on beating cancer. As the world's biggest medical research charity, we've helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.
We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons. We have brought together Cancer Research UK's established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of world class biology, cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.
Based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, the Milner Institute in Cambridge, Granta Park in Cambridge, the Scotland Institute in Glasgow, the Francis Crick Institute in London, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.
What will I be doing?
Lead a high-performing team to provide all aspects of Antibody Discovery expertise, including protein engineering, antibody screening, therapeutic antibody characterisation and optimisation. This will be through a combination of protein science, novel display technology, biophysics, biochemistry, and quantitative cell pharmacology.
Set and drive an innovative Antibody Discovery strategy for Cancer Research Horizons, incorporating scientific and technical innovation, including through external collaboration and partnership.
Be a recognised and passionate scientific leader in the Oncology Antibody Discovery space, able to represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross-site initiatives, and externally. Exploit a strong personal network to impact on innovation and future directions.
Be an inspirational people leader, creating an inclusive environment where people can thrive and perform to their full potential.
Manage internal expertise, capacity, and resources to drive governance and decision-making regarding scientific portfolio support and technology development.
Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken. Be an inspirational role model for EDI.
What skills and experience are we looking for?
PhD in biochemistry/biophysics/pharmacology or equivalent experience.
Evidence of significant experience and career progression in pre-clinical drug discovery, with deep knowledge in the fields of protein science, biochemistry, biophysics, and pharmacology to drive Oncology antibody projects from Idea to Candidate.
Proven people-leadership, including strong and inspirational management of all aspects of performance and development.
Proven experience of setting strategic direction.
What will I gain?
Every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that's impressive.
In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies, and processes to enable you to do your job well.
Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.
We review pay annually and aim to recognise individual performance and achievements.
We don't forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.
Our work - from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy - will change the world. It's exciting to be part of our team.
How do I apply?
We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly, and objectively.