Principal Scientist - Toxicology

AbCellera; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 144,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Annual bonus

RRSP contribution

Active lifestyle allowance

Comprehensive health benefits

Mentorship and community connections

Job summary

AbCellera is seeking an experienced Principal Scientist to lead nonclinical safety efforts from Vancouver, Montreal, or California. You will design and oversee nonclinical toxicology programs, collaborate with CROs, and guide cross-functional teams in risk assessment for IND/CTA submissions.

You will author safety sections for regulatory documents, drive strategic nonclinical plans, and stay at the forefront of toxicology developments to support a broad therapeutic portfolio.

Qualifications

• PhD in Toxicology with 8+ years of industry experience in biologics development.
• Experience designing, overseeing and interpreting non-GLP and GLP toxicology studies.
• DABT accreditation is highly desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, design, execution and interpretation of nonclinical toxicology programs in support of regulatory submissions.
• Interface with CROs, providing strategic oversight during protocol development, study conduct and report finalization.
• Contribute toxicology expertise to cross-functional teams for candidate selection and risk assessment.
• Author and review nonclinical safety sections of regulatory documents (INDs, CTAs, IBs, BLAs).
• Drive development of integrated nonclinical safety strategies across the portfolio and stay current with advances in toxicology.

Skills

GLP nonclinical toxicology

Nonclinical study design

Regulatory guidance (FDA/ICH/EMA)

Scientific writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Toxicology

MSc in related field

Job description

Each of us cares about someone who will need medicines. That’s why our vision is to repeatedly beat the odds to deliver breakthrough medicines to patients that need them. We pursue truth and scientific rigour and have the courage to work at the edge of the unknown.

We are looking for an experienced, strategically minded Principal Scientist to join our expanding Non-Clinical Safety team. Based in Vancouver, Montreal, or California, you will be responsible for designing, planning, monitoring, and reporting of non-GLP and GLP toxicology studies and provide nonclinical safety support for early to late stage programs.

How you might spend your days

• Leading the planning, design, execution and interpretation of nonclinical toxicology programs in support of IND, CTA and BLA submissions, including general toxicity and reproductive and developmental toxicology studies, in alignment with global regulatory expectations and program strategy
• Serving as the primary scientific interface with contract research organizations (CROs), providing strategic oversight during protocol development, study conduct, data interpretation, and report finalization to ensure timely, high-quality, and GLP-compliant delivery of nonclinical studies
• Representing the Nonclinical Safety function as a core member of cross-functional discovery and development program teams, contributing toxicology expertise to inform candidate selection, risk assessment, and overall program advancement
• Providing critical scientific assessment of toxicology data and communicating clear, actionable risk-benefit evaluations and recommendations to project teams and senior leadership, including potential implications for clinical development and regulatory strategy
• Authoring and reviewing nonclinical safety sections of regulatory documents (INDs, CTAs, IBs, and BLAs), and contributing as a subject matter expert to global regulatory interactions and health authority responses
• Driving the development and evolution of integrated nonclinical safety strategies across AbCellera’s therapeutic portfolio, ensuring consistency, scientific rigor, and alignment with company objectives
• Maintaining scientific leadership by staying current with advances in toxicology science, methodologies, and evolving regulatory guidance, and proactively translating these insights into best practices for internal programs

We'd love to hear from you if

• You bring deep expertise in GLP-compliant nonclinical toxicology, including hands‑on experience with US FDA 21 CFR Part 58, and a strong working knowledge of FDA, ICH, and EMA nonclinical regulatory guidance
• You have a proven track record of designing, overseeing, and interpreting non-GLP and GLP toxicology studies in support of discovery and development programs; experience with oncology and/or ADC programs is highly desirable
• You hold a PhD in Toxicology or a related field, with 8+ years of relevant industry experience supporting biologics development; candidates with a MSc degree and 12+ years of directly applicable experience will also be considered
• You demonstrate the ability to lead scientific discussions and influence decision‑making within highly matrixed, cross‑functional teams through clear, confident, and effective communication
• You possess excellent scientific writing skills, with experience authoring and reviewing toxicology reports and regulatory submission documents
• You exhibit strong organizational and prioritization skills, enabling effective management of multiple programs and timelines in a fast‑paced environment
• You apply sound scientific judgment and critical problem‑solving skills to assess complex datasets, identify risks, and propose strategic solutions
• You thrive in a dynamic, evolving environment, demonstrating flexibility, resilience, and a proactive approach to change
• You hold DABT accreditation (highly desirable, but not required)

What we offer

• AbCellera’s hiring range for this role is CAD $144,000 - $180,000 annually, commensurate with your education and job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.
• equity
• annual bonus dependent on team and company performance
• a 6% (non‑match) RRSP contribution

• CAD $1,500 annual Active Lifestyle Allowance, annual vacation, professional development opportunities, and comprehensive health benefits.
• Scientific and technical mentorship is a priority.
• And you’ll find a strong sense of community and connections across AbCellera through our work, clubs, and socials.

About AbCellera

Creating medicines is the most important work we can do.

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody‑based medicines in the areas of endocrinology, women’s health, immunology, and oncology. We have built a platform for advancing antibody drug programs from target to clinic, and we are using it to build our internal pipeline.
Today, our pipeline includes two drug candidates in clinical development, two preclinical development candidates (DCs) in Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling activities, and more than 20 active discovery programs across multiple modalities and indications.

We believe that when tenacious people share a vision and work together, they can truly have a positive impact. That’s why we hire for character and intelligence, not just for CVs or experience.

We look for people with drive and energy. People we trust. People who need to know their days are being well spent. That their work really matters. In the end, our success will be measured by the impact of our medicines.