Associate Director, Translational Biology

JR United Kingdom; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative biopharma company is seeking an Associate Director to lead their Translational Biology Team. This role focuses on advancing novel therapies for metabolic diseases through project leadership and strategic planning. The ideal candidate will have a PhD and extensive experience in drug discovery, particularly in understanding obesity mechanisms. Join a dynamic team in a state-of-the-art R&D center in Cambridge, where your contributions can significantly impact patient outcomes. With a competitive compensation package and numerous benefits, this position offers a fantastic opportunity to grow in a supportive environment.

Benefits

State-of-the-art R&D centre

Competitive compensation package

25 days annual leave

Employer contribution to pension

Private Medical Insurance

Subsidised gym membership

Income protection

Group Death in Service benefit

Qualifications

• PhD with a strong background in drug discovery and project leadership.
• Experience in managing outsourced studies with CROs or academic partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead scientific projects and manage budgets for preclinical targets.
• Identify new targets to support portfolio progression.

Skills

Project leadership

Drug discovery

Molecular and cellular mechanisms

Technical knowledge in primary cell cultures

In vivo models of obesity

Organisational skills

Data management skills

Education

PhD in relevant field

Tools

CRO management

Experimental design

Job description

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Client:

CK Group

Location:

Job Category:

Other

EU work permit required:

Yes

Job Views:

8

Posted:

18.04.2025

Expiry Date:

02.06.2025

Job Description:

CK Group are working in partnership with Nxera Pharma UK Limited (formerly Sosei Heptares) to recruit an Associate Director to join their Translational Biology Immunology and Metabolism group.

Company:

Nxera Pharma is a technology powered biopharma company, in pursuit of new specialty medicines to improve the lives of patients with unmet needs in Japan and globally, focused on therapeutic areas in inflammation diseases, neurology and immunology.

The Role:

The Translational Biology Team is a multidisciplinary team focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying human disease biology. The ideal candidate will be passionate about advancing novel therapies and biomarker strategies for the treatment of metabolic diseases, and have a proven track record of project leadership, CRO management and expertise in planning and executing preclinical target validation and translational studies to support project deliverables.

The role will include the following responsibilities:

• Scientific Project leadership; designing and executing work packages to support progression of pre-clinical Targets ensuring a robust translational framework is embedded early to drive clear decision making into the clinic.
• Setting and managing budgets, communicating risks and progress to key stakeholders.
• Identification of New Targets to support portfolio progression.

Your Background:

• PhD with demonstrable drug discovery background and equivalent industry experience.
• Deep understanding of molecular and cellular mechanisms in obesity.
• Strong proven technical knowledge in primary cell cultures/ex vivo assays (e.g. adipocyte, skeletal muscle, pancreatic islets, hepatocytes) & relevant mechanistic endpoints (metabolic flux, lipid and glucose uptake, islet insulin release).
• Technical knowledge in in vivo models of obesity (such as the DIO model) and/or of metabolic complications.
• Project leadership experience within a biotech or pharma setting.
• Background in translational research and proven ability to plan and execute translational strategies to support decision making in clinical studies.
• Hands-on experience in managing outsourced studies with CROs or academic partners.
• Good understanding of Home Office legislation governing in vivo research and direct experience in the experimental design and oversight of in vivo studies.
• Excellent organisational and data management skills.

Fantastic benefits on offer including:

• State-of-the-art R&D centre located in the heart of the Cambridge science cluster.
• Competitive compensation package including discretionary cash bonuses.
• 25 days annual leave in addition to public holidays.
• Employer contribution to pension.
• Private Medical Insurance and a cash plan for dental and optical reimbursement.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including a subsidised individual gym membership.
• Income protection to cover long term absences due to ill health.
• Group Death in Service equal to 4x basic annual salary.

Apply:

It is essential that applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 123437 in all correspondence.