Director, Immunoassay Development

Talentmark; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share equity options

Job summary

Talentmark is seeking an Associate Director / Director - Assay Development to lead design and development of quantitative immunoassays. This hands-on leadership role will take assays from initial design through validation and towards commercialisation, initially based in Stevenage with a longer-term move to London and hybrid working.

The successful candidate will drive assay optimization, maintain robust documentation for regulatory files, and manage external collaborators.

Qualifications

• PhD-level scientist with leadership in diagnostic assay development.
• 5+ years industry experience in diagnostics or assay development.
• Hands-on immunoassay development, especially ELISA, plus enzymatic assays.
• Experience translating immunoassays to point-of-care formats.
• Experience with low-concentration analyte measurement.
• Proven track record taking assays through validation to release.
• Experience handling human samples (blood, saliva, urine).
• London-based preferred, able to commute to Stevenage.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of quantitative immunoassays.
• Drive optimization of sensitivity, precision, reproducibility and stability.
• Design and execute assay development and validation studies.
• Maintain robust documentation aligned with regulatory/technical-file requirements.
• Establish high standards for data integrity, experimental rigour and statistical analysis.
• Manage external scientific collaborators and advisors.

Skills

Immunoassay development

ELISA expertise

Assay validation

Data integrity & statistics

Regulatory documentation

Lab leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Point-of-care formats

Aptamer technology

Steroid/peptide hormone assays

Education

PhD in Biochemistry/Analytical Chemistry/Bioengineering/Biomedical Science or related

Tools

ELISA plate reader

Lateral flow assay development

Lyophilisation / Freeze-drying

Immunoassay instrumentation

Job description

On-site/ Hybrid | London/Stevenage | Permanent

Talentmark is working with an innovative, early-stage diagnostics company developing next-generation at-home testing technology.

We are looking for an Associate Director / Director - Assay Development to take ownership of assay development and help shape the company's scientific direction. This is a hands-on leadership role, taking assays from initial design and optimisation through to validation and commercialisation.

The role is currently based in Stevenage, with the longer-term expectation that the company will be London-based. Candidates should therefore be comfortable commuting to Stevenage initially, with longer-term transition to London and hybrid working.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of quantitative immunoassays.
• Drive optimisation of sensitivity, precision, reproducibility and stability.
• Design and execute assay development and validation studies.
• Maintain robust documentation aligned with regulatory and technical-file requirements.
• Establish high standards for data integrity, experimental rigour and statistical analysis.
• Manage external scientific collaborators and advisors.

Your Background:

You are an experienced immunoassay scientist with a strong industry leadership background in diagnostic assay development, with track record in taking assays through validation towards commercial release.

• PhD in Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Bioengineering, Biomedical Science or a related discipline.
• Industry experience in diagnostics or assay development (5 yrs+)
• Strong hands-on expertise in immunoassay development, particularly ELISA, with a good working knowledge of enzymatic assays.
• Experience translating laboratory immunoassays into point-of-care, lateral-flow, biosensor or microfluidic cartridge formats.
• Experience with low-concentration analyte measurement
• Proven experience developing diagnostic assays through validation and commercial release.
• Practical experience working with human biological samples (blood, saliva or urine).
• Ideal candidate would be London based but happy to commute to Stevenage
• Experience developing steroid or peptide hormone assays.
• Familiarity with freeze-drying / lyophilisation for reagent stabilisation.
• Knowledge IVD technical-file preparation for CE, UKCA or FDA submissions.
• Experience building or leading a laboratory/science team.
• Experience working with aptamer technology.

What's on Offer

• The opportunity to take diagnostic assays from concept through validation and towards market.
• A senior, hands-on role within an ambitious early-stage company.
• Competitive salary and share equity options scheme.