Group Leader, Antibody Discovery & Engineering

FairJourney Bio; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary + life insurance

Generous parental leave

Unity Campus location with gym, cafe &

Vibrant science community

Job summary

IONTAS, part of the FairJourney Biologics family, seeks a Group Leader for the Discovery & Engineering Unit in South Cambridgeshire. You will lead antibody discovery programs, oversee project delivery, and manage lab staff on site, reporting to an Associate Director.

You’ll shape experimental plans and train team members, balancing capacity for complex projects. You will apply deep biologics discovery experience to drive decisions, work with B cell and display technologies, and communicate

Qualifications

• PhD or an equivalent industry experience in Antibody Discovery, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology or Immunology.
• 8+ years of hands-on antibody drug discovery experience in industry with knowledge of therapeutic antibody formats, structures and sequences.
• Practical experience in single B cell discovery platforms.
• Strong background in molecular biology, mammalian cell culture and functional cell-based assays.
• Excellent data analysis, interpretation and problem-solving skills.
• Proven ability to influence project decisions and direction.
• Ability to plan time and prioritise work; maintain clear written records.

Responsibilities

• Lead antibody discovery programs using B cell technologies, phage and mammalian display.
• Manage and strengthen client and internal stakeholder relationships to drive project success.
• Guide project decisions in collaboration with team leaders and clients.
• Initiate and lead novel research directions and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with Technology Unit to evaluate and integrate new platforms.
• Provide line management and technical training to team members.
• Collect, analyse, and interpret data to inform decisions.
• Present findings to senior management, partners and conferences.
• Contribute to training guidelines for staff, including processes and safety.

Skills

Antibody discovery

Molecular biology

Biotechnology

Immunology

Single B cell discovery

Flow cytometry

Data analysis

Project leadership

Line management

Communication

Education

PhD in Antibody Discovery or related field

Tools

Flow cytometry (FACS)

ELISA / SPR

Job description

IONTAS, part of the FairJourney Biologics family, seeks a Group Leader for the Discovery & Engineering Unit in South Cambridgeshire. You will lead antibody discovery programs, oversee project delivery, and manage lab staff on site, reporting to an Associate Director.

You’ll shape experimental plans and train team members, balancing capacity for complex projects. You will apply deep biologics discovery experience to drive decisions, work with B cell and display technologies, and communicate