Head of Preclinical & Translational Development

OAC Group Limited; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 2,400,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Job summary

OAC Group Limited is seeking a Head of Preclinical & Translational Development to lead a team of scientists from discovery through clinical readiness. You will set strategy, align target biology with translational biomarkers, and manage external partners to accelerate programs.

The role requires a 15+ year biotech/pharma background, strong cross-functional leadership, and a proven track record in regulatory interactions and IND/CTAs. The position is based in Hong Kong and reports to the CEO.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree in biotech/pharma with 15+ years of industry experience.
• Deep experience from discovery through IND-enabling studies and translational biomarkers.
• Regulatory submissions and GLP framework knowledge; health authority interaction.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management across senior partners and investors.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy across discovery through clinical readiness.
• Drive candidate selection and stage-gate decisions across programs.
• Oversee non-clinical pharmacology and toxicology strategies for regulatory submissions.
• Direct external CROs and development partners.
• Present development strategies to executives, scientific advisors, partners and investors.
• Ensure data quality and readiness of regulatory submissions.

Skills

Pipeline leadership

Stage-gate governance

Integrated development planning

CRO & partner management

Translational biomarker strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Education

PhD/MD/PharmD/DVM

Job description

Head of Preclinical & Translational Development

WearepartneringwithawellestablishedlifesciencegroupasclienttoassisttheirrecruitmentonaHeadofPreclinicalandTranslational Developmentrole.ReportingtotheCEO,thisrolewillleadateamofscientiststoprovidestrategicandscientificleadershipacrossdiscovery-stagedevelopmentandtranslationalresearch.

Whatyouwilldo

• PipelineProgressionLeadership:Leadscientificanddevelopmentstrategiestoadvanceassetsfromdiscoverythroughclinicalreadiness.
• CandidateSelection&Stage-Gates:Drivecandidateselection,nomination,andstage-gatedecisionsacrossmultipleprograms.
• IntegratedDevelopmentPlanning:Formulateplanslinkingtargetbiology,mechanismofaction,translationalbiomarkers,non-clinicaldevelopment,andclinicalstrategy.
• PortfolioPrioritization&Expansion:Providescientificleadershiptoprioritizeportfolioassetsandexpandstrategicpipelines.
• StakeholderPresentations:Presentdevelopmentstrategiesandrecommendationstoexecutiveleadership,scientificadvisors,partners,andinvestors.
• Non-ClinicalOversight:Leadnon-clinicalactivities,includingintegratedpharmacologyandtoxicologystrategies,tosupportregulatorysubmissionsandclinicaltrialinitiation.
• DataQuality&Compliance:Ensuregenerationofhigh-qualitynon-clinicaldatapackagessuitableforregulatoryreview.
• CRO&PartnerManagement:DirectexternalContractResearchOrganizations(CROs)anddevelopmentpartnerssupportingnon-clinicalprograms.
• PreclinicalInterpretation:Interpretpreclinicalfindingsanddeterminetheirstrategicimplicationsforclinicaldevelopment.
• TranslationalBiomarkerStrategy:Executebiomarkerdiscovery,validation,andimplementationforproof-of-mechanism,pharmacodynamics,patientselection,andclinicalresponseevaluation.
• Cross-FunctionalClinicalCollaboration:PartnerwithMedicalandClinicalDevelopmentteamstoconnectpreclinicaldatatohumanbiology,optimizingclinicaltrialdesignandendpoints.

Whatyouwillbring

• Education&Seniority:Terminaldegree(PhD,MD,PharmD,DVM)with15+yearsofbiotech/pharmaindustryexperience,spanningbothemergingbiotechandlargepharmasettings.
• Pipeline&PreclinicalDevelopment:ProventrackrecordadvancingprogramsfromdiscoverythroughIND-enablingstudies,withdeepexpertiseinnon-clinicaldevelopment,toxicologyandtranslationalbiomarkerstrategy.
• ClinicalTransition&Dosing:Demonstratedsuccesswithfirst-in-humanstudies,doseselectionandclinicaldosejustification.
• Regulatory&ComplianceMastery:StrongknowledgeofFDA,EMA,NMPA,ICH,andGLPframeworks,withpriortrackrecordhavingdirecthealthauthorityinteractionandleadingIND/CTAsubmissionsbeinghighlyadvantageous.
• Leadership&ScientificTrackRecord:Exceptionalcommunicationandstakeholdermanagementskills,backedbyahistoryofpatents,scientificpublicationsandsuccessfulproductachievements.