Director, Bioconjugation

Bristol Myers Squibb; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking a Senior Scientific Leader at the Director level to define the bioconjugation platform and guide a team of scientists through target selection to candidate nomination and transition to development.

The role focuses on antibody-drug conjugates and antibody-RNA conjugates, requiring deep expertise in cysteine/lysine conjugation, site-specific and enzymatic methods, and experience with diverse payloads.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemistry or biochemistry with 8+ years in industry or academia, including leadership.
• Deep expertise in bioconjugation chemistry—cysteine/lysine conjugation, site-specific and enzymatic methods, click chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Set bioconjugation platform strategy; oversee chemistry, linker-payload design, and conjugation technology.
• Manage external collaborations.

Skills

Bioconjugation chemistry

Antibody-drug conjugates

Leadership / team management

Cross-functional collaboration

Site-specific conjugation

Education

PhD in Chemistry or Biochemistry

Tools

RP-HPLC

SEC

LC-MS

Job description

Role

Senior scientific leader as Director of Bioconjugation, focusing on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and antibody-RNA conjugates (ARCs/AOCs).

Objectives

Defining bioconjugation strategies, leading a team of scientists, partnering across disciplines to advance conjugate therapeutics from target selection through candidate nomination and transition to development.

Responsibilities

Setting the bioconjugation platform strategy; overseeing chemistry, linker-payload design, and conjugation technology; managing external collaborations.

Requirements

PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, or related, with 8+ years in industry or academia, including at least 6 years in leadership roles. Deep expertise in bioconjugation chemistry—cysteine/lysine conjugation, site-specific and enzymatic methods, click chemistry—and experience with cytotoxic payloads, oligonucleotide conjugates, and degrader platforms. Proven track record in advancing discovery programs to clinical candidates, with strong analytical skills (RP-HPLC, SEC, LC-MS).

Preferred qualifications

Leadership in discovery project teams, oligonucleotide therapeutics, glycan-mediated platforms, and CMC/tech transfer experience supporting IND-enabling packages.

High-value specifics

Antibody conjugates, payload diversity (small molecules, oligonucleotides, degraders), therapeutic areas, and portfolio strategy.

Collaboration

Cross-functional with Discovery Chemistry, Biology, DMPK, Toxicology, and external partners.

Work setup

Location not explicitly specified, likely hybrid or onsite given the role's strategic leadership and collaboration scope.