Director, Translational Oncology

Socket.dev; South San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 240,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Performance bonus

401(k)

Job summary

ALX Oncology is seeking a Director, Translational Oncology to lead translational and clinical biomarker strategies across our oncology portfolio. You will drive biomarker components of trials and work with Clinical Development, Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, and external partners to translate scientific insights into development strategies.

The role emphasizes patient selection, pharmacodynamic and resistance biomarkers, molecular endpoints, and combination strategies, with a hybrid model

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in oncology, cancer biology, molecular biology, immunology, or a related discipline with ~10 years in biotech/pharma.
• Experience supporting oncology drug development from a translational medicine perspective; biomarkers for patient selection and endpoints.
• Experience partnering with Clinical Development and CROs to manage biospecimen collection and biomarker data integration.
• Knowledge of biomarker technologies including IHC, digital pathology, flow cytometry, and NGS.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute translational and clinical biomarker strategies to support oncology programs including predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers.
• Lead biomarker components of clinical trials including protocol development and patient stratification strategies.
• Oversee CROs and lab partners for assay platforms and data transfer.
• Collaborate with Clinical Development to integrate sample handling and data flow into development plans.
• Analyze biomarker data alongside clinical endpoints to inform strategy.

Skills

Biomarker strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Independent problem solving

Clinical development collaboration

Scientific judgment

Education

PhD/MD/MD-PhD in oncology or related

Tools

Immunohistochemistry

Digital pathology

Flow cytometry

Multiplex immunoassays

Next-generation sequencing

ctDNA

RNA sequencing

Job description

Director, Translational Oncology

Reporting to the VP, Translational Oncology, the Director, Translational Oncology will be responsible for developing and executing translational and clinical biomarker strategies across ALX Oncology's oncology portfolio of early and late stage assets. This individual will work closely with Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Biometrics, Regulatory, Research, and external partners to translate scientific insights into clinical development strategies, including patient selection, pharmacodynamic and resistance biomarkers, molecular response endpoints, indication selection, and combination strategies.

Preference will be given to candidates who can regularly work onsite Mondays and Tuesdays as part of the company's hybrid work model.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Contribute to a culture that reflects ALX's values by acting with integrity, accountability, transparency, and respect. Build strong, collaborative relationships through active engagement with colleagues, including regular onsite participation consistent with the company's hybrid work model.
• Develop and execute translational and clinical biomarker strategies to support oncology development programs, including predictive, pharmacodynamic, and resistance biomarkers, molecular response endpoints, patient and indication selection, and combination strategies.
• Lead the biomarker components of clinical trials, including protocol development and implementation of biomarker, pharmacodynamic, and patient stratification strategies.
• Oversee the selection and management of CROs and laboratory partners, including evaluation of assay and technology platforms, development of scopes of work, data analysis capabilities, and execution of external services.
• Partner closely with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations to integrate scientific and clinical strategy with clinical sample collection, processing, storage, analysis, and data transfer.
• Analyze and integrate biomarker data with clinical endpoints to generate insights that inform clinical development strategy and decision-making.
• Contribute translational and biomarker content to regulatory documents, including Investigator's Brochures, IND submissions, and responses to health authority questions.
• Build productive relationships and collaborations with scientific leaders, key opinion leaders, academic investigators, CROs, and other external partners.
• Contribute to scientific publications and presentations and represent ALX's translational science externally, as appropriate.
• Support other Translational Oncology and organizational priorities as needed.

Preferred Qualifications include:

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in oncology, cancer biology, molecular biology, immunology, or a related scientific discipline, with approximately 10 years of relevant biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Demonstrated experience supporting oncology drug development from a translational medicine perspective; experience with biologics, immuno-oncology, and antibody-drug conjugate programs preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing translational and clinical biomarker strategies, including acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of biomarker data from clinical trials and integration with clinical endpoints.
• Experience partnering with Clinical Development and Clinical Operations and managing CROs and laboratory partners to support clinical sample collection, handling, analysis, and data transfer.
• Experience with relevant biomarker technologies and assays, which may include immunohistochemistry, digital pathology, flow cytometry, multiplex immunoassays, next-generation sequencing, ctDNA, RNA sequencing, and other molecular profiling approaches.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting large, complex, and/or multi-omic datasets and evaluating associations between biomarkers and clinical outcomes.
• Knowledge of patient-selection biomarker strategies and companion diagnostic development.
• Strong scientific judgment and ability to translate complex biological and clinical data into actionable development strategies.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate complex scientific concepts clearly and influence cross-functional teams and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, solve complex problems, and adapt to evolving program and business needs in a fast-paced, resource-constrained environment.

Compensation

The salary range for this position at our South San Francisco, CA corporate office is $240,000 - $260,000. Additional factors such as academic credentials and relevant experience will influence the actual salary offered. In addition to a competitive market-based salary, ALX Oncology offers the opportunity to participate in stock programs, a performance-based bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package including 401K. Additional information can be found here: https://alxoncology.com/careers/

About ALX Oncology

ALX Oncology (Nasdaq: ALXO) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing a pipeline of novel therapies designed to treat cancer and extend patients’ lives. ALX Oncology’s lead therapeutic candidate, evorpacept, has demonstrated potential to serve as a cornerstone therapy upon which the future of immuno-oncology can be built. Evorpacept is currently being evaluated across multiple ongoing clinical trials in a wide range of cancer indications. ALX Oncology’s second pipeline candidate, ALX2004, is a novel EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with a differentiated mechanism of action. A Phase 1, dose-escalation trial of ALX2004 is ongoing in patients with EGFR-expressing solid tumors. More information is available at www.alxoncology.com and on LinkedIn @ALX Oncology.