Head of Discovery & Translation

Camp4 Therapeutics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) plan with company contribution

Paid parental leave

Tuition assistance

Flexible time off (Trek Time)

Job summary

Camp4 Therapeutics in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Discovery & Translation to lead a team focused on CNS disorder therapies. This role involves strategic leadership from target inception to regulatory submissions, integrating teams to drive high-quality research and development.

The ideal candidate has a PhD in a related field and significant experience in drug discovery, fostering an entrepreneurial culture. Competitive compensation, including a base salary, annual bonus, and various benefits, is offered.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in drug discovery and development.
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven track record with nucleic acid-based therapeutics.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team from target inception through IND-enabling studies.
• Oversee preclinical and oligonucleotide chemistry functions.
• Drive translational strategy to support clinical development.

Skills

Molecular biology expertise

Leadership in drug discovery

Operational leadership

Entrepreneurial mindset

Education

PhD in molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry

Job description

We think differently, act boldly, and push boundaries in pursuit of new heights.

We’re building a team of scientists and drug developers committed to translating the field of upregulation into transformative medicines.

The journey is exhilarating. The view from the top is breathtaking. Join us at the forefront.

Mission

Pioneering a new approach to upregulate genes

Vision

To change the lives of countless patients with diseases caused by inadequate gene expression

Equal Employment Opportunity

CAMP4 values the strength that diversity brings to the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Position Title

Head of Discovery & Translation

Reports To: Chief Scientific Officer

Location: Cambridge, MA

Join the adventure!

CAMP4 is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Discovery & Translation, reporting to our Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), to lead a team of Discovery, Oligonucleotide, and Preclinical scientists driving our CNS-focused pipeline. This role will span target inception through IND-enabling studies and will play a critical role in shaping the pipeline. CAMP4 is focused on discovery of novel regRNA-targeting therapies to upregulate gene expression for CNS disorders.

This leader will combine deep scientific expertise in nucleic acid therapeutics with strong operational and organizational leadership, driving high-quality, decision-enabling science while fostering a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific & Strategic Leadership

• Provide strategic and scientific leadership across a growing pipeline from target identification through discovery program execution, IND/CTA-enabling studies, and regulatory submissions.
• Oversee Discovery, Preclinical, and Oligonucleotide Chemistry functions, integrating and aligning teams to drive pipeline programs and support pharma partnerships.
• Drive target prioritization, resource allocation, and technical oversight across discovery programs to ensure generation of high-quality, decision-enabling data and effectively transition programs from research to development.
• Partner with Platform leadership and scientific team to ensure cross-functional alignment, in order to efficiently drive pipeline programs to key go/no-go decision points and program criteria.
• Drive translational strategy to support program transition to clinical development, including disease biomarkers discovery, along with supporting human dose selection strategy with translational pharmacology and nonclinical safety data.

Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Alignment

• Serve as a thought partner to the CSO on pipeline strategy, portfolio prioritization, and external landscape.
• Partner closely with Platform leadership to align scientific strategy, operational execution, and resource prioritization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including CMC, Regulatory, Clinical, Finance, Legal, and Business Development to align discovery efforts with broader company objectives.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead a team of Directors and Managers, as well as Discovery and Translational scientists. Provide mentorship and development focused on developing team for organizational growth as the pipeline matures.
• Foster a scientifically rigorous, collaborative, and entrepreneurial culture that is mission-focused to advance novel therapies to patients.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• PhD in molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, or related field.
• Significant industry experience in drug discovery and development, with demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams and senior scientists.
• Proven track record advancing nucleic acid-based therapeutics from discovery into development, including either antisense oligonucleotides or siRNA.
• Experience with preclinical safety, including direct responsibility or management of external consultants.
• Experience with oligonucleotide-based drug discovery for CNS disorders is preferred.
• Experience with regulatory documentation, strategy, and interactions and filings.
• Experience in translational research and early clinical development, including biomarkers and pharmacology.
• Ability to integrate platform science with pipeline development decisions.
• Experienced leader of sizable teams managing Director-level team members.
• Strong organizational builder with the ability to scale Discovery functions.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, balancing scientific rigor with speed and willingness to take calculated risks.
• Engaging and motivating leader with strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect across experience levels and internal or external audiences.

Compensation and Benefits

At CAMP4 Therapeutics, we offer a competitive and thoughtfully designed total rewards program. Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees are eligible to receive an annual bonus and equity incentive opportunities.

Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid parental leave; a 401(k) plan with company contribution; Employee Stock Purchase Program, Trek Time (flexible time off); tuition assistance; and additional perks that support your well-being and professional growth.

About CAMP4

CAMP4 is developing disease-modifying treatments for a broad range of genetic diseases where amplifying healthy protein may offer therapeutic benefits. Our approach amplifies mRNA by harnessing a fundamental mechanism of how genes are controlled. To amplify mRNA, our therapeutic ASO drug candidates target regulatory RNAs (regRNAs), which act locally on transcription factors and are the master regulators of gene expression. CAMP4’s proprietary RAPTM Platform enables the mapping of regRNAs and design of optimal chemistry to generate potent therapeutic candidates to address hundreds of genetic diseases across multiple tissues.