Vice President, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Beam Therapeutics; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Beam Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA, seeks a VP of Pharmaceutical Sciences to lead potency assay strategy and drug product development for LNP platforms. This leader will guide analytical methods, ensure IND through BLA progression, and partner with CMC, QA, and regulatory teams.

The role requires a data-driven, collaborative, results-oriented mindset, broad experience in nucleic acid and LNP analytics, and a proven ability to navigate regulatory submissions.

Qualifications

• MS, Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or equivalent.
• 15+ years of experience in CMC development, including leadership.
• Strong experience in assay development, nucleic acid and/or Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) manufacturing and analytics.
• Demonstrated experience advancing programs from preclinical through IND acceptance and preferably through Biological License Application (BLA) submission.
• Experience with cell based and analytical techniques such as HPLC, NGS, PCR, ELISA, MS, RNA quantitation, cell-based assays.
• External CDMO alliance management experience and oversight preferred.
• Strong background in participating in regulatory submissions and interactions.
• Strong knowledge of critical quality attributes and quality by design principles for nucleic acids and/or lipid nanoparticles.
• Strong cGMP manufacturing knowledge.
• High attention to detail with strong risk identification, management, and problem-solving skills.
• Able to effectively communicate upward (leadership) and outward (cross-functional teams) with strong presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic, technical, and tactical leadership for all potency assays.
• Leads, mentors and develops the team responsible for the development of potency assays.
• Accountable for in vitro assay strategy to enable an IND through a BLA.
• Develop and implement strategic direction for analytical assays partnering with Analytical Development and Quality Control.
• Develop and implement strategic direction for drug product development for key binders and ligands including resolving manufacturing challenges.
• Work closely with CMC and cross-functional sub teams under the direction of the Program team(s).
• Develop and implement comprehensive product lifecycle strategies around assay development, manufacturing, and quality control in conjunction with Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Manufacturing, Process, and Analytical Development.
• Support lifecycle changes for potency assays.
• Work directly with regulatory and key stakeholders on the development and implementation of platform processes and analytics across the product lifecycle for in-vivo programs.
• Lead the preparation of source documentation and technical review of CMC sections for global regulatory submissions specifically focusing on Module 3.
• Act as the subject matter expert during regulatory meetings and support information requests from regulatory agencies.
• Actively identify risks across drug product areas during the product lifecycle. Oversee data-driven risk assessments and drive implementation of risk mitigations.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure our potency assays comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), ICH guidelines, and phase-appropriate compliance standards.

Skills

Leadership

CMC development

Assay development

LNP manufacturing & analytics

Preclinical to BLA experience

Cell-based & analytical techniques

CDMO alliance management

Regulatory submissions & interactions

cGMP manufacturing knowledge

Risk management

Communication & presentation

Quality by Design (QbD) principles

Analytical techniques (HPLC, NGS, PCR,

Education

MS/Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or equivalent

Job description

Beam Therapeutics is a biotechnology company committed to establishing the leading, fully integrated platform for precision genetic medicines. To achieve this vision, Beam has assembled a platform with integrated gene editing, delivery and internal manufacturing capabilities. Beam’s suite of gene editing technologies is anchored by base editing, a proprietary technology that is designed to enable precise, predictable and efficient single base changes, at targeted genomic sequences, without making double-stranded breaks in the DNA. This has the potential to enable a wide range of therapeutic editing strategies that Beam is using to advance a diversified portfolio of base editing programs. Beam is a values-driven organization committed to its people, cutting-edge science, and a vision of providing life-long cures to patients suffering from serious diseases.

Position Overview:

Beam is seeking a highly talented and motivated VP of Pharmaceutical Sciences, to support our advancing portfolio of in-vivo and ex-vivo programs. Serving as a subject matter expert, this leader will be accountable for supporting all our cell-based potency assays. Their role will also drive our drug product development of our targeting moieties for our LNP platform and other macromolecules. They will support the lifecycle of the targeted drug product from IND submission through BLA approval. The candidate will define the strategic direction for our potency assays and key analytical methods, partnering closely with key stakeholders across the Pharmaceutical Sciences team. This is a high-impact leadership role requiring a data-driven, collaborative, results-oriented professional to ensure rapid progression of our key drug products through clinical development into commercial. This person will be responsible for comprehensive communication across all levels of the business, status reporting, risk management, escalation and resolution of issues.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic, technical, and tactical leadership for all potency assays.
• Leads, mentors and develops the team responsible for the development of potency assays.
• Accountable for in vitro assay strategy to enable an IND through a BLA.
• Develop and implement strategic direction for analytical assays partnering with Analytical Development and Quality Control.
• Develop and implement strategic direction for drug product development for key binders and ligands including resolving manufacturing challenges.
• Work closely with CMC and cross-functional sub teams under the direction of the Program team(s).
• Develop and implement comprehensive product lifecycle strategies around assay development, manufacturing, and quality control in conjunction with Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Manufacturing, Process, and Analytical Development.
• Support lifecycle changes for potency assays.
• Work directly with regulatory and key stakeholders on the development and implementation of platform processes and analytics across the product lifecycle for in-vivo programs.
• Lead the preparation of source documentation and technical review of CMC sections for global regulatory submissions specifically focusing on Module 3.
• Act as the subject matter expert during regulatory meetings and support information requests from regulatory agencies.
• Actively identify risks across drug product areas during the product lifecycle. Oversee data-driven risk assessments and drive implementation of risk mitigations.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure our potency assays comply with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), ICH guidelines, and phase-appropriate compliance standards.

Qualifications:

• MS, Ph.D., in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or equivalent technical field.
• 15+ years of experience in CMC development, including leadership experience.
• Strong experience and/or subject matter expertise in assay development, nucleic acid and/or Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) manufacturing and analytics.
• Demonstrated experience advancing programs from preclinical through IND acceptance and preferably through Biological License Application (BLA) submission.
• Experience with cell based and analytical techniques such as HPLC, NGS, PCR, ELISA, MS, RNA quantitation, cell-based assays.
• External CDMO alliance management experience and oversight preferred.
• Strong background in participating in regulatory submissions and interactions.
• Strong knowledge of critical quality attributes and quality by design principles for nucleic acids and/or lipid nanoparticles.
• Strong cGMP manufacturing knowledge.
• High attention to detail with strong risk identification, management, and problem-solving skills.
• Able to effectively communicate upward (leadership) and outward (cross-functional teams) with strong presentation skills.