Director & Head of in vivo IgG Discovery

About the Role

As Director / Senior Director of in vivo Antibody Discovery, you will establish and lead a dedicated team of scientists and associate scientists responsible for the in vivo antibody discovery engine at EMD Serono. You will define the vision, implement a high-throughput discovery strategy, and personally contribute scientific expertise across all phases of the workflow.

Responsibilities

• Team & Laboratory Build-Out
  • Design and establish a best-in-class in vivo antibody discovery laboratory, including infrastructure, workflows, SOPs, and quality standards.
  • Recruit, onboard, and develop a team of scientists and associate scientists covering vivarium operations (animal maintenance and immunization) as well as hit discovery activities.
  • Define team roles, responsibilities, and growth paths; foster a collaborative, rigorous, and innovative scientific culture.
  • Develop and implement a strategic roadmap for high-throughput antibody hit identification, with clear KPIs and milestones aligned to portfolio needs.
• In vivo Immunization
  • Lead and oversee multi-modal immunization campaigns in rodent models, including protein, DNA, lipid nanoparticle (LNP), nanodisc, and cell-based immunization strategies.
  • Apply deep expertise in antigen design in collaboration with Structure Biology and Protein Sciences to maximize the quality and diversity of antibody responses.
  • Ensure compliance with all institutional and regulatory animal care and use requirements.
• Hit Identification & Paratope Retrieval
  • Establish and operate state-of-the-art platforms for antibody hit identification, such as single B cell sorting, hybridoma generation, and microfluidics-based screening.
  • Ensure heavy chain and light chain pairing throughout the discovery workflow to preserve native antibody specificities.
  • Implement reliable methods for genetic recovery of paratope sequences (VH/VL), including single-cell RT-PCR, next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based repertoire analysis, and related technologies.
• Preclinical Program Support
  • Partner within NBE, with Pharmacology, and Translational teams to advance antibody hits from discovery into lead optimization and IND-enabling studies.
  • Contribute scientific expertise across the hit-to-IND continuum, including hit characterization, sequence/liability analysis, and early developability assessment.
  • Represent New Biological Entities (NBE Technologies) function in preclinical project teams; provide regular program updates to senior leadership.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies and competitive landscape; translate innovations into practical platform improvements.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Immunology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry with a strong track record in antibody discovery.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in in vivo antibody hit identification from immunized rodents, including immunization design, B cell biology, and hit confirmation.
• Minimum 3 years of direct line management experience, with demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and retain high-performing scientific teams.
• Proficiency in maintaining heavy chain / light chain pairing fidelity across discovery platforms.
• Working knowledge of current state-of-the-art antibody identification platforms (e.g., single B cell technologies, hybridoma, display libraries, microfluidics).
• Hands-on experience with methods for genetic retrieval of antibody sequences (VH/VL) from individual B cells or bulk repertoires.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to preclinical programs across the hit discovery to IND continuum.
• Track record of publication and/or patent contributions in antibody discovery.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience establishing a discovery laboratory and technology platforms in an industry setting.
• Familiarity with multi-modal immunization strategies including DNA/LNP, nanodiscs, and whole-cell immunization.
• Experience with next-generation sequencing-based antibody repertoire analysis and bioinformatic tools for V(D)J annotation.
• Knowledge of antibody engineering, developability, immunogenicity, and early CMC considerations.
• Experience leading cross-functional project teams and presenting to senior scientific leadership.

Pay

Pay range for this position: $214,900 - $322,300. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Retirement contributions
• Other perquisites

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