Director, Small Molecule Discovery Biology (Inflammation & Autoimmunity)

Precision medicines company transforming the lives of patients with autoimmune diseases through small-molecule therapies.

About the role

Highly motivated Director in autoimmune discovery biology, responsible for project-level biochemistry and biology efforts advancing Alumis’ early portfolio of small-molecule autoimmune therapies. The role involves conceptualizing project strategy, mentoring junior staff, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive drug discovery from lead finding through early clinical development.

Responsibilities

• Take biology department responsibility in discovery-stage small-molecule projects, including conceptualizing project strategy, recognizing knowledge gaps, formulating screening paradigms, overseeing SAR generation, and coordinating among project stakeholders.
• Identify potential new targets and oversee development of both biochemical and cellular read-outs to support small-molecule drug discovery efforts.
• Support characterization of small-molecule clinical candidates by employing autoimmune disease models and developing clinically relevant PD assays.
• Provide direct and indirect supervision of laboratory-based biology staff and manage external biology studies performed at CROs.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including medicinal chemistry, DMPK, and preclinical development.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with departmental and company-wide leaders on project strategy and progress toward goals.

Requirements

• PhD with 8+ years of biopharma work experience in immunology-related small-molecule drug discovery.
• Prior experience with function-level oversight of project biology and/or biochemistry efforts, or overall project team leadership.
• Knowledge of and hands-on experience with emerging areas of small-molecule drug discovery, such as protein-protein interaction inhibitors, degraders, molecular glues, and transcription factors.
• Expertise spanning from early-stage target discovery and validation through early clinical development.
• Awareness of methods for compound screening, characterizing mechanism of action, transcriptomics, and proteomics.
• Familiarity with autoimmune disease biology, including in vitro and in vivo immunology models, immortalized cell lines, isolation and characterization of primary immune cells, RNA-Seq, and cytokine detection methodologies.
• Prior management of CRO collaborations, with existing familiarity of a wide variety of biology CROs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work both independently and cross-functionally to advance drug discovery programs; experience working with academic collaborators is a plus.
• Successful direct and indirect supervision of junior staff members.
• Familiarity and enthusiasm for working in a small company environment.
• Track record of scientific achievement and innovation.

Benefits

• Health insurance premiums paid at 90% for employee, 80% for dependents.
• Free access to Genentech Bus & Ferry Share program.
• $100 monthly cell phone stipend.
• Unlimited PTO for exempt employees.
• Free onsite gym and a kitchen stocked with snacks and drinks.
• Generous stock option grants for all employees and an annual bonus program.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $200,000 USD to $240,000 USD annually.