Associate Director, Translational Science - Gene Therapy

Description

Your Impact:

Our Genetic Medicine team is advancing science to support non-viral based therapies that could deliver single treatment cures. In this role, you will work alongside our innovative scientists and leaders to advance science forward and make translational development a reality. Our objective at Poseida is to make gene therapies able to cure severe disease early in life: this is a daunting challenge, and we need your ingenuity to meet it. 

Position Summary:

Poseida Therapeutics is searching for an outstanding and team-oriented experienced scientist to join our Gene Therapy Translational Development team in San Diego, CA. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to become a facilitator and a key driver in a nimble and innovative genetic medicine organization. 

The qualified candidate must thrive working in a fast-paced innovative environment while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient. This candidate is a highly motivated, interactive, and creative team player with a passionate vision to drive research programs into a therapeutic reality.

This role will drive and facilitate gene therapy programs that work on several exciting targets with novel technologies capable of translation into highly durable, and potentially curative, therapies. This individual will interface with CROs and collaborate with our research partners to develop assays to support clinical development while collaborating cross functionally with in vivo gene therapy (R&D), genetic engineering (R&D), CMC, quality, and regulatory teams. This role will drive and manage translational aspects to the discovery teams, support IND-enabling preclinical studies, manage translational communications strategies and KOL engagement as needed.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Manage translational development activities from early discovery programs to IND-enabling preclinical studies.
• Lead internal development efforts on translational in vivo studies and assays including safety-related (immunogenicity, genotoxicity, systemic and organ toxicity) and biomarker analysis. 
• Lead drug discovery efforts for gene therapy programs, as needed.
• Support the design, execution, and interpretation of pharmacology and GLP toxicology experiments across the portfolio including interactions/management of external CROs. 
• Provide interpretation and communicate translational learnings from emerging data internally & externally; provide data-based recommendations for internal decision-making.
• Support regulatory filings particularly for translational/clinical considerations. 
• Facilitate storyboarding including internal / external scientific communications strategy. 
• Contribute to due diligence efforts relating to KOL and possible external collaborations including clinical site interactions/support as needed.
• Support in vivo gene therapy and genetic engineering teams in early thinking on translatability of concepts to clinic.
• Evaluate new technologies and assays that will enhance understanding of the parameters associated with clinical biomarker response. 
• Mentor junior lab scientists as needed.
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously and smart research operations.

Requirements

Requirements, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ph.D., master’s, or bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience in drug discovery and development settings, with preference for experience with gene therapy products (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
• Demonstrated scientific acumen and mechanistic understanding of disease biology.
• Demonstrated ability to manage programs from discovery through lead optimization, IND-enabling execution all the way to setting up early clinical proof of concept is nice to have.
• Strong understanding of drug development and regulatory processes.
• Experience in managing and assimilating non-clinical data packages for therapeutic candidates for gene therapy. Any experience with cellular therapy drug development is a plus.
• Ability to work productively with, and influence, diverse project leads and work with cross-functional teams.
• Self-motivated and ambitious with a strong work ethic, with excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Effective communication and strategic planning are essential for success.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, strong presentation skills, and demonstrated ability to manage by influence and problem-solving in a highly matrixed organization.
• Ability to build strong relationships with co-workers