Director, HLA/SLA Laboratory & R&D

California, US residents click here.

The job details are as follows:

Who We Are

We are the first publicly-traded biotech or pharmaceutical company to take the form of a public benefit corporation. Our public benefit purpose is to provide a brighter future for patients through the development of novel pharmaceutical therapies; and technologies that expand the availability of transplantable organs.
 

United Therapeutics (Nasdaq: UTHR) seeks to travel down the corridors of indifference to develop treatments for rare, deadly diseases. We were founded in 1996 by a family seeking a cure for their daughter’s pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Today, we have six FDA-approved therapies that treat PAH, pulmonary hypertension associated with interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD) and neuroblastoma, a rare pediatric cancer. Our near-term pipeline seeks to develop additional therapies for PAH and pulmonary fibrosis (PF).
 

The cure for end-stage life-threatening diseases like PAH, PH-ILD, PF, and many others is an organ transplant, but only a small percentage of donated organs are available to address the vast need. For this reason, we are working to create manufactured organs to address the shortage of kidneys, hearts, lungs, and livers available for transplant. We believe an unlimited supply of tolerable, transplantable organs will eliminate the transplant waiting list and cure end-stage organ diseases for which transplant is not currently an option.

Who you are

The Director is responsible for leading our HLA/SLA (Human and Swine Leukocyte Antigen) laboratory, integrating high complexity clinical testing with robust research and development initiatives. This individual will provide scientific and strategic leadership to support human transplant testing, swine immunogenetics, and cross-species immunological research—particularly with applications in xenotransplantation. This individual brings expertise in histocompatibility and immunogenetics, leadership experience in a CLIA/CAP-compliant environment, and a strong track record of translational or commercial research.
 

Clinical Laboratory Oversight:

• Direct all aspects of HLA and SLA typing, antibody screening, and compatibility testing
• Ensure compliance with CLIA, CAP, ASHI, and applicable regulatory bodies
• Maintain and monitor laboratory quality systems, proficiency testing, and personnel competency
• Guide test development, validation, and implementation of new molecular and serological assays

Research & Development Leadership:

• Lead strategic R&D projects focused on SLA typing technologies, including NGS and Nanopore platforms
• Design and oversee development of novel assays, such as single antigen bead arrays and customized antibody panels
• Translate research findings into validated, deployable assays for use in both clinical and veterinary immunogenetics
• Collaborate with academic, commercial, or biotech partners on grant writing, publications, and technology transfer

Strategic & Administrative Duties:

• Develop and manage laboratory budgets, staffing, and capital planning
• Direct and manage team of scientists, technologists, and trainees to include responsibilities for goal setting, performance reviews/management, coaching, mentoring and career development
• Represent the lab at institutional leadership meetings, national societies (e.g., ASHI, AASV), and translational research symposia
• Contribute to business development and commercialization strategies, including licensing or startup initiatives
• Perform all other duties as required

Minimum Requirements

• Education and Experience requirements:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in biochemistry, chemistry, biology, or related discipline and 15+ years of related experience, or
  • Master’s Degree in biochemistry, chemistry, biology, or related discipline and 12+ years of related experience, or
  • PhD in biochemistry, chemistry, biology or related discipline and 10+ years of related experience
• 5+ years of experience in a high-complexity clinical lab with demonstrated leadership
• Experience with HLA and SLA typing technologies including NGS, Nanopore, PCR-SSP, and flow cytometry
• Proven record of research productivity, assay development, and/or grant acquisition
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements for clinical and animal-based immunogenetics
• Extensive previous managerial experience
• Knowledge of current trends and advancements in biomedical research, particularly in th