Job Description

Job Description – Director, RNA Delivery Sciences

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced RNA Delivery Sciences Director to join our Vaccines R&D team. The successful candidate will lead strategies for the conception and design of mRNA delivery modalities including improvement of conventional delivery systems and discovery of novel alternative delivery systems. The candidate will act as a liaison across research and technical development global teams within platform and research areas groups to advance platform and vaccine programs. In close partnership with cross-functional teams, the candidate will set strategies and sponsor cutting-edge technologies to design, characterize, and optimize mRNA delivery systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop a vision focused on innovative approaches to delivery of RNA
• Provide scientific leadership to deploy a multiparametric approach for the evaluation of lipid nanoparticles to identify relationships between structure, biological function, and biological activity
• Drive rational design of novel delivery systems by understanding fundamental biodistribution, function activity relationship, immune activation pathways
• Understand the liabilities of the RNA and delivery systems, and how to predict and optimize performance by in vitro and/or in vivo characterization
• Setting strategy and delivering new solutions to improve non-clinical screening of LNPs
• Have a thorough understanding of RNA-based delivery with an emphasis on addressing endosomal escape and tissue targeting
• Improve upon the current mainstream LNP-based delivery systems, to increase the expression rate, lower the immunogenicity, etc
• Evaluate novel ideas for RNA delivery systems, including LNP-based systems and non-LNP-based systems
• Lead and/or sponsor design and implementation of delivery and formulation methods to drive programs in multiple disease areas
• Work cross-functionally with Research and Drug Product teams to develop new delivery technologies and execute proof of concept studies; collaborate with preclinical and CMC to translate findings
• Establish and/or sponsor external project and scientific collaborations
• Provide strong scientific leadership and collaborate with key internal stakeholders, including Vaccine Development Leads (VDLs), Discovery Project Leads (DPLs), R&D Leadership teams, Regulatory, Global Patents, Legal and Business Development Leaders, and external stakeholders
• Take a key role in preparation of internal documents and external patent applications, regulatory submissions, scientific papers, and other communications

Basic Qualifications

• Ph.D. in bioengineering, biology, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, immunology or related field, and post-doctoral training
• Min. 5 years of experience in RNA vaccines/therapeutics discovery at pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with working knowledge of both scientific and non-scientific aspects.
• 5+ years experience with design, production and characterization of nanoparticle-based delivery systems for RNA, and targeted delivery approaches for vaccine applications
• 5+ years’ experience in physicochemical and biological characterization of LNP to build structure/formulation/function relationship 
• 2+ years’ experience of evaluation of biodistribution and intracellular uptake parameters of systemic nucleic acid delivery modalities
• 5+ years' experience with RNA vaccine and/or therapeutic technologies
• 2+ years’ experience leading a matrix team, presenting research and strategy

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of the drug development process and a keener awareness of issues therein
• Strong track record of LNP research with an understanding of key challenges in nanoparticle/formulation scale-up and translation
• Experience in developing novel and effective RNA delivery systems, which are differentiated from mainstream LNP delivery systems would be advantageous
• Excellent collaborative and influencing skills to ensure engagement of different stakeholders located across the R&D and not directly reporting into the role

Why GSK?

We’re combining the power of genetic and genomic insights into what causes disease, with the speed and scale of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) to make better predictions about who a treatment might work for, and why. We believe this powerful combination of data and technology holds the key to fundamentally transforming medical discovery for the better, improving R&D success rates and shaping how even the most challenging diseases, like neurological conditions and cancer, can be both prevented and treated.​

In 2021 we delivered four major product approval