R&D Senior Scientist

POSITION SUMMARY

The R&D Senior Scientist operates with a high degree of scientific autonomy and serves as a subject matter expert in veterinary vaccinology, animal immunology, or a specific target species/platform domain. The incumbent leads complex research programs, drives strategic experimental design for target animal efficacy and safety studies, and plays a central role in generating the data packages required for USDA CVB licensure or international regulatory approval. This position provides significant scientific and programmatic leadership to project teams and serves as a key technical resource for cross-functional stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and independently drive multiple veterinary vaccine research and development programs from concept through regulatory filing data package completion.

• Serve as scientific lead for one or more target species programs (e.g., bovine, swine, equine or aquaculture) or vaccine platform workstreams.

• Design and oversee comprehensive target animal vaccination-challenge study plans; interpret complex efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity data to support licensure recommendations and label claims.

• Author and contribute to USDA CVB regulatory submissions including Outlines of Production (OoP), Outline of Studies, product license applications, field safety study designs, and serial release test method submissions.

• Represent the R&D function in cross-functional project teams, Regulatory Affairs meetings, and interactions with USDA CVB, CROs, and academic collaborators.

• Drive immunological assay development, validation, and technology transfer in support of product release testing and GMP-compliant quality systems.

• Monitor the competitive veterinary biologics landscape and emerging disease threats; integrate findings into portfolio strategy and prioritization recommendations.

• Provide scientific mentorship, performance coaching, and technical training to Scientist I - IV; contribute to talent development planning.

• Manage a team of 2-5 scientists

• Manage and oversee CRO relationships for outsourced animal studies and analytical work; ensure study compliance and data quality.

• Present program progress, regulatory strategy, and scientific recommendations to senior R&D leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.

  

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, Animal Science, Virology, or a closely related discipline with 5+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience; OR Master's degree with 8+ years of progressive animal health industry experience.

• Demonstrated track record of leading veterinary vaccine research programs and generating regulatory-grade preclinical data packages for USDA CVB or equivalent regulatory body.

• Deep expertise in target animal immunology, veterinary pathogen biology, or correlates of protection in production or companion animal species.

• Experience with multiple veterinary vaccine platforms and multiple target species.

• Experience authoring USDA regulatory submissions (OoP, license applications) or equivalent regulatory filings (EMA, CVMB, CFIA or other markets).

• Strong publication record, patent contributions, or equivalent demonstration of scientific productivity in veterinary science.

• Proven scientific leadership and mentoring track record.

• Exceptional scientific writing and oral communication skills; ability to influence without direct authority across R&D, Regulatory, Manufacturing, and Commercial functions.

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• D.V.M./Ph.D. dual degree.

• Experience managing foreign animal disease (FAD) programs or select agent research.

• International regulatory experience with EMA, CFIA standards, or other global veterinary biologics markets.

• Expertise in One Health frameworks bridging veterinary and human vaccine science.

 

CORE COMPETENCIES

LEADERSHIP – Is the ability of an individual to influence or inspire followers or other members of the organization; to enhance others’ commitment to their work and to a high -performance culture. Provide motivational support, and the ability to develop and communicate goals in support of the business mission.  Provides direction with purpose and alignment to Company vision and values. 

ANALYTICAL THINKING/PROBLEM SOLVING - is the ability to identify the information needed to clarify a situation, seek that information from various sources and then tackle a problem by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach. Ability to identify and separate the key components of problems and situations.  Ability to interpret inform