Vice President, Cell Biology

Job Description

We are seeking a Vice President, Cell Biology, who will be responsible for defining and executing the strategy of cell therapy research as it relates to B-Cell malignancies, as well as hold overall responsibilities of the Translational Medicine team at Kite. In this role, you will be responsible for prioritizing the allocation of resources and ensuring the continued excellence of the scientific infrastructure required to support the B-Cell malignancy and translational programs.

Job responsibilities:

• Provide strategic and technical, molecular immunology/ T cell biology and molecular biology leadership and definition
• Lead/ contribute to the establishment of methods to characterize and understand the impact of cell engineering steps on the genome, biology and function of CART cell products
• Lead/ contribute to the establishment of methods to characterize and understand the impact of donor-to-donor variability on engineered CART product genotype and phenotype with regard to safety
• Lead / contribute to the establishment of programs to identify relevant biomarkers for desired CART potency and safety characteristics and to demonstrate product consistency
• Utilize clinical information to create hypothesis and validate them mechanistically to develop safer and more effective therapeutics
• Lead / contribute to relevant and impactful innovation programs internally and external collaborations to enhance CART characterization technologies and work-processes, aligned with emerging business drivers and Regulatory expectations
• Maintain familiarity with the relevant current literature and its application to CART characterization and understanding
• Lead translational medicine activities (both clinical pharmacology and bed-to-bench translational activities) across all cellular therapy programs (oncology and non-oncology indications) from early development through registration including post-approval commitments, executed in the US and internationally.
• Lead activities that inform on the mechanisms of product and treatment failure, as well as the pathogenesis of treatment related toxicities, leading to approaches to enhance the benefit / risk profile of immune cell products.
• Be responsible for rapidly reacting in case of serious adverse events or other clinical related findings, that warrant generation of a data package and recommendation to clinical development and regulatory affairs.
• Foster an environment and culture focused on product safety and efficacy
• Present data / strategy to scientists and management in internal and external venues (technical meetings, Project Team meetings, conferences)

Basic Qualifications:

• PhD with 14 years of experience OR
• MA/MS/MBA with 16 years of experience OR
• BA/BS with 18 years of experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent in biomedical sciences with strong focus in immunology. Dual degree M.D. Ph.D. preferred
• 20 years industry experience including R&D leadership track in organizations developing cell therapies in the immuno-oncology space
• Capability of leading at high levels, participating at the executive level, yet still retaining the scientific expertise to be a subject matter expertise in cellular engineering to provide support at the scientific strategy and execution levels on the occasions this is needed
• Demonstrate strong leadership, personal accountability and interpersonal skills, and capability for mentoring (direct reports and others)
• Proven leadership background in dynamic matrix-based organizations that manage or support multiple immunotherapy programs, with track record in building highly functional teams and managing multimillion-dollar budgets. Experience with managing through organizational growth and change (mergers acquisitions, IPOs).
• Strategic leadership experience including product portfolio management, corporate development activities, partnerships, collaborations, scientific and management boards
• Deep familiarity with all stages of research and development of immune-oncology products, including aspects related to efficacy and toxicities of genetically engineered T cell therapies
• Direct experience leading translational activities of immune cell products (including immunopharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, biomarkers, in vitro diagnostics, immunogenicity, genotoxicity) across blood cancers and solid tumors, from early to late-stage development including in GCP environment and include experience with successful design, qualification, validation of translational methods, and execution of required analysis for development as well as registration of immune cell therapy products
• Knowledgeable about state of the art bioanalytical methods including single cell analysis platforms evaluating immune cells, proteomic and genomic aspects of T cells and tumor microenvironment, major platform technologies utilized in immune-oncology including flow cytometry, ddPCR, multiplex ELISA, and a wide range of bioassays, non-clinical and preclinical models in immune-oncology space
• Extensive relevant publication record including T cell therapy related (> 100 peer reviewed publications, abstracts, oral presentations, book chapters, monographs), issued patents and patent applications
• Recognized profile nationally and internationally, with leadership and chairmanship activities in major organizations in the immune-oncology field (e.g. SITC, AACR, ASH, ASCO)
• Experience in Oncology – as it relates to B-Cell Malignancies, Cellular and molecular biology, Adoptive cellular therapies, Cellular immunology, Cell engineering (viral and non-viral vectors), Translational medicine development, Clinical pharmacology

#LI-ML1