Associate Director, Immunobiology Open Innovation (Immunology)

Location: South San Francisco, CA, United States; frequent onsite presence is required. Candidates must be within commuting distance or able to self-relocate.

Company

Biotechnology company developing life-changing medicines with research and development capabilities in immunology and inflammatory diseases.

What you will do

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize novel targets, pathways, biomarkers, technologies, and external opportunities for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases.
• Partner with Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Ventures, Search & Evaluation, research, development, and external collaborators to assess assets, platforms, collaborations, and licensing opportunities.
• Conduct scientific due diligence through mechanistic evaluation, competitive landscape analysis, data and protocol review, translational assessment, and scientific-fit analysis.
• Guide biochemical, cellular, tissue-based, flow cytometry, functional genomics, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental and translational strategies.
• Generate and integrate decision-enabling data for target validation, lead optimization, biomarker strategy, translational planning, indication expansion, lifecycle planning, and program recommendations.
• Communicate complex scientific information to senior leaders, governance forums, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders; represent the team externally and mentor scientists.

Requirements

• PhD in Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or a related field, plus 8+ years of relevant industry or translational research experience in inflammatory and autoimmune disease drug discovery.
• Deep expertise in innate and adaptive immune biology, immune signaling, and translational immunology.
• Ability to contribute to drug discovery strategy through rigorous evaluation of targets, mechanisms, external opportunities, and disease biology.
• Experience guiding experimental strategy across biochemical, cellular, tissue-based, flow cytometry, functional genomics, ex vivo, and/or in vivo immunology approaches.
• Prior people leadership, direct line management, or significant matrix leadership experience, with a commitment to mentoring scientists and building collaborative teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and support decision-making in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Excellent analytical skills and ability to independently evaluate complex scientific, translational, and competitive data.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, including translating complex science into decision-relevant insights for senior leaders, governance materials, and cross-functional partners.

Nice to have

• Experience in biotech or pharmaceutical drug discovery, translational research, external innovation, and/or portfolio strategy.
• Experience with external collaborations, partnerships, sponsored research agreements, or scientific due diligence.
• Experience across small molecules, biologics, and/or cell-based therapies.
• Experience integrating human biology, biomarker, multi-omics, clinical, and translational datasets.
• Experience contributing to portfolio discussions and shaping scientific strategy across programs or disease areas.
• External scientific network and ability to engage credibly with academic collaborators, companies, and key opinion leaders.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with medical, dental, vision, life, disability, fitness, and wellness benefits.
• At least 15 vacation days, end-of-year shutdown time, up to 12 company holidays, personal-significance days, and 80 hours of sick time annually.
• Paid maternity and parental leave, 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan, and short- and long-term incentive opportunities.
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year.
• Inclusive environment focused on collaboration, belonging, learning, growth, and employee resource group participation.