Associate Director, Immunobiology Open Innovation (Immunology)

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

Company

hirify.global is a mid-sized biotechnology company developing life-changing medicines and combining established-business resources with a collaborative research environment.

What you will do

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize novel targets, pathways, biomarkers, technologies, and external innovation opportunities for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases.
• Partner with Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Ventures, Search & Evaluation, research, and development teams to assess external assets, collaborations, platforms, and licensing opportunities.
• Support scientific due diligence through mechanistic evaluation, competitive landscape analysis, protocol and data 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.
• Integrate decision-enabling data for target validation, lead optimization, biomarker strategy, translational planning, indication expansion, and portfolio recommendations.
• Communicate complex scientific information to leadership, governance forums, external partners, and cross-functional stakeholders; mentor scientists and represent the team externally.

Requirements

• PhD in Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• 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.
• Experience evaluating targets, mechanisms, external opportunities, disease biology, and complex scientific, translational, and competitive data.
• People leadership, direct line management, or significant matrix leadership experience, with a commitment to mentoring scientists.
• Frequent onsite presence in South San Francisco is required; commuting distance or self-relocation is necessary.

Nice to have

• Experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical drug discovery, translational research, external innovation, or portfolio strategy.
• Experience with external collaborations, partnerships, sponsored research agreements, or scientific due diligence.
• Experience across small molecules, biologics, and cell-based therapies.
• Experience integrating human biology, biomarker, multi-omics, clinical, and translational datasets.
• An external scientific network and experience engaging academic collaborators, companies, and key opinion leaders.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with medical, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Short- and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity opportunities.
• At least 15 vacation days, year-end shutdown time, company holidays, personal-significance days, and 80 hours of sick time annually.
• Paid maternity and parental leave, 401(k) matching, employee stock purchase plan, and tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per year.
• Fitness and wellness programs, employee resource groups, and an inclusive workplace focused on scientific excellence and collaboration.