Senior Director, Protein Sciences & Biopharma Discovery
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The Senior Director, Protein Sciences & Biopharma Discovery leads biotherapeutics discovery and preclinical sciences at the Ceva Biopharma Campus (CBC) in Philadelphia. Reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer, this leader sets the scientific direction for a multidisciplinary team of approximately 12 scientists spanning protein and antibody engineering, AAV vector development, preclinical sciences, and assay development, and is accountable for advancing Ceva's pipeline from early discovery through proof of concept (PoC) studies. The role calls for a rare combination of deep scientific expertise, strategic vision, and hands-on leadership, and for someone who is equally effective at the whiteboard, at the bench, and in the boardroom. As the CBC's senior scientific voice, the Senior Director is the primary link between Philadelphia and Ceva's global R&D organization, particularly the Pharma & Biopharma Discovery teams in Libourne, France, and partners closely with veterinary science, regulatory affairs, CMC/industrial development, and business development to turn scientific opportunity into portfolio value.
Direct reports: Head of Protein Sciences; Head of AAV Sciences; Head of Preclinical Sciences; Principal Scientist, Assay Development.
Responsibilities and Key Duties
• Scientific strategy and roadmap. Define and execute the CBC biotherapeutics discovery roadmap in line with Ceva's Pharma/Biopharma R&D strategy. Contribute to portfolio prioritization with the CSO and R&D leadership, and identify and integrate new assests relevant to veterinary biologics.
• Protein and antibody discovery, more particularly in protein engineering. Direct rational design and directed evolution strategies that improve protein function and achieve species specificity across canine, feline, equine, and production animal targets, including species adaptation, multispecific formats, and half-life extension approaches.
• Platform and program oversight. Provide expert scientific oversight across the different biopharma technologies, preclinical, and assay platforms so that studies are well designed, scientifically robust, and delivered on time and within budget. Oversee CHO and alternative expression system work to produce material of appropriate quality to support proof-of-principle and PoC studies in species.
• PoC delivery and stage-gate readiness. Lead certain programs through PoC and bring clear data packages and recommendations to Ceva's innovation governance bodies. Ensure materials, process platforms, and documentation are fit for purpose and ready for tech transfer into development beyond the development D0 stage-gate.
• Team leadership and development. Lead, coach, and develop up to four direct reports and a team of approximately 12 scientists. Own performance management, development planning, and succession, and recruit and retain top scientific talent in line with site growth plans, building a culture of scientific excellence, accountability, and collaboration.
• Global and cross-functional collaboration. Serve as the primary scientific liaison between the CBC and Libourne R&D for joint project management and knowledge transfer. Partner with veterinary science, regulatory affairs, CMC/GID, and business development, and represent the CBC in global R&D governance meetings and portfolio reviews as required.
• External opportunity evaluation. Lead the scientific evaluation of external biotherapeutic assets and technologies, including data room analysis and due diligence, and provide clear, well-reasoned recommendations to the CSO and business development.
• Intellectual property and knowledge management. Drive IP generation and protection in partnership with IP and Legal, maintain a scientific and patent watch across relevant technologies, and ensure knowledge is captured and shared across Ceva's global R&D network.
• Regulatory and quality alignment. Ensure discovery and preclinical work is designed with downstream regulatory requirements in mind (e.g., USDA CVB, FDA CVM, EMA CVMP, VICH), apply GLP-compliant practices to PoC study materials where applicable, and contribute scientific expertise to regulatory strategy in partnership with Regulatory Affairs.
• Operational excellence. Manage the CBC biologics discovery budget, resource allocation. Oversee laboratory operations and equipment lifecycle management, and establish and monitor KPIs for scientific productivity, quality, and timelines across all programs.
Core Competencies
• Shape solutions out of complexity - Challenges the status quo and translates scientific trends and competing priorities into clear, actionable discovery strategies; makes sound decisions in a fast-moving, sometimes resource-constrained environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset & innovation - Turning scientific opportunities into innovative biopharma solution
• Client focus - Keeps the needs of veterinarians, animal owners, and internal partners at the center of target selection and candidate design, and instills that focus across the team.
• Collaborate with empathy - Drives collective effectiveness across the US/France matrix, role-modeling collaboration across geographies, functions, and organizational cultures.
• Engage and develop - Builds a mid- to long-term talent strategy for the CBC and creates the conditions for scientists to grow alongside a changing portfolio.
• Drive ambition and accountability - Pushes self and others toward challenging goals, sets high standards, brings a bias for delivery, and makes difficult people decisions when needed.
• Influence others - Builds buy-in with global R&D leadership and governance bodies, aligning stakeholders transparently around short- and long-term Ceva goals.
Technical / Functional Competencies
• Scientific skills (Expert) - recognized reference in biotherapeutics discovery, including protein and antibody engineering, species adaptation, half-life extension, recombinant expression systems. Analytical skills (Bio) (Expert) - able to direct bioanalytical and assay strategy, introduce new technologies, and resolve complex troubleshooting situations.
• Drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development (Advanced) - builds preclinical plans and leads their implementation; critically assesses discovery and development dossiers from partners.
• Networking, influencing, negotiating and scouting (Advanced) - identifies external concepts and partners, coordinates advisory input, and organizes scientific assessments.
• Project management (Expert) - delivers large, strategic programs within time, budget, and quality constraints across a multidisciplinary team.
• Communication and presentation (Advanced) - presents with impact to KOLs, and senior leadership; excellent command of spoken and written English.
• Scientific writing (Advanced) - authors white papers, study protocols, reports, and publications, and critically reviews the work of others.
• Regulatory and quality knowledge (Intermediate) - understands veterinary medicinal product development requirements in the US and EU and applies relevant GxP expectations to early-stage work.
Qualifications
Minimum requirements
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Protein Science, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a closely related discipline; postdoctoral training strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in biotherapeutics discovery and development, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing biotherapeutic candidates from early discovery through PoC or IND-enabling (or veterinary equivalent) stages.
• Deep experience in protein engineering (rational design and directed evolution) and antibody engineering, including species adaptation (humanization, and ideally caninization, felinization), monospecific and multispecific formats, and alternatives to IgG.
• Hands-on knowledge of half-life extension technologies (Fc fusion, PEGylation, albumin binding, HLE mutations).
• Proficiency with mammalian (CHO, HEK293), microbial (E. coli), and/or yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression systems.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional and international collaborations in a matrix organization.
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record and patent portfolio reflecting innovation in protein sciences or biologics.
Preferred
• Background in structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or computational structural analysis).
• Experience with PK/PD modeling in veterinary species.
• Experience with AAV vector development or other gene therapy modalities, including non-viral gene delivery platforms.rior experience in veterinary biologics or the animal health industry will be a real plus
• Experience managing sample repositories and biological material traceability systems.
Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of the position, the employee is required to talk and hear, and to sit and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and laboratory equipment. The employee regularly stands and walks throughout office and laboratory areas and may occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Close vision is required to review data on a monitor and to work in the laboratory. Laboratory work requires the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Working Conditions
Combined office and laboratory environment at the Ceva Biologics Center. Laboratory areas may involve exposure to biological materials (including recombinant proteins, cell lines, and viral vectors), chemicals, and laboratory equipment, managed under site biosafety and EHS procedures. Close partnership with colleagues in France and other time zones will require periodic early-morning or evening meetings.
Travel Required
Overnight travel required, including international travel to Ceva R&D sites (primarily Libourne, France) and scientific conferences; approximately 10-20%.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, duties and responsibilities or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not an employment contract. Ceva reserves the right to modify job duties and/or job descriptions at any time to meet the needs of the business.
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Qualifications
Minimum requirements
• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Protein Science, Immunology, Bioengineering, or a closely related discipline; postdoctoral training strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in biotherapeutics discovery and development, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing biotherapeutic candidates from early discovery through PoC or IND-enabling (or veterinary equivalent) stages.
• Deep experience in protein engineering (rational design and directed evolution) and antibody engineering, including species adaptation (humanization, and ideally caninization, felinization), monospecific and multispecific formats, and alternatives to IgG.
• Hands-on knowledge of half-life extension technologies (Fc fusion, PEGylation, albumin binding, HLE mutations).
• Proficiency with mammalian (CHO, HEK293), microbial (E. coli), and/or yeast (Pichia pastoris) expression systems.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional and international collaborations in a matrix organization.
• Strong peer-reviewed publication record and patent portfolio reflecting innovation in protein sciences or biologics.
Preferred
• Background in structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or computational structural analysis).
• Experience with PK/PD modeling in veterinary species.
• Experience with AAV vector development or other gene therapy modalities, including non-viral gene delivery platforms.rior experience in veterinary biologics or the animal health industry will be a real plus
• Experience managing sample repositories and biological material traceability systems.
