Senior Director / Vice President, Translational MedicineJob SummarySeismic is seeking a translational medicine leader to own translational and biomarker strategy across our portfolio of clinical-stage and preclinical immunology programs. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, you will connect mechanism to patients, from target biology and preclinical pharmacology through first-in-human studies, dose selection, and clinical proof of concept (POC).
This is a senior individual contributor role with broad functional leadership. You will be the translational voice on program teams and will shape decisions across Immunology, Clinical Development, Biometrics and Data Science, Clinical Operations, and Regulatory. You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on analysis and interpretation of complex multimodal data, and you will represent Seismic's translational science with health authorities, academic experts, and potential partners.
This position may be filled at the Senior Director or Vice President level, depending on experience, scientific leadership, and scope of prior responsibilities. Vice President candidates should demonstrate portfolio-level ownership of translational strategy across multiple programs, a track record of taking programs through clinical POC, direct experience leading biomarker discussions with health authorities, and recognized standing in the immunology community.
Key Responsibilities- Define and own integrated translational medicine and biomarker strategies for each Seismic program, from development candidate selection through clinical POC. Articulate mechanism-of-action hypotheses, the key translational questions, and the data needed to support go/no-go and dose decisions.
- Partner with Immunology and Discovery colleagues to shape preclinical pharmacology, human ex vivo and disease-relevant models, and PK/PD packages that inform target engagement, starting dose, and dose selection for IND-enabling and first-in-human studies.
- Design biomarker strategies for clinical studies, including target engagement, receptor occupancy, proximal and downstream pharmacodynamic markers, mechanism-of-action, safety, and patient selection or enrichment biomarkers. Author the biomarker sections of protocols and define sampling schedules and sample requirements. Lead the translational and biomarker content of regulatory documents, including Investigator's Brochures, INDs and CTAs, and briefing packages. Represent biomarker strategy in health authority interactions, and set strategy for exploratory, pharmacodynamic, and potential patient selection or companion diagnostic biomarkers.
- Direct the generation of multimodal data in preclinical and clinical settings, such as flow and mass cytometry, bulk and single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, serology, immune repertoire, and tissue-based analyses. Ensure that assays are fit for purpose and appropriately qualified for the decisions they inform.
- Build and engage a network of disease and disease-mechanism experts, key opinion leaders, and academic collaborators. Convene scientific advisory input and establish collaborations that provide access to patient samples, disease cohorts, and emerging technologies.
- Analyze, integrate, and interpret translational and biomarker data in partnership with Biometrics and Data Science. Turn complex datasets into clear conclusions and recommendations for program teams, the CMO, senior leadership, and the Board.
- Use disease biology and human data to inform indication selection, patient stratification hypotheses, and endpoint strategy, including for multi-indication development approaches.
- Provide translational and scientific assessment of external opportunities in support of business development, partnering, and in-licensing due diligence, as needed.
- Provide functional leadership across preclinical and clinical teams, aligning research and development on translational priorities, and establish translational standards and practices that scale with a growing pipeline without introducing unnecessary bureaucracy.
Required Qualifications- PhD or MD/PhD in immunology or a related discipline, with a deep understanding of immunology at both the basic and clinical science levels, including the immune mechanisms that drive autoimmune, inflammatory, or allergic disease.
- 12+ years of drug development experience in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, with greater breadth and portfolio-level scope expected at the Vice President level.
- Track record of supporting multiple drug development programs from preclinical development through clinical POC, including contributions to IND or CTA filings and first-in-human studies.
- Hands-on familiarity with multimodal data generation in both preclinical and clinical settings, and the judgment to select fit-for-purpose technologies and interpret results critically.
- Experience designing biomarker and PK/PD strategies for early-phase clinical studies, including target engagement and dose selection rationale.
- Proven ability to engage credibly with disease and disease-mechanism experts, academic investigators, and key opinion leaders.
- Strong influencing skills and demonstrated functional leadership across preclinical and clinical teams without direct line authority.
- Working knowledge of regulatory expectations for biomarkers in drug development, including fit-for-purpose assay validation, and experience contributing to health authority interactions.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex scientific data into clear recommendations for diverse audiences.
Preferred Experience- MD/PhD with clinical training in allergy and immunology, rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, or a related specialty.
- Experience with biologics and immunomodulatory mechanisms across T cell, B cell, and antibody-mediated diseases.
- Experience with multi-indication or basket study designs and with patient stratification in heterogeneous autoimmune populations.
- Experience developing patient selection or companion diagnostic biomarkers.
- Experience in a venture-backed biotechnology company or another lean environment, including management of academic collaborations.
- Strong publication record and recognized standing in the immunology or translational medicine community.
Competencies- Scientific rigor and integrity, with sound judgment about what data can and cannot support.
- Integrative, strategic thinking that connects mechanism, preclinical models, and human data into clear program decisions.
- Influence without line authority, building trust and alignment across disciplines and with external experts and partners.
- Ownership and accountability for outcomes, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on contribution.
- Patient focus, connecting translational decisions to participant safety and the potential impact of Seismic's medicines for patients.
OtherThis role is based in Watertown, Massachusetts, with in-office expectations consistent with Seismic's company policies and business needs.
Travel for scientific conferences, advisory meetings, collaborator, investigator, and vendor meetings, as needed.
The annual base salary range for this position is $230,000.00 - $330,000.00. Salary is determined by several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, qualifications, education and internal benchmarks.
