Director, Protein Sciences

Position Summary Metaphore Bio, a generative AI drug design company focused on creating a new class of functional antibodies, is seeking a leader with strong scientific and technical skills to enable the delivery of high-quality therapeutic proteins. The Director of Protein Cell Sciences at Metaphore will lead a focused team responsible for high-throughput production and characterization of antibodies and related proteins, and for cell culture, engineering, and scale-up of antibody/protein production up to the multi-gram scale to support research activities.

Responsibilities

include delivering high-quality antibodies and protein reagents for multiple simultaneous biologics discovery programs, enabling discovery platform optimization, managing a team of direct and indirect reports, and coordinating both in-house and outsourced protein expression, purification, and characterization activities. As a member of the Biotherapeutics Enabling Technologies leadership team, this scientific leader will work closely with the head of the unit to establish and maintain a Protein Cell Sciences function that maximizes the ability the potential for Metaphore’s platform to deliver transformative therapeutics to patients.

Scientific and Functional Leadership Lead an engaged and entrepreneurial team of 4-5 scientists that contributes significantly to the advancement of the internal and partnered portfolio, develops novel platforms and techniques, and delivers well-characterized, high-quality development candidates. Establish, maintain, and communicate best practices for biochemistry and cell biology techniques including expression, production, purification, and analytical and functional characterization of antibodies and related therapeutic proteins. Ensure high quality data management including the use of electronic laboratory environments/LIMS for data storage and retrieval, to maximize the potential of AI/ML methods to deliver high-quality leads.

Partner with research informatics and laboratory automation teams to identify and implement opportunities for improved workflows, more efficient protein production and characterization, and parallelized therapeutic discovery. Make highly impactful contributions to programs as a scientific leader and expert on protein therapeutics. Strategy and Execution Implement and manage outsourced protein production and characterization work with CROs that complements internal resourcing.

Serve as a major interface with downstream CMC functions and external CDMOs to enable seamless progression of molecules into and through DC nomination, process development, and early manufacturing. Accountable for resourcing decisions for programs within the HTPP function. Partner with peers on the Biotherapeutics leadership team to manage resources, budgets, and operations.

Team Building and External Engagement Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing HTPP unit. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability by partnering with other functions within the Biotherapeutics unit and across Metaphore. Partner with external collaborators, CROs, and technology providers to expand capabilities and accelerate timelines.

As a member of the Biotherapeutics leadership team, facilitate group operations and strategic decisions, contribute to the development of the culture and people within the group, and contribute to broader company-wide strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

PhD in Protein Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology, Structural Biology, or a related discipline, or non-PhD with appropriate skills and experience. 10+ years of experience in biologics drug discovery and development. Deep knowledge of antibody expression, purification, and characterization workflows, including the implementation of automation solutions to enable high-throughput protein production.

Experience managing biologics CROs to expand protein production/characterization capabilities and capacity.