Senior Director Neurodegeneration, Translational Sciences

Role Summary

Senior Director Neurodegeneration, Translational Sciences — lead translational initiatives, biomarker strategy, and external partnerships to inform PoM/PoC in neurodegenerative diseases. Drive advanced technologies and human-relevant data to increase clinical translation success.

Responsibilities

• Translational Leadership: Provide strategic leadership enabling translational research strategies to support discovery and development of novel therapeutics and evaluate business development opportunities.
• Translational innovation: Evaluate novel techniques (e.g., spatial transcriptomics) to inform translational initiatives and biomarker development; validate human assays to enhance translation and predictive value.
• Disease Biomarker Strategy Development: Identify, prioritize, and validate disease biomarkers for decision-making across clinical development; support patient stratification and response prediction.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work with Translational, Disease Teams, genetics, biology, biomarker platforms, Medicine Development, data sciences, regulatory affairs, and commercial teams to align biomarker strategies across the lifecycle.
• External Partnerships: Establish and maintain collaborations with academia, CROs, and external partners; build a network of experts and contribute to BD diligence.
• Matrix Leadership: Mentor and develop the team; manage resources, budgets, and timelines; represent RIITU in portfolio governance.

Qualifications

• Required: Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Cell/Molecular Biology, Genetics, Pharmacology, Physical Chemistry or related).
• Required: Extensive understanding of neurodegenerative disease biology and translation/biomarker implementation.
• Required: Extensive translational science and biomarker development experience in pharma/biotech; broad knowledge of translational technologies.
• Required: Recognized translational/biomarker expert with publications and contributions; clinical trial experience and regulatory document oversight.
• Required: Knowledge of regulatory requirements, standards, and compliance in Translational Research and biomarker development.
• Required: Track record of biomarker-driven program decisions and translational insights for clinical progression.
• Required: Experience leading external collaborations and BD opportunities; strong executive and people management skills.
• Required: Ability to manage multiple projects with high performance and attention to detail; inclusive matrix leadership.
• Required: Adaptability to fast-paced research environments with problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Skills

• Strategic leadership in translational science
• Biomarker discovery, validation, and patient stratification
• External collaborations and partnerships management
• Matrix leadership and team development
• Advanced technologies in translational research (e.g., single-cell, multi-omics)
• Regulatory and compliance awareness in translational biomarker development

Education

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Cell/Molecular Biology, Genetics, Pharmacology, Physical Chemistry or related)

Additional Requirements

• Work Location: Based in the United Kingdom or United States with on-site presence and hybrid flexibility.