Executive Director, Head of LNP Discovery Biology

Join EMD Serono

Work Your Magic with us! Start your next chapter and join EMD Serono.

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you've got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people's lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology and Fertility. Our teams work together across 6 continents with passion and relentless curiosity in order to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team is becoming part of a diverse, inclusive and flexible working culture, presenting great opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe.

This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the US.

Your Role

In this strategic leadership role, you will establish and lead the LNP Discovery Biology group within Research Unit N&I, building a targeted delivery platform that advances differentiated therapeutic candidates across the portfolio. As a member of the RU N&I leadership team, you will define research strategy, guide discovery projects, and enable data-driven Go/No-Go decisions at research governance.

You will be accountable for the scientific vision, execution, and impact of the LNP discovery biology platform. From Day 1, you will lead in vivo CAR-T programs, with a structured expansion roadmap into antigen-specific immune cell depletion and tolerance induction, oligo/siRNA therapeutics, and additional modalities. You will develop the platform across assay development, in vivo model selection, translational readouts, and IND-enabling milestones, while ensuring scientific rigor, reproducibility, and portfolio relevance.

You will partner closely with Preclinical Pharmacology and other R&D functions to design, execute, and interpret in vivo efficacy, mechanistic, and tolerability studies. In collaboration with RU N&I leadership, you will define and track key scientific KPIs, including delivery efficiency, target cell engagement, therapeutic index, and tolerability benchmarks, to guide portfolio prioritization and governance decisions.

You will ensure timely delivery of high-quality analyses, reports, and recommendations for project teams, governance committees, and senior management. You will communicate research goals, progress, risks, and outcomes clearly across senior and cross-functional audiences, while engaging external experts, academic collaborators, and key opinion leaders to strengthen the scientific network and access emerging technologies.

As a people leader, you will build, manage, and develop a high-performing team of scientists, providing mentorship, coaching, and performance feedback while fostering collaboration, accountability, and a drug-hunting mindset. You will also contribute to external innovation and business development activities by identifying and evaluating opportunities for collaboration, licensing, and acquisition of assets that could strengthen the N&I pipeline.

Who You Are

Minimum Qualifications:

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, or a closely related life science discipline.
• MD/PhD or equivalent clinical-scientific background (a plus).
• 15+ years of progressive experience in drug discovery and preclinical R&D in pharma or biotech, including at least 5 years in a leadership role managing scientific teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on, in-depth expertise in LNP-based delivery systems, including formulation principles, in vivo delivery optimization, and organ or cell targeting strategies.
• Direct experience with in vivo CAR-T or CAAR-T programs, with oligo/siRNA therapeutic experience considered equally important.
• Deep expertise in LNP formulation and in vivo delivery biology, including the design and interpretation of efficacy, mechanistic, and tolerability studies in relevant immunology or inflammation disease models.
• Experience in IND-enabling research and GLP study oversight.
• Biotech start-up experience, including building teams and platforms from the ground up.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Immunology & Inflammation biology as it relates to targeted delivery therapeutic strategies.
• Demonstrated record of scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications, patents, or equivalent industry contributions.
• Significant managerial experience, including the ability to lead through influence and collaborate effectively across departments.
• Experience managing global scientific teams and external collaborations.
• Ability to oversee and prioritize multiple preclinical projects and advance them in a timely manner.
• Strong analytical, strategic, operational, communication, presentation, influencing, and networking skills.
• High energy, sound judgment, and a demonstrated ability to drive innovation and solve complex problems.

Pay Range for this position: $237,300 - $355,900

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!