Associate Director/Director, Pathology

Wave Life Sciences is a biotechnology company focused on unlocking the broad potential of RNA medicines to transform human health. Our RNA medicines platform, PRISM, combines multiple modalities, chemistry innovation and deep insights in human genetics to deliver scientific breakthroughs that treat both rare and prevalent disorders. Our toolkit of RNA-targeting modalities including RNAi silencing and RNA editing provides us with unmatched capabilities for designing and sustainably delivering candidates that optimally address disease biology. Our diversified pipeline is focused on our obesity, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and PNPLA3 I148M liver disease programs and includes clinical programs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Huntington’s disease, as well as several preclinical programs utilizing our versatile RNA medicines platform. Driven by the calling to “Reimagine Possible”, we are leading the charge toward a world in which human potential is no longer hindered by the burden of disease.DescriptionThe Preclinical Development Pathology Group is seeking an on-site accomplished Associate Director/Director-level Scientist to provide strategic pathology leadership across discovery and development programs. This role will generate decision-enabling pathology data, support nonclinical safety assessment and candidate advancement, and partner closely with internal teams and external providers to advance Wave’s pipeline.ExperienceDVM or equivalent degree with ACVP or ECVP board certification requiredPhD in Pathology, Toxicology, Immunology, or related discipline preferredMinimum of 3 years of experience working in pathology within a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related research environmentResponsibilitiesProvide strategic pathology leadership across pharmacology, investigative pathology, and preclinical safety studies to support target identification, candidate selection, biomarker development, and efficacy assessmentPerform primary pathology read and peer review regulatory and non-regulatory studies, ensuring scientific rigor, data integrity, high-quality reporting, and regulatory readinessShape study strategy, protocol design, data interpretation, and report content in partnership with toxicology, discovery, CRO, and technical teamsServe as the accountable Project Pathologist for assigned targets, therapeutic areas, and development programsPartner across functions to evaluate candidate risk, investigate mechanisms of pharmacology and toxicity, and guide risk mitigation strategiesAdvance digital and translational pathology capabilities, including image analysis algorithms and biomarker-focused approachesContribute to scientific innovation and external visibility through cross-functional collaboration, external engagement, and publicationsKey SkillsSenior-level expertise in toxicologic and/or investigative pathology, with experience generating data that informs portfolio, program, and governance decisionsExperience supporting drug discovery pharmacology, investigative toxicology, mechanism-of-action studies, and development-stage programsStrong knowledge of GLP regulations, regulatory expectations, pathology peer review, documentation quality, and regulatory readinessExpertise in oligonucleotide therapeutics, including antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs, preferredExperience in academic, CRO, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical settings, with demonstrated effectiveness in cross-functional drug development programsKnowledge of advanced pathology methodologies and digital pathology/image analysis platforms, including IHC, multiplex IHC, ISH, immunofluorescence, H&E/IHC image analysis, multiplexed cell phenotyping, and HALOStrong ability to communicate pathology strategy, study results, and actionable recommendations to scientific, project, and leadership audiencesAbility to lead and prioritize multiple concurrent programs while maintaining scientific quality, timeline discipline, and stakeholder alignmentWillingness to travel up to 4-5 times annually to CRO sites and partner organizations to support project execution, vendor oversight, and cross-functional alignmentPay Range Disclosure Statement$230,000—$310,000 USDThe range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the annual base salary pay range for this position at the time of posting. Actual annual base salary will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, qualifications, position criticality, and internal equity. This position is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and discretionary stock-based long-term incentives. In addition to compensation, Wave offers a comprehensive and competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees’ and their families physical and financial health and overall well-being. These include, but are not limited to, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, life, long and short-term disability insurances, generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), 401K participation with matching contributions, and Employee Stock Purchase Program. 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