Associate Director, Translational Research and Non-Clinical Lead

Job Description

Job Description

Associate Director, Translational Research and Non-Clinical Lead Translational Sciences
Location: Branford, CT – Onsite

Join a company where your science will directly shape the future of cancer immunotherapy.

Who We Are
EvolveImmune Therapeutics is a privately-held, next-generation immuno-oncology company pioneering a new class of T cell engager therapies to transform cancer patient outcomes compared to current immunotherapies. Our first-in-category biotherapeutic EVOLVE platform utilizes integrated T cell costimulation to directly target tumor cells to deliver durable anti-tumor adaptive immune responses. Our lead asset, EVOLVE104, entered clinical trials in late 2025. Additional collaboration pipeline programs (with Abbvie) and wholly owned programs are progressing toward candidate nomination. EvolveImmune’s team consists of ~50 FTEs in R&D, business development, human resources and operations with immediate plans for additional growth. Our newly expanded, state-of-the-art 20,000+ square foot laboratory and office space located in the New Haven, CT biotechnology corridor is convenient to the amenities of the Connecticut shoreline, the city of New Haven and easy travel options throughout the Boston/New York City corridor.

We’re hiring an Associate Director, Translational Research and Non-Clinical Lead to join our collaborative Translational Sciences team to lead the translational research and non-clinical development for our rapidly advancing EVOLVE project portfolio. The successful candidate will develop and implement the strategy for translational and non-clinical safety/pharmacology assessments to support the clinical positioning and IND-enablement of our development candidates. The successful candidate will work with patient-derived tissue samples and organoids to generate insights into the differentiation and mode of action of our emerging assets. The candidate will oversee junior laboratory scientists supporting translational research as well as generation of data for non-clinical in vitro assays such MABEL and in vitro safety assays. Experience with bioinformatics is a plus. Strong collaboration and communication skills, leadership in supervising and mentoring junior scientists, and a track record of scientific and project achievements in biopharma, are required.

We value curiosity, collaboration, and diverse perspectives—if you’re excited by our mission but unsure if you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.

What You’ll Work On

• Establish organoids/primary cell systems to evaluate drug responses in complex human tissues
• Evaluate target expression including development of IHC assay
• Define and execute the non-clinical safety, pharmacology and toxicology strategy for each program including overseeing dose modeling, establishing exposure response and determining efficacious and FiH doses
• Lead efforts to plan and execute in-house and external IND enabling studies with adherence to GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and other regulatory guidelines where appropriate
• Manages CRO partnerships, study design, monitoring, and data reporting
• Partner with the Immunobiology, Biotherapeutics teams to facilitate the progression of programs from discovery to clinical development
• Partner with Regulatory, CMC and Clinical Development teams to support IND
• Prepare documentation for regulatory submissions, including INDs
• Mentor our scientific team and support individual career development for team members
• Contribute to our company’s communication strategy to drive the visibility and recognition of our scientific strategy and company milestones in presentations to our Board of Directors, investors, collaboration partners, and through presentations at external scientific conferences
• Work with project management to develop timelines and budgets, and ensure deliverables are achieved in a timely fashion
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety protocols

What You Bring

• PhD in Immunology or related field with at least 5 years of relevant industry experience
• Experience in working with primary human tissues/model, oncology biologic drug safety, pharmacology and toxicology assessments and successful submissions of regulatory documents (INTERACT/pre-IND) and non-clinical study packages to FDA
• Proven ability to manage complex projects to achieve milestones in a timely manner, including managing internal work, collaborations with external consultants and CROs
• Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Track record of success as defined by publication, patent and/or drug development record

What You’ll Gain

• A hands-on, high-impact role shaping the design of next-generation immunotherapies
• Opportunity to see your work move rapidly from concept to clinic
• A visible position within the Translational Science team, contributing directly to platform and pipeline innovation
• A chance to collaborate across disciplines and influence key program decisions
• Professional growth through exposure to diverse scientific challenges and cross-functional projects
• Mentorship opportunities and the ability to help shape a growing discovery organization
• A mission-driven, fast-paced biotech environment that values bold thinking and scientific excellence
• A supportive, open culture built on collaboration, trust, and shared purpose

Why You’ll Love Working Here

• Direct impact : Your ideas and experiments will influence platform design and help shape clinical programs
• Cutting-edge science : Work on a truly novel immunotherapy approach in a scientifically rigorous, fast-moving environment
• Personal growth : Take on visible, high-impact projects in a startup culture where contributions are recognized and development is supported
• Collaborative culture : Join a tight-knit, mission-driven team that values open communication, learning, and teamwork
• Top-tier facilities : Enjoy working in our brand-new, purpose-built lab space just outside New Haven, CT
• Mission with meaning : Be part of a company working to give more patients real hope in the fight against cancer

Additional Info

• This is a full-time, onsite position based in Branford, CT
• EvolveImmune requires COVID-19 vaccination; medical and religious accommodations will be considered
• We offer competitive salary, benefits, equity, and paid time off
• We are an equal opportunity employer and value diverse perspectives in all aspects of our work