Recruitment
T Cell Therapy – Head of Development
The Company
Adaptimmune Limited is a UK biotech company developing a unique T cell therapy approach to treat cancer and infectious disease. It is able to produce enhanced versions of natural T cell receptors (TCRs) directed to any specific disease antigen present on a cancerous or infected cell. By improving the affinity of the TCR, Adaptimmune has found it is possible to increase the ability of T cells containing these TCRs to target diseased cells, where the natural version is ineffective, and without damaging normal cells. Adaptimmune is the only company with the unique technology able to make this breakthrough. Working with leading US academic collaborators in the field, it has already opened one clinical trial evaluating enhanced affinity TCRs to the HIV virus with plans for a series of cancer trials to open in early 2011. Privately owned and securely funded, Adaptimmune has a small internal team working closely with its sister company, Immunocore Limited, from which its technology is licensed. It is based south of Oxford in the UK.
The Role
As Adaptimmune continues to expand its pipeline in to the clinic, it is now seeking a Head of Development to lead and co-ordinate the translation of its research activities into multiple clinical trials, largely through US collaborators. Based in Oxford and working closely with the Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer, you will be responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of preclinical through to clinical development within the company. You will need to be fully conversant with the science behind the programmes as well as the regulatory, logistical and clinical challenges in translating the science to the clinic. You will represent the company at the highest level in working with leading global academic groups, interactions with regulators, contract manufacturers and development suppliers and be able to provide strategic scientific input to the technical challenges of commercialising T cell therapies. You will also be responsible for spotting and implementing relevant grant applications and thinking “outside the box” around the opportunities of the technology.
The Requirements
The role requires a high calibre R&D professional with a relevant scientific and development background for such immune/gene therapy approaches. A self-starter, you should ideally be familiar, on some level, with the translational needs and regulatory processes for cell and gene therapies. You should be comfortable with co-ordinating and leading diverse teams within and external to the organisation and be prepared for the significant overseas (largely US) travel this entails. Working in a commercial or academic environment, you should be at a senior team leader/manager level and have experience of working with physicians and translating scientific, ideally cell/gene therapy approaches, through the regulatory requirements and into the clinical setting. A successful track record in successfully sourcing grant funds would also be an advantage.
The Package
A competitive salary is offered in addition to stock options, pension scheme, life insurance and private health insurance.
If you are interested in joining a dynamic, challenging company with unique leading edge science on the brink of broad clinical application, please reply to:
The Chief Operating Officer, Adaptimmune Ltd, 57C Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RX, or email recruitment@adaptimmune.com by 30th September 2010.
