Vicinitas Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on targeted protein stabilizers known as Deubiquituinase Targeting Chimeras (DUBTACs). The company’s mission is to use this proprietary technology to solve critical problems in human health by developing next-generation disease therapies against an entire class of previously inaccessible disease-causing proteins. Spun out of an academic-industry collaboration between Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research and the University of California, Berkeley, Vicinitas Therapeutics is based in South San Francisco, California. For more information, visit www.vicinitas.com

Vicinitas is building a team of talented, dedicated scientists who share the team’s vision and passion to discover groundbreaking new drugs to treat some of the most difficult diseases. Reporting to the CSO, the Head of Chemistry will lead, inspire, and guide the chemistry efforts within Vicinitas’ emerging R&D group to propel the Company’s drug discovery and development efforts. Critically, the candidate will provide senior scientific and organizational leadership to Vicinitas.

The role will be onsite and based in the San Francisco area.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve on the leadership team working with the CSO and other senior leaders to establish and execute on scientific strategies.
• Analyze multi-dimensional SAR matrix using structure-guided methods and biological insights to identify unique lead candidates with differentiated activity profiles.
• Optimize lead series for potency, selectivity, physiochemical properties, in vitro ADME and PK by coupling multi-dimensional SAR analysis with hypothesis-driven medicinal chemistry design principles. Use sound scientific methods to propose hypotheses and determine next steps, even with complex or ambiguous data.
• Provide medicinal chemistry insight for new target and lead identification based on evolving science across a broad range of targets.
• Oversee the day-to-day laboratory operations, including safety, training, regulatory compliance, and external chemistry resources. Implement and support processes, software, and infrastructure to enable a state-of-the-art medicinal chemistry facility including electronic documentation of methods and data.
• Supervise the internal chemistry team, including goal setting, performance reviews, and regular feedback, while mentoring them on compound progression tactics and strategies and fostering growth and intellectual development.
• Develop accurate budget and staff projections to support team goals and monitor actual performance against the budget throughout the year.
• Maintain the highest level of scientific rigor and professionalism within the organization.
• Share data and progress with management on a weekly basis and the Board of Directors as required.
• Serve as liaison with corporate partners on issues related to medicinal chemistry.
• Participate in fundraising meetings and diligence as required.

Experience Required:

The successful candidate is a deeply experienced expert in designing and implementing strategic and tactical efforts of a chemistry team in an emerging biotech company setting.

The appointee will be accustomed to working at a fast pace, juggling multiple priorities, while leading, mentoring, and inspiring a growing R&D team. Hiring A Team talent is critical, and candidates will demonstrate strong history here.

Candidates will have shown an ability to move drug candidates forward with an understanding that this data will lead to successful fundraising. However, while speed is important, scientific rigor takes precedence, and candidates will show an ability to keep abreast of the latest developments in the PROTAC, DUBTAC and induced proximity spaces, and advances in biotech related chemistry generally. Experiences in the optimization of heterobifunctional molecules, fragment-based drug discovery and DNA-encoded library hit finding efforts are strongly preferred.

As Vicinitas grows, there will be multiple opportunities for strategic alliances. Ideally, candidates will have experience leading JSCs or similar groups to ensure goals and timelines are met.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry with a focus on synthetic organic chemistry.
• 15 years of experience in small molecule drug discovery experience in an industrial biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting.
• Comprehensive medicinal chemistry knowledge from hits to clinical candidate selection.
• Proven track record of success in advancing programs from leads to advanced candidates.
• Extensive experience with lead compound optimization in the areas of potency, selectivity, solubility, ADME and PK.
• Conceptual understanding of cell-based and MS-based profiling assays.
• Able to objectively evaluate the results to advance compound optimization.
• Experience with all current medicinal chemistry instrumentation: HPLC, LC-MS, NMR crystallography, and purification systems.
• Expert in using common medicinal chemistry software: electronic notebook; structure drawing; data spreadsheet analysis; data visualization; structure viewing; literature, chemical and database searching.
• Committed to staying current with the latest scientific breakthroughs in the medicinal chemistry field through continued reading of the literature and attendance of scientific conferences.
• A team player with experience communicating with a multidisciplinary team, and experience managing a team of chemists. Accountable for the medicinal chemistry activities and progress of the company. Highly organized with excellent analytical, strategy, documentation, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
• Demonstrated success in the design, medicinal chemical optimization, and formulation/delivery of small molecule therapeutics.
• Demonstrable experience with successful IND submissions or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience in venture-backed companies is strongly preferred.
• Outstanding scientific leadership, collaboration, and management skills with an integrated view of business and scientific issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to interact with staff (at all levels) productively in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of energy, attention to detail, and a passion for delivering important new therapies to patients with devastating diseases.

Expected Salary Range: $260,000-$290,000 (Compensation and leveling will be commensurate with experience and expertise and could fall outside of the stated range)

In addition to competitive salaries, Vicinitas offer the following:

• Annual Bonuses
• Early-stage Equity
• Four Medical Plan Options
• Dental & Vision Coverage
• Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• Group Term Life Insurance
• FSA Plans (medical, dependent daycare and commuter accounts)
• 401k Plan
• Generous Annual Holiday Schedule
• Unlimited Flexible Time Off
• Annual Year-end Shut Down

Vicinitas provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to religion, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, alienage or citizenship status, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran or military status, predisposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.