Senior/Executive Director, Immunology & Inflammation

Orum Therapeutics is seeking to expand our in-house I&I therapeutic area (TA) with the addition of a Senior/Executive Director or Head of I&I. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing I&I and, as needed, assume the Project/Program Lead role in a cross-functional team. As head of I&I, you will provide corporate-level strategic guidance to Orum leadership and grow the I&I TA. As Project/program Lead, you will lead and direct cross-functional teams, provide scientific vision and strategic leadership from discovery through IND-enabling and into early clinical development; ensuring Orum’s innovative degrader-antibody conjugates reach patients in need.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• I&I TA Leadership
• Lead the I&I TA; working closely with strategic thought partners, build the capability of I&I at Orum, and develop the resourcing strategy
• In collaboration with Orum leadership, lead development of I&I corporate-level strategy and provide guidance as appropriate
• Lead and mentor I&I Project/Program Lead(s) as the TA grows
• Project/Program Leadership
• Lead internal and external experts (Biology, Chemistry, DMPK, Toxicology, etc.) to achieve project/program goals as one cross-functional team
• In collaboration with the cross-functional team,
• Drive formation of the project/program’s integrated development strategy, develop alternative strategies
• Identify risks and develop mitigation plans
• Oversee execution of the integrated development strategic plan
• Ensure that the right assays, animal models and human-based ex vivo platforms are used to de-risk the projects/programs
• Manage and monitor CRO activities to drive project momentum
• In collaboration with cross-functional team, design robust target validation and biomarker strategies throughout the project lifecycle to drive successful transitions from pre-clinical proof-of-concept to human clinical trials
• Identify resource gaps to meet aggressive timelines
• Hold matrixed team members accountable to their responsibilities
• Scientific Excellence
• Drive the application of immunological methods to understand disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions
• Serve as a key thought leader in immunology; generate new therapeutic hypotheses and guide the scientific direction of project/program efforts
• Make data-driven decisions and pivot strategies with agility
• Stay at the forefront of emerging science and modalities in the I&I field
• Keep abreast of and understand competitive advancements that may influence strategic planning for Orum assets
• External Representation
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external partners, scientific advisory boards, etc.
• Represent Orum’s I&I projects/programs at major scientific conferences, with prospective partners, and in due diligence discussions
• Orum Culture (TEAL) Stewardship
• Foster a culture of transparency and accountability
• Use a culture of feedback to strategically align the team
• Proactively act as a mentor to junior project/program leads and scientists, empowering them to direct their own paths in alignment with Orum’s core values
  

Skills, Abilities & Competencies

• PhD or equivalent in Immunology, Cell Biology, or a related life science field
• 12 years of experience in the biotech/pharma industry, with at least 8 years in a cross-functional project/program team leadership role.
• Thorough comprehension/insight of the I&I landscape critical; experience developing therapeutics for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is preferred
• Deep knowledge of B cell, T cell, and innate immune cell biology, cytokine signaling, and immune tolerance
• Experience with ADCs, TPDs, or PROTACs is highly preferred
• Experience leading project/programs that have successfully entered clinical development
• Ability to translate complex science into actionable business strategies
• Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills; ability to communicate and influence at the executive level, and navigate complex technical debates with humility and tact
• U.S. citizens and those authorized to work in the U.S. (green card) are encouraged to apply. We are unable to sponsor/transfer at this time.
• Candidate must be able to pass a background investigation.
• Unable to work with 3rd party candidates or agencies.
  
  

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily within the context of the representative work environment and physical demands described above. Likewise, qualifications listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the position’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Orum Therapeutics is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).