Associate Director, Research

Description:

Title : Associate Director, Research

Location : Brisbane, CA

About Us : Vera Therapeutics (Nasdaq : VERA), is a late clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for serious immunological diseases. Vera’s mission is to advance treatments that target the source of immunologic diseases in order to change the standard of care for patients. Vera’s lead product candidate is atacicept, a fully humanized fusion protein self-administered at home as a subcutaneous weekly injection that blocks both B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) and A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL), which stimulate B cells to produce autoantibodies contributing to certain autoimmune diseases, including IgA nephropathy. Vera is also considering evaluating the role of atacicept in other immunologic disorders. Additionally, Vera is developing VT-109, a novel, next-generation dual BAFF / APRIL inhibitor in preclinical development, and MAU868, a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize infection with BK virus, a polyomavirus that can have devastating consequences in certain settings such as kidney transplant. For more information, please visit: www.veratx.com.

Position Summary : The Associate Director, Research will report to the head of Research and will be responsible for leading preclinical development of new molecules through IND and ensuring effective clinical positioning.

Responsibilities :

1. Working with leadership and a cross functional IND team including pharmacology, regulatory, and CMC to ensure team success.
2. Collaborate with the team to evaluate lead molecules, define an IND-enabling strategy and timelines, and communicate status to executive leadership.
3. Bid, execute and manage necessary IND studies in an outsourced environment.
4. Participate in writing, reviewing, and filing the IND.
5. Additional responsibilities may include experimental activities such as benchmarking to industry standards, evaluation of in-licensing candidates, and identification/evaluation of clinical biomarkers.

Qualifications :

1. BSc or higher in biological sciences with 8+ years of experience in research, particularly in pharmacology and biomarker discovery.
2. Strong expertise in designing and executing preclinical pharmacology experiments, from discovery through early-stage research.
3. Extensive experience with disease modeling and biomarker development in research settings.
4. Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation using relevant software (e.g., GraphPad, MATLAB, R) for research studies.
5. Hands-on experience with animal models and various pharmacological assays (in vivo, ex vivo).
6. Ability to write and review high-quality research documentation, including study protocols, reports, and publications.
7. Strong problem-solving skills, with a strategic approach to optimizing research processes and overcoming challenges.

Equal Opportunity Employer : Vera Therapeutics Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer. Vera Therapeutics is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices, and we strive to provide employees with total compensation packages that are market competitive. For this role, the anticipated base pay range is $180,000 - $200,000. The exact base pay offered for this role will depend on various factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s geography, qualifications, skills, and experience. At Vera, base pay is only one part of your total compensation package. The successful candidate will be eligible for an annual performance incentive bonus, new hire equity, and ongoing performance-based equity. Vera Therapeutics also offers various benefits offerings, including, but not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401k match, flexible time off, and a number of paid holidays.