The client is a health solutions company that specializes in personalized cancer care and aims to provide treatment solutions based on the comprehensive analyses of patients’ genomic profile.  The company is impassioned by the tremendous forward momentum of cancer genomics and targeted treatment. Informed by cutting edge cancer research, the company is translating scientific knowledge into the well-being of the patients. Its mission is to bring precision cancer care to patients through the combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and up-to-date cancer knowledge base.  
The company is currently headquartered in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

The client is looking for a talented, motivated and proven leader in our new R&D sector to advance its mRNA-based immune-mediated cancer treatments. The candidate will focus on discovery and preclinical development of new cancer therapies with the Research Institute team members as well as representatives from multiple functions across the company. 

​Applicant should have experience driving discovery efforts from lead identification/optimization through to IND-filing, yielding promising clinical candidates. The successful candidate must be an outstanding and rigorous scientist, an effective leader, a great team player, and thrive in a fast-paced/results-oriented environment managing several projects.

The work location is NanJing, JiangSu, China. 

Responsibilities 

  • Help form overall strategy with the R&D leadership and strategy team, including identifying patient populations of focus with clear articulation of scientific rationale while balancing competitive landscape and medical need.
  • Oversee the discovery and early preclinical development efforts to advance new immune-oncology approaches from discovery through IND filings.
  • Lead teams to accomplish tasks and achieve project objectives.
  • Keep abreast of new technologies/capabilities relevant to the field and this role, and strive to implement them to advance research projects.
  • Prepare and author data summaries, technical reports, SOPs, scientific publications and presentations.
  • Provide expert immune-oncology, general scientific and technical guidance to team members.
  • Recruit, supervise and mentor team members.​

Requirements

  • Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Immuno-oncology (IO), Pharmacology or related field relevant to the role with 10+ years of overall experience and >5 years drug discovery/preclinical development experience in industry.
  • Proven record in leading RNA and IO drug discovery efforts including vast knowledge of the field in general and relevant in vitro/ex vivo, in silico and in vivo animal model systems.
  • Experience bringing new programs to the clinic, including establishment of Proof of Concept in appropriate ex vivo/in vivo models.
  • Leadership and management experience, including oversight of financial and IP aspects, is an asset.
  • Ability to effectively lead and collaborate in a dynamic environment.
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills in both English and Mandarin. 
  • Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with aggressive timelines.