Vice President, Gene Editing Core

Job Title 

Vice President, Gene Editing Core 

Job Summary 

The Vice President, Gene Editing Core leads a highly cross-functional team applying state-of-the-art genomic and molecular biology tools to advance genome editing therapies. This role will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of projects to support early research and development studies, developing assays and reagents to characterize gene editing outcomes including on and off-target as well as structural variant assessment.  This leadership role supports the advancement of platform improvements and novel nucleases into therapeutic programs. This highly visible R&D cross functional leadership role is integral to advancing therapeutic programs and innovative platform solutions. He/she leads a team of scientists, provides technical expertise and plays a key role in cross-functional collaboration and coordination to support the development of gene editing-based therapeutics. This role will develop strategy, implement, and lead state-of-the-art genomics and RNA labs, managing support for a portfolio of projects by developing and implementing gene editing analysis technologies and platforms as well as gene editing component production (sgRNA, mRNA) and will work close together with project teams to drive the organization's discovery projects to development candidates. This role will also be responsible for driving the growth and success of the team, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, managing external collaborations, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality results that meet organizational goals. As a senior leader, this incumbent is responsible for driving the strategic vision and execution of gene editing initiatives within the company. In addition, this role will assess new technologies in the genomics space and bringing in new technologies as needed. 

Duties/Responsibilities 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Planning and Leadership: Creates and leads vision of genomics innovation to support research in developing gene-editing therapies 

• Collaborates across Platform Innovation and Delivery Innovation to advance novel nucleases, insertion strategies, new technologies, delivery advancements, and develop assays to assess the potential for unintended genomic changes 

• Supports Screening efforts generating data in support of advancing the pipeline programs and platform improvements including guide RNA, messenger RNA, and delivery optimization as well as novel nuclease advancement 

• Oversees NGS production efforts, running AMP-seq, off-target discovery, off-target confirmation, and structural variant analysis 

• Collaborates with Pre-Clinical NGS for assay transfer, validation, and scale-up 

• Partners with computational biology, software engineering, and automation on data analysis, data capture, and workflow optimization 

• Evaluates and adopts new technologies and platforms to improve methods and technology in support of the company’s strategic direction 

• Oversees the budget and resource allocation of the Genomics Core, including equipment purchases, ensuring timely delivery of services across all relevant company projects 

• Ensures proper documentation, sample tracking, compliance with regulations, guidelines, and standards related to genomic research, data management, and biosafety protocols 

• Communicates with users, providing guidance, and bringing in external consultant and collaborators as needed 

• Works with clinical, regulatory, and product development teams to integrate gene editing and genomics insights into workflows, and other business processes 

• Serves as a functional representative for program teams, providing expertise and guidance on gene editing methods to support development candidate nomination and regulatory filing 

• Fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, teamwork, and communication, and handle discipline and termination of employees in accordance with company policy 

Supervisory Responsibilities 

Provide strategic direction and oversight to the Computational Biology team, ensuring efficient and effective daily operations. Foster a high-performing team through: 

• Talent acquisition and recruitment 

• Comprehensive training and development programs 

• Strategic staff assignment and resource allocation 

• Coaching and mentoring to enhance individual and team performance 

• Development and implementation of key performance metrics and evaluation frameworks 

Team Management:  

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of scientists, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and teamwork 

• Oversee the daily workflow of the Gene Editing Core teams, ensuring efficient and effective operations 

• Grow and maintain a high-performing team, including hiring, training, staff assignment, coaching, mentoring, and performance management 

Cultivate a collaborative and innovative work environment that promotes: 

• Open communication and transparency 

• Cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing 

• Continuous learning and professional growth 

• Ensure adherence to company policies and procedures, including: 

• Addressing performance issues and implementing corrective actions as needed 

• Managing employee discipline and termination in accordance with company guidelines and regulations 

Skills/Abilities 

• Extensive experience in genomics: Including experience with sequencing technologies and genomic data analysis.  

• Familiarity with industry regulations and standards: Knowledge of compliance requirements related to genomic research and data management.  

• Experience with various genomic technologies: Including NGS, ddPCR, single-cell genomics, and spatial transcriptomics.  

• Strong foundation in experimental design and bioinformatics: Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and interpret results. 

• Leadership and Management: Proven experience in leading a team of core function scientists and managing multiple projects simultaneously, experience leading projects, and overseeing laboratory operations. 

• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. 

• Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with relevant regulatory standards and guidelines. 

• Problem-Solving and Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex problems, identify solutions, and implement them effectively. 

• Industry Knowledge: Deep understanding of the relevant industry and its trends, including preclinical and clinical research 

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and prioritize multiple tasks and projects 

Education / Experience 

• PhD or equivalent in a relevant field: Such as molecular biology, biochemistry, or genomics  

Candidate with a Ph.D. must have at least 8 years of related professional experience. Those with a master’s or bachelor’s degree require a minimal of 10 years of relevant experience. Additionally, 7+ years of experience directly managing people is required.