VP Antibody Therapeutics

Walker Cole International is exclusively supporting a rapidly growing, well-funded, AI-native antibody design company in the search for a Head of Antibody Therapeutics (Immunology & Inflammation). This is a fantastic opportunity to join the business during an exciting phase of growth, taking ownership of how its immunology antibody programmes are conceived, designed and advanced to development candidate, while shaping a pipeline built for pharma partnership.Your responsibilities as the Head of Antibody Therapeutics will include:

• Shape the immunology and inflammation antibody pipeline, choosing targets, mechanisms and differentiation against a crowded competitive landscape.
• Translate target product profiles into molecule designs, including multispecific formats and half-life extension.
• Lead programmes from AI-generated hits through characterisation, developability and in vivo proof of concept to development candidate nomination.
• Design disease-relevant in vitro and in vivo models, PK/PD and biomarker strategy that de-risk translation to the clinic.
• Direct IND-enabling work with CRO and CDMO partners in the US and Asia, holding them to timelines and quality.
• Work closely with the CSO and computational teams, staying hands-on in the lab while building a small, high-performing team.The successful candidate will demonstrate the following:
• Significant industry experience discovering and developing antibody therapeutics for immunology and inflammation indications.
• Deep, current knowledge of the I&I antibody landscape, including key targets, competitor molecules and why programmes succeed or fail.
• A track record of advancing antibody programmes to development candidate or IND, with clear personal ownership of scientific decisions.
• Hands-on expertise across antibody engineering, characterisation and developability, ideally including bispecific or multispecific formats.
• A genuine entrepreneurial, collaborative mindset and real enthusiasm for AI-driven drug discovery in a lean, fast-moving team.
• Ability to spend significant time on site in Irvine, CA, typically around half of each month, with relocation welcomed.Head of Antibody Therapeutics | VP Antibody Therapeutics | Senior Director Biologics Discovery | Director Antibody Discovery | Immunology & Inflammation | I&I | Autoimmune | Antibody Engineering | Bispecific Antibodies | Multispecifics | Developability | Translational Immunology | IND-Enabling | Biologics Drug Discovery | AI Drug Discovery