Profluent

Profluent

Executive Director / Vice President, Biology & Translational Pharmacology

Emeryville, California, United States; Hybrid (2-3 days on-site) · Exec

Work authorization required$270k-$340kDetected 20 days ago
SparkPharmacologyBioinformaticsCRISPRMolecular BiologyExperimental DesignAnimal StudiesLeadershipCommunication

About the role

  • Our initial therapeutic focus for this role is liver-directed customized base editing, with future opportunities to expand into additional tissues and therapeutic areas as Profluent's platform and portfolio grow.
  • You will bring deep expertise in liver biology, metabolic disease, pharmacology, and in vivo disease models, along with the strategic range to help extend Profluent's therapeutic engine beyond liver over time.
  • The ideal candidate will bring a strong drug-hunter mindset, deep experience in genetic medicines, and demonstrated expertise in connecting human genetics to translational biology.

Responsibilities

  • Build and oversee a high-performing liver biology and translational pharmacology organization, including direct management of program and in vivo pharmacology leaders.
  • Lead scientific strategy and execution for 2-3 liver-directed genetic medicine programs, translating Profluent's customized base editor platform into a differentiated portfolio for severe inborn metabolic diseases.
  • Bring deep liver and metabolic disease expertise to the design of experiments that distinguish mechanism, causality, pharmacology, and therapeutic impact across genetically defined disease contexts.
  • Apply strong scientific judgment to experimental design, data interpretation, and program decision-making, ensuring studies are efficient, well-controlled, and capable of supporting clear go/no-go decisions.
  • Represent program strategy, data, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership, board members, external advisors, potential partners, investors, and collaborators.
  • High-growth opportunity with meaningful impact on the future of protein design

Requirements

  • PhD, MD, DVM, PharmD, or equivalent advanced degree in pharmacology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, hepatology, bioengineering, medicine, or a related discipline.
  • PhD in related discipline with significant (12+ years) biopharma R&D experience, with a strong track record in genetic medicines, liver biology, translational pharmacology, and preclinical development.
  • Deep experience with genetic medicines or advanced therapeutic modalities, such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA/LNP therapeutics, gene therapy, genome editing, or related platforms.
  • Deep understanding of liver biology and metabolic disease, with the ability to connect human genetics, disease biology, pharmacology, biomarkers, translational models, and development strategy.
  • Extensive experience with rare liver diseases, lipid biology, hepatology, fibrosis biology, and / or metabolic liver disease.
  • Working knowledge of IND-enabling requirements, toxicology interfaces, CMC considerations, bioanalytical assay needs, and regulatory expectations sufficient to guide program-level decisions.
  • Partner with functional leaders to define program resourcing, critical-path activities, timelines, risks, and key experiments required to deliver development candidates and IND-ready data packages.
  • Experience designing and interpreting in vivo pharmacology studies, including rodent and/or NHP studies evaluating PK/PD, biodistribution, dose response, target engagement, pharmacodynamic biomarkers, durability, efficacy, and tolerability.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary scientific teams, including direct management of senior scientists or functional leaders and leadership of matrixed drug-discovery project teams.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor scientific and strategic messages for audiences ranging from technical project teams to senior executives, board members, external advisors, partners, and generalist investors.
  • Direct experience or at least high-level familiarity with gene editing proteins such as nucleases, base editors, prime editors, recombinases, etc.
  • Team-centered and deeply collaborative, with a positive presence that motivates others
  • inspired by the opportunity to translate great science into meaningful outcomes for patients.

Nice to have

  • Demonstrated track record advancing multiple therapeutic programs from concept through development candidate nomination
  • experience advancing at least one program into IND-enabling studies or clinical development is strongly preferred.

Compensation

  • Competitive compensation package with equity participation

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation package with equity participation
  • Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
  • Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance

Equal opportunity

  • equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship.
  • Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.
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