Project Leader Bioconjugation

**vacancy closed

Job description

Sapreme Technologies is a privately-owned biotech company developing a disruptive technology platform (ENDOSCAPE^®) enabling the development of superior targeted therapeutics, such as antibody-drug conjugates and oligonucleotide-based drugs.

You will join an ambitious, entrepreneurial team and develop new medicines for cancer and other indications. Projects span both the internal pipeline as well as pharma- and biotech partnered programs, allowing for external interaction.

In this role, you will serve as subject matter expert (SME) and project lead (CRO liaison) for all bioconjugation activities at Sapreme. These projects are aimed at the development of novel complex (ADC-like) bioconjugates with our proprietary endosomal-escape compounds, linker technologies and scaffolds. You will define bioconjugation strategies and lead work packages across all of Sapreme’s projects and pipeline. To this end, you will work in close partnerships with your colleagues from Chemistry, Biologics and Product Development. Work packages are mainly executed at partners and specialty CROs/CDMOs. For work carried out in our state-of-the-art labs, you would serve as SME for lab-based R&D staff, or perform lab-based work yourself.

To excel in this role, the successful candidate will have a solid background in protein chemistry and biochemistry. You should have extensive experience in the development of targeted therapeutics, including but not limited to antibody conjugates, nucleic acid conjugates, and/or protein-nanomaterial conjugates and scaffold-linker technologies. Your expertise and leadership will critically influence Sapreme’s platform development and pipeline. Your expertise in working with proteins and/or protein conjugates will add value to Sapreme, enabling development of a breakthrough technology for intracellular delivery of targeted therapies. In this role, you will directly report to the Principal Scientist Biologics within the Development Department of Sapreme.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• You effectively influence the scientific strategy by applying your expertise and experience in bioconjugations to champion the development of new conjugation technologies and novel ADC-like bioconjugates.
• You develop stratgey, study plans and work packages for complex bioconjugates in line with the development plans.
• You identify suitable vendors and partners and lead bioconjugation projects (synthesis and characterization) at CROs/CDMOs.
• You plan, prioritize, and perform work independently and according to the project plans.
• You are the key point of contact for updates on outsourced activities to allow the team to be informed and make data driven decisions.
• Your project management skills contribute to ensuring operational excellence and awareness of timelines, resource requirements for execution of the studies.

Key requirements

• This role is typically best suited for a Ph.D. or graduate degree in Chemical Biology or Biochemistry, with a strong background in Protein Science.
• At least 3 – 5 years of experience after Ph.D. including industry experience, e.g., in oncology drug discovery.
• Extensive experience with (clinically validated) bioconjugate therapies, like ADCs or targeted drug delivery modalities is a must.
• Experience in optimizing bioconjugation conditions for DAR/DOL, recovery, and stability, as well as analytical experience in characterizing bioconjugates (DAR/DOL, conjugation site, purity, solubility and payload stability/release assays) is a great plus.
• Experience in managing external partners and vendors and working in project teams is highly desirable.
• You have excellent proficiency in English.
• You are comfortable running multiple projects in parallel, prioritize quickly and bring projects to conclusion.
• You are accustomed to setting-up procedures and have excellent record keeping and data management skills according to industry standards.
• You contribute to internal meetings and lead project meetings with collaborators/CROs.
• You are accustomed to adhering to deadlines and accept an occasionally enhanced workload.

The job is based on a contract for  40 hrs/week (full-time). Salary will be based on relevant work experience. Initially we offer a fixed-term employment contract for a year, with the intention to extend.

• Location: Bilthoven. Up to 20 – 40% working remotely possible.
• Don’t hesitate to contact hiring manager Miriam Bujny (CDO) for more information at bujny@sapreme-technologies.com, or apply directly via careers@sapreme-technologies.com with a CV and motivation letter. Applications without motivation will not be considered.