5AM Ventures

Venture capital investing in life-science innovations

Senior Vice President, Translational Science - Translational Biology

Biology & BiotechUpdated on Nov 11

Full-timeBerkeley, CA, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline is required.
At least 15 years of drug development experience in biotech or pharma, with a proven record as a seasoned drug developer.
Demonstrated success taking multiple programs or proofs of concept from preclinical development into Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies in patients.
Successfully accelerated at least one program to the clinic.
Deep small molecule drug development experience, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology and the path to an investigational new drug application, is required.
Experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas; renal experience is not required.
A track record of building, managing and developing teams, and managing external partners such as contract research organizations.
Strong scientific judgment and the ability to make clear decisions on incomplete data.
Excellent communication with scientific, executive, Board and investor audiences.
Experience serving as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership teams.

Responsibilities

Define and lead the translational strategy for the corrector and potentiator programs, from development candidate nomination through Phase 1/2.
Serve as the company's translational science voice and guide go/no-go decisions across biology, translational and related strategies supporting the programs.
Own the translational strategy to support bringing molecules from discovery into clinical development.
Partner with the Chief Discovery Officer and Chief Medical Officer on dose selection, endpoints and related readouts.
Contribute to regulatory strategy and represent the science in pre-investigational new drug application and other interactions with the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies.
Lead and continuously develop a high-performing translational science team.
Serve as a thought partner to the Chief Scientific Officer, Chief Discovery Officer, Chief Executive Officer and senior leadership team, and work closely with research leadership and the Board.
Communicate program strategy and data clearly to investors, partners and the Board.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in rare diseases, genetic or chronic diseases, including programs built on natural history data or surrogate endpoints.
Biomarker strategy experience, including imaging biomarkers or regulatory biomarker qualifications.
Direct experience leading regulatory interactions, including pre-investigational new drug application meetings with the Food and Drug Administration.
Hands-on experience designing and running Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies with clinical teams.
Experience with protein folding correctors, potentiators or ion channel drugs, such as in cystic fibrosis.
Experience building a function at an early-stage, venture-backed company.

Company Overview

At Renasant Bio, we are driven by a simple goal: to change what’s possible for patients with kidney disease. ADPKD remains one of the most challenging areas in medicine, and we believe it requires bold thinking, rigorous science, and a team committed to doing things differently.

We’re looking for individuals who bring both scientific rigor and creativity to hard problems, and who believe great work is built through respectful, direct collaboration. You communicate with honesty and transparency, adapt quickly as priorities evolve, and hold yourself—and others—to a high standard. Above all, you operate with urgency and purpose, grounded in the knowledge that patients are waiting.

Based at Bakar Labs in Berkeley, CA, we are advancing new therapies designed to make a meaningful difference for patients.

The Opportunity

Renasant Bio is seeking a Senior Vice President, Translational Science to lead its programs from late discovery into the clinic. This is a new role, created as the company moves its lead programs toward development candidate nomination and first in human studies and will report directly to the Chief Scientific Officer.

The SVP, Translational Science, will act as one of our senior drug developers overseeing biology and translational science. They will bring the judgment that comes from having taken multiple small molecule programs through preclinical development and into Phase 1/2 trials. They will own the path from Renasant's biology into the clinic, with a primary focus on IND enabling work, early clinical strategy and the first studies in patients, grounded in a strong command of disease models and biomarkers.

Responsibilities

Translational strategy and drug development

Define and lead the translational strategy for Renasant's corrector and potentiator programs, from development candidate nomination through Phase 1/2.
Serve as the company's translational science voice, guiding go/no go decisions across biology, translational and related strategies that support our programs
Own the translational strategy to support bringing molecules from discovery into clinical development
Partner with our Chief Discovery Officer and Chief Medical Officer on decisions related to dose selection, endpoints and other related readouts.

Regulatory and external engagement

Contribute to regulatory strategy and represent the science in pre-IND and other interactions with FDA and other agencies.

Leadership

Lead and continuously develop a highly performing translational science team.
Serve as a thought partner to the CSO, CDO, CEO and senior leadership team and work closely with research leadership and the Board.
Communicate program strategy and data clearly to investors, partners and the Board.

Qualifications

Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline
15+ years of drug development experience in biotech or pharma, with a proven record as a seasoned drug developer.
Demonstrated success taking multiple programs or proofs of concept from preclinical development into Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies in patients.
Has successfully accelerated at least one program to the clinic.
Deep small molecule drug development experience, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology and the path to IND is required.
Experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas; renal experience is not required but considered ideal.
Track record of building, managing and developing teams, and managing external partners such as CROs.
Strong scientific judgment, with the ability to make clear decisions on incomplete data.
Excellent communication skills with scientific, executive, Board and investor
audiences.
Has served as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership teams.

Preferred

Experience in rare diseases, genetic or chronic diseases, including programs built on natural history data or surrogate endpoints.
Biomarker strategy experience, including imaging biomarkers or regulatory biomarker qualifications.
Direct experience leading regulatory interactions, including pre-IND meetings with FDA.
Hands on experience designing and running Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies with clinical teams.
Experience with protein folding correctors, potentiators or ion channel drugs, such as in cystic fibrosis.
Experience building a function at an early-stage, venture-backed company.

We believe in building an inclusive and balanced team. We also know meeting every single-exact-criteria can get in the way of meeting stellar folks. Please don’t hesitate to apply!

Renasant Bio is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected.

Please note that we do not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies and external recruiters. No fees will be paid for such submissions.

About the Company

5AM Ventures

Venture capital investing in life-science innovations

5AM Ventures is an investment firm focused on backing advanced life science innovations. It diversifies its bets across biopharmaceutical therapeutics and platform technologies, investing within multiple therapeutic areas and modalities. Its approach targets opportunities built on innovative platform platforms, corporate spin-offs, and products with shorter development timelines. The firm’s “product” is providing capital, strategic guidance, and resources to portfolio companies to help them reach clinically or commercially viable milestones faster. Unlike some investors that emphasize a single niche, 5AM differentiates itself by breadth across life science sectors and a focus on technologies with the potential for quicker development cycles. The firm’s goal is to create value by supporting responsible, science-driven progress in life sciences and helping portfolio companies advance promising therapies and platforms to patients and markets.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: $9.2B
Headquarters: Menlo Park, CA
Founded: 2002

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