GenScript

Global CRO and biologics CDMO services

Manager – Lipid Nanoparticle Research and Development

Bioprocess & BiomanufacturingPosted on Nov 12

Full-timeSeattle, WA, USAIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline is required.
At least 5 years of relevant post-PhD industry or research experience in nucleic acid delivery, drug delivery, lipid nanoparticles, or related technologies is required.
At least 2 years of direct people-management experience leading scientific or technical teams, including hiring, coaching, performance management, employee development, and resource planning is required.
Deep scientific expertise in lipid nanoparticle formulation and nucleic acid delivery, particularly RNA delivery, is required.
Hands-on experience in lipid nanoparticle formulation, production, optimization, and analytical characterization is required.
A strong understanding of lipid-based and/or polymeric nucleic acid delivery technologies is required.
Experience with particle size and polydispersity index, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, RNA concentration, lipid composition, morphology, and stability assessment is required.
Experience evaluating nucleic acid delivery performance in relevant in vitro and/or in vivo models is required.
A strong understanding of RNA biology and analytical methods for evaluating RNA quality, delivery, and functional expression is required.
Experience with relevant molecular and cellular methods, which may include reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, flow cytometry, fluorescence-based assays, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and RNA-quantification methods, is required.
The ability to analyze complex data, identify root causes, design effective experiments, and make data-driven development decisions is required.
Strong project-management and organizational capabilities, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and development programs, are required.
Excellent scientific writing, presentation, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills are required.
The ability to collaborate effectively and influence across technical and business functions without direct authority is required.
High standards of integrity, scientific rigor, accountability, teamwork, and professional conduct are required.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of innovative lipid nanoparticle and nucleic acid delivery platforms for mRNA, DNA, small RNAs, and other therapeutic payloads across research and therapeutic applications.
Drive next-generation lipid nanoparticle development, including novel ionizable lipid design and synthesis, formulation optimization, targeted lipid nanoparticles, extrahepatic delivery, and tissue- or cell-specific delivery strategies.
Establish technology roadmaps and development strategies that create differentiated lipid nanoparticle capabilities, products, and services.
Partner with the RNA Research and Development team to develop integrated RNA and delivery solutions for vaccines, gene editing, protein replacement, cell engineering, and other emerging applications.
Provide scientific leadership for lipid nanoparticle formulation design, screening, characterization, optimization, and delivery-performance evaluation.
Monitor emerging technologies, scientific publications, competitive platforms, intellectual-property trends, and industry developments in nucleic acid delivery.
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing lipid nanoparticle Research and Development team, with responsibility for workforce planning, hiring, resource allocation, budgeting, performance management, and employee development.
Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, collaboration, transparency, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Mentor scientists through regular one-on-one meetings, technical guidance, career-development discussions, and timely, constructive feedback.
Allocate resources effectively to achieve project milestones, platform-development objectives, and organizational priorities.
Serve as the primary technical and organizational leader for lipid nanoparticle Research and Development and partner with RNA Research and Development, Operations, Production, Quality, Marketing, Sales, and Program Management.
Define project scope, technical strategy, milestones, resource requirements, risks, and timelines for key Research and Development programs.
Monitor project and team performance and communicate progress, risks, scientific findings, and recommendations to senior leadership through project reviews and presentations.
Review and approve key Research and Development deliverables, including research reports, experimental protocols, standard operating procedures, technical procedures, production records, presentations, and scientific publications.
Lead the translation of new lipid nanoparticle technologies from early-stage Research and Development into robust, scalable, customer-facing products and services.
Provide technical leadership for formulation scale-up, process optimization, technology transfer, and implementation in Production and Operations.
Work with Production, Quality, and Operations to establish reproducible processes, critical process parameters, analytical requirements, and fit-for-purpose documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve platform performance, operational efficiency, scalability, reproducibility, profitability, and customer value.
Serve as a technical expert in customer discussions involving lipid nanoparticle formulation, nucleic acid delivery, troubleshooting, and customized development programs.
Partner with Commercial, Marketing, and Program Management to understand customer needs and translate them into new capabilities and service offerings.
Participate in scientific conferences, technical seminars, and customer engagements to identify emerging trends and unmet needs.
Translate market and customer insights into actionable Research and Development priorities and technology roadmaps.
Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of laboratory procedures and technical workflows.
Promote high standards of scientific documentation, experimental reproducibility, data integrity, and laboratory organization.
Ensure compliance with applicable laboratory-safety requirements and GenScript environmental, health, and safety policies, particularly for lipid chemistry, formulation development, and chemical handling.
Collaborate with environmental, health, and safety, Quality, and site leadership to maintain a safe and compliant laboratory environment.
Perform other responsibilities consistent with leading and continuously improving GenScript lipid nanoparticle Research and Development capabilities.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in novel ionizable lipid design or synthesis, targeted lipid nanoparticles, extrahepatic delivery, or cell-specific nucleic acid delivery is preferred.
Experience developing lipid nanoparticles for mRNA therapeutics, vaccines, gene editing, in vivo cell engineering, small interfering RNA, or other nucleic acid modalities is preferred.
Experience transitioning technologies from early-stage Research and Development through scale-up, technology transfer, production, or commercial service launch is preferred.
Experience in a contract research organization or contract development and manufacturing organization, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life-science service organization is preferred.
Experience working directly with customers, external collaborators, or commercial teams on technical development programs is preferred.
Demonstrated innovation through new technology development, patents, publications, platform development, or successful product or service launches is preferred.

About GenScript

Founded in 2002 in New Jersey, GenScript Biotech Corporation accelerates innovation in biotech and healthcare by providing researchers and companies with the building blocks needed to develop groundbreaking treatments and products. Guided by its mission to Make People and Nature Healthier Through Biotechnology, and its role as a well-recognized biotechnology company, GenScript has a team of approximately 6,165 employees and has served more than 200,000 customers across over 100 countries and regions.

Position Summary

GenScript is seeking a highly motivated and experienced scientific leader to lead its Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) R&D team in Seattle. The successful candidate will bring multidisciplinary expertise in lipid nanoparticles, nucleic acid delivery, formulation development, and RNA therapeutics, together with demonstrated scientific leadership and people-management capability.

This role will lead the development and commercialization of innovative RNA and nucleic acid delivery technologies, with a focus on LNP platforms for mRNA, DNA, small RNAs, and other emerging nucleic acid modalities. The team will translate new delivery technologies, formulations, workflows, and operating capabilities into differentiated GenScript products and services for global research and drug-development customers.

The ideal candidate is both a scientific innovator and a people leader who can convert emerging delivery technologies into scalable, reproducible, and commercially relevant solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific and Technology Leadership

Lead the development of innovative LNP and nucleic acid delivery platforms for mRNA, DNA, small RNAs, and other therapeutic payloads across diverse research and therapeutic applications.
Drive next-generation LNP development, including novel ionizable lipid design and synthesis, formulation optimization, targeted LNPs, extrahepatic delivery, and tissue- or cell-specific delivery strategies.
Establish technology roadmaps and development strategies that create differentiated LNP capabilities, products, and services.
Partner with the RNA R&D team to develop integrated RNA and delivery solutions for vaccines, gene editing, protein replacement, cell engineering, and other emerging applications.
Provide scientific leadership for LNP formulation design, screening, characterization, optimization, and delivery-performance evaluation.
Monitor emerging technologies, scientific publications, competitive platforms, intellectual-property trends, and industry developments in nucleic acid delivery.

Team Leadership and Development

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing LNP R&D team, with responsibility for workforce planning, hiring, resource allocation, budgeting, performance management, and employee development.
Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, collaboration, transparency, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Mentor scientists through regular one-on-one meetings, technical guidance, career-development discussions, and timely, constructive feedback.
Allocate resources effectively to achieve project milestones, platform-development objectives, and organizational priorities.

Cross-Functional and Project Leadership

Serve as the primary technical and organizational leader for LNP R&D and partner with RNA R&D, Operations, Production, Quality, Marketing, Sales, and Program Management.
Define project scope, technical strategy, milestones, resource requirements, risks, and timelines for key R&D programs.
Monitor project and team performance and communicate progress, risks, scientific findings, and recommendations to senior leadership through project reviews and presentations.
Review and approve key R&D deliverables, including research reports, experimental protocols, SOPs, technical procedures, production records, presentations, and scientific publications.

Technology Transfer and Commercialization

Lead the translation of new LNP technologies from early-stage R&D into robust, scalable, customer-facing products and services.
Provide technical leadership for formulation scale-up, process optimization, technology transfer, and implementation in Production and Operations.
Work with Production, Quality, and Operations to establish reproducible processes, critical process parameters, analytical requirements, and fit-for-purpose documentation.
Identify opportunities to improve platform performance, operational efficiency, scalability, reproducibility, profitability, and customer value.

Customer and Market Engagement

Serve as a technical expert in customer discussions involving LNP formulation, nucleic acid delivery, troubleshooting, and customized development programs.
Partner with Commercial, Marketing, and Program Management to understand customer needs and translate them into new capabilities and service offerings.
Participate in scientific conferences, technical seminars, and customer engagements to identify emerging trends and unmet needs.
Translate market and customer insights into actionable R&D priorities and technology roadmaps.

Laboratory, Quality, and Safety

Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of laboratory procedures and technical workflows.
Promote high standards of scientific documentation, experimental reproducibility, data integrity, and laboratory organization.
Ensure compliance with applicable laboratory-safety requirements and GenScript EHS policies, particularly for lipid chemistry, formulation development, and chemical handling.
Collaborate with EHS, Quality, and site leadership to maintain a safe and compliant laboratory environment.
Perform other responsibilities consistent with leading and continuously improving GenScript LNP R&D capabilities.

Required Qualifications

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, or a related discipline.
At least 5 years of relevant post-PhD industry or research experience in nucleic acid delivery, drug delivery, lipid nanoparticles, or related technologies.
At least 2 years of direct people-management experience leading scientific or technical teams, including hiring, coaching, performance management, employee development, and resource planning.
Deep scientific expertise in lipid nanoparticle formulation and nucleic acid delivery, particularly RNA delivery.
Demonstrated hands-on experience in LNP formulation, production, optimization, and analytical characterization.
Strong understanding of lipid-based and/or polymeric nucleic acid delivery technologies.
Experience with particle size/PDI, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, RNA concentration, lipid composition, morphology, and stability assessment.
Experience evaluating nucleic acid delivery performance in relevant in vitro and/or in vivo models.
Strong understanding of RNA biology and analytical methods for evaluating RNA quality, delivery, and functional expression.
Experience with relevant molecular and cellular methods, which may include RT-qPCR, ELISA, Western blotting, flow cytometry, fluorescence-based assays, gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, and RNA-quantification methods.
Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data, identify root causes, design effective experiments, and make data-driven development decisions.
Strong project-management and organizational capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and development programs.
Excellent scientific writing, presentation, interpersonal, and stakeholder-management skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively and influence across technical and business functions without direct authority.
High standards of integrity, scientific rigor, accountability, teamwork, and professional conduct.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in novel ionizable lipid design or synthesis, targeted LNPs, extrahepatic delivery, or cell-specific nucleic acid delivery.
Experience developing LNPs for mRNA therapeutics, vaccines, gene editing, in vivo cell engineering, siRNA, or other nucleic acid modalities.
Experience transitioning technologies from early-stage R&D through scale-up, technology transfer, production, or commercial service launch.
Experience in a CRO/CDMO, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or life-science service organization.
Experience working directly with customers, external collaborators, or commercial teams on technical development programs.
Demonstrated innovation through new technology development, patents, publications, platform development, or successful product/service launches.

Success Profile

The successful candidate will combine deep scientific expertise with strong leadership and execution. They will be comfortable moving between hands-on scientific problem-solving, technology strategy, team development, cross-functional execution, and customer engagement. Most importantly, they will bring scientific curiosity, ownership, creativity, and urgency to building next-generation LNP technologies that strengthen GenScript's global RNA and nucleic acid delivery capabilities.

Perks:

Free colleague meals during shift
Onsite gyms

Compensation:
Salary range: $125,000 – $160,000 total compensation, including bonus, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as a 401(k) retirement plan with a company match that vests fully on day one. We offer paid parental leave after just three (3) months of employment, and a paid time off policy that includes vacation time, personal time, sick time, floating holidays, and company holidays. Additional benefits include flexible spending and health savings accounts, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, legal assistance, and supplemental plans such as pet, critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance. We also provide commuter benefits, well-being initiatives, and peer-to-peer recognition programs; demonstrating our ongoing commitment to building a culture where our people feel empowered, supported, and inspired to do their best work.

GenScript USA Inc/ProBio Inc. is a proud equal opportunity/affirmative action employer committed to attracting, retaining, and maximizing the performance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the Company's policy to ensure equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status, uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

GenScript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. maintains a drug-free workplace.

Please note: Genscript USA Inc./ProBio Inc. will only contact candidates through verified application sources. GenScript/Probio does not request personal information from candidates through individual email or any other platform.

Salary: 125000.0 - 160000.0

About the Company

GenScript

Global CRO and biologics CDMO services

GenScript Biotech Corporation is a global CRO and biologics CDMO that provides life-science services and products. Its offerings include gene synthesis, peptide synthesis, protein expression and purification, antibody development, and CRISPR, with ProBio handling end-to-end cell/gene therapy development, Bestzyme making industrial enzymes, and Legend Biotech pursuing cell therapies like CAR-T. The company differentiates itself by operating across four platforms to offer end-to-end support from research to commercialization for a wide customer base in over 100 countries. Its goal is to help customers advance drug discovery and biopharmaceutical development, scale manufacturing, and bring cell and gene therapies to market.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: IPO
Headquarters: Piscataway Township, New Jersey
Founded: 2002

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