VP – Head of Peptide Medicinal Chemistry

Company Overview: Abiologics, Inc. is a privately held, early-stage biotechnology company on a mission to make biology better through chemistry. We are pioneering the development of Synteins^TM, a transformational class of macromolecular medicines unlocked by novel synthetic and computational technologies. Abiologics is actively seeking exceptional chemists who are passionate about driving chemical innovation in biotechnology.

Abiologics was founded in Flagship Pioneering’s venture creation engine, where companies such as Moderna Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Generate Biomedicines were conceived and created. Since Flagship’s founding in 2000, the firm has originated and fostered the development of more than 100 scientific ventures resulting in more than 500 issued patents and more than 50 clinical trials for novel therapeutic agents.

Position Summary: Abiologics is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our executive team as the Vice President, Head of Medicinal Chemistry. In this influential role, you will spearhead our efforts to revolutionize macromolecular medicine through innovative chemistry. You will lead and mentor a high-performing team of scientists, driving the development and execution of cutting-edge synthesis technologies and strategies to discover and optimize Synteins™ as therapeutic medicines. Your leadership will be pivotal in advancing our platform, integrating multidisciplinary insights, and shaping the future of medicines.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the peptide medicinal chemistry strategy, aligning with Abiologics’ mission to advance SynteinsTM from discovery to development candidate.
• Cultivate a high-performing team of chemists and manage external collaborations with CROs to accelerate R&D objectives.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration with biology and computational teams to integrate computational techniques and biological insights into medicinal chemistry efforts.
• Innovate and optimize synthetic peptide-based drug candidates using medicinal chemistry strategies, leveraging non-canonical amino acids and novel synthetic approaches.
• Oversee resourcing and budgeting for the chemistry group, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Peptide/Organic/Medicinal Chemistry with 10+ years of industry experience and a strong track record in drug discovery, including peptide modalities. 
• Proven experience in leading drug discovery programs from discovery to optimization and development candidate, particularly with peptide-based therapeutics. 
• Expertise in medicinal chemistry approaches, including the use of non-canonical amino acids to enhance compound efficacy and drug-like properties. 
• Strong leadership and management skills with experience guiding diverse teams and building collaborative partnerships with external organizations.
• Demonstrated ability and passion for people leadership and talent development
• A desire to be part of a highly innovative company and be hands-on as needed in the lab to drive trailblazing research Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, fast-paced, and innovative environment.
• Excellent communication skills and proven ability to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, fast-paced, and innovative environment.
• Preferred: Experience with utilizing computational chemistry tools and structure-based drug design principles for lead identification and optimization