Associate Director, Protein Sciences (Billerica MA)

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The Associate Director, Protein Sciences will lead the design, development, expression, purification, and biophysical characterization of challenging protein targets that support discovery and development programs. This role requires deep expertise in membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other difficult-to-express or difficult-to-purify constructs, together with the scientific judgment to select and optimize fit-for-purpose expression and purification strategies.

The successful candidate will combine hands-on technical depth with strong people leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to translate complex protein-science challenges into practical, high-quality solutions.

Key responsibilities

- Lead protein-science strategies for membrane proteins, intracellular proteins, receptor fusions, and other complex or challenging targets.
- Design and optimize expression and purification workflows across diverse platforms, including mammalian, insect, bacterial, yeast, and cell-free expression systems.
- Develop scalable approaches for proteins with low expression, poor solubility, instability, aggregation, proteolytic sensitivity, or challenging post-translational requirements.
- Guide construct design, tag selection, buffer optimization, detergent and lipid screening, stabilization strategies, and formulation development.
- Establish and implement robust purification workflows, including affinity, ion-exchange, hydrophobic-interaction, size-exclusion, and other appropriate chromatographic methods.
- Plan and interpret protein-characterization studies to assess identity, purity, homogeneity, oligomeric state, folding, stability, and functional integrity.
- Apply and oversee advanced analytical techniques, including: Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and related interaction analyses
- Intact-mass spectrometry
- Top-down and bottom-up mass spectrometry
- Size-exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering (SEC-MALS)
- Complementary biophysical and biochemical methods as appropriate

- Define analytical strategies for difficult-to-purify proteins and make evidence-based recommendations on construct, process, and assay selection.
- Troubleshoot complex protein-expression, purification, and characterization problems and communicate clear recommendations to project teams and leadership.
- Lead or contribute to technical strategy, experimental planning, data review, milestone planning, and scientific decision-making across multidisciplinary teams.
- Build strong partnerships with groups such as structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, assay development, analytical sciences, and project or program leadership.
- Recruit, mentor, coach, and develop protein-science scientists and research associates.
- Lead a team of at least five individuals, establishing clear priorities, fostering accountability, and creating an inclusive, collaborative, and scientifically rigorous working environment.
- Maintain high standards for data quality, documentation, scientific integrity, laboratory safety, and regulatory or quality expectations relevant to the organization.
- Represent protein sciences in internal meetings, project reviews, external collaborations, and scientific discussions with senior stakeholders.

Required qualifications and experience

- Ph.D. in biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, protein science, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline, with relevant postdoctoral or industry experience; equivalent experience may be considered.
- At least 10 years of relevant experience in protein expression, purification, and characterization in an academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or related research environment.
- Demonstrated expertise expressing and purifying multiple challenging protein classes, including: Membrane proteins
- Intracellular proteins
- Receptor fusions
- Other multidomain, unstable, aggregation-prone, or otherwise difficult-to-purify proteins

- Hands-on experience with multiple expression systems, including cell-free protein-expression systems and at least two additional heterologous or eukaryotic platforms.
- Strong practical knowledge of protein purification development, optimization, troubleshooting, and scale-up considerations.
- Proficiency in protein characterization using several of the following, with demonstrated strength in the methods listed below: SPR
- Intact-mass spectrometry
- Top-down mass spectrometry
- Bottom-up mass spectrometry
- SEC-MALS
- Size-exclusion chromatography and related chromatographic methods
- Thermal-shift or differential scanning fluorimetry methods
- Dynamic light scattering or related aggregation and particle-sizing methods
- Orthogonal purity, identity, and stability assays

- Experience interpreting complex analytical data and integrating results across complementary techniques.
- Demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing a team of five or more individuals.
- Strong scientific communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings and recommendations to both expert and non-expert audiences.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, make sound technical decisions, and deliver results in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment.

Preferred qualifications

- Experience supporting structure-based drug discovery, biologics discovery, protein therapeutics, or other translational research programs.
- Experience with membrane-protein stabilization, detergent and lipid screening, nanodisc or other reconstitution approaches, or receptor-complex assembly.
- Familiarity with construct engineering, protein-design approaches, and sequence- or structure-informed optimization.
- Experience establishing new protein-science capabilities, analytical workflows, or laboratory infrastructure.
- Experience with automation, high-throughput experimentation, or data-driven optimization of expression and purification processes.
- Record of scientific publications, patents, conference presentations, or other contributions demonstrating expertise in protein sciences.

Leadership profile

The ideal candidate is a scientifically rigorous and hands-on leader who:

- Sets a clear technical direction while remaining engaged with experimental details.
- Develops people through regular coaching, thoughtful delegation, and meaningful growth opportunities.
- Creates a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and continuous learning.
- Encourages disciplined experimentation and constructive challenge of scientific assumptions.
- Communicates complex protein-science concepts clearly and adapts communication to the audience.
- Builds trust across functions and makes timely, transparent decisions when data are incomplete or challenges are significant.

Success in this role

Success will be demonstrated by the ability to build and lead a high-performing protein-sciences team, deliver reproducible and well-characterized proteins for demanding research programs, establish effective solutions for difficult-to-purify targets, and provide scientific leadership that advances projects from early discovery through key development milestones.

Location: Onsite Billerica MA

Pay Range for this position: $165,500 - $248,300

The offer range represents the anticipated low and high end of the base pay compensation for this position. The actual compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level of experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors. Position may be eligible for sales or performance-based bonuses. Benefits offered by the Company include health insurance, paid time off (PTO), retirement contributions, and other perquisites. For more information click here .

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!