Scientific Director Biotherapeutics

JOB DESCRIPTION

Designation: Scientific Director - Protein Structural & Analytical Sciences

Job Location: Bangalore

Department: Lead Discovery Optimization (LDO)

About Syngene

Incorporated in 1993 Syngene International Ltd. is an innovation-focused global discovery development and manufacturing organization providing integrated scientific services to the pharmaceutical biotechnology nutrition animal health consumer goods and specialty chemical industries around the world. Syngene s clientele includes world leaders such as Bristol-Myers Squibb Baxter Amgen GSK Merck KGaA and Herbalife. Its innovative culture is driven by the passion of its 4240- strong team of scientists who work with clients from around the world to solve their scientific problems improve R&D productivity speed up time to market and lower the cost of innovation.

Job Purpose:

BBRC seeks an experienced Scientific Director of Protein Structural and Analytical Sciences to lead protein production purification and analytics for early biotherapeutic discovery. As a people manager and scientific leader this individual will oversee three integrated sub-teams: Upstream Mammalian Protein Production Downstream Protein Purification and Protein Analytics & Characterization..

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic & Operational Leadership:

• Set and execute BBRC Protein Sciences strategy ensuring reliable research- and tox-grade biologic supply.
• Manage space capital and resources across all three sub-teams.
• Partner across Protein Engineering US Protein Sciences PCO NCS and Biologics DevelopmentCMC to advance candidates and deliver material to NCS.
• Own KPIs for delivery yield purity endotoxin and turnaround time.
• Represent BBRC Protein Sciences across Discovery Biotherapeutics and Biologics Development.
• Adopt technologies that increase scale speed and tox-batch consistency.
• Ensure safety ELN EHS regulatory and ethical compliance.
• Manage cross-functional relationships and capacity planning.

1. Discovery Toxicology Batch Material Production:

• Co-lead discovery tox batch production with US Protein Sciences including capacity and scheduling to deliver quality material on time.
• Apply BMS tox-batch quality standards for purity aggregation endotoxin sterility/bioburden identity and potency.
• Maintain batch records and characterization packages for safety teams and regulatory reports.
• Archive tox-batch reference standards and retain samples per policy and regulatory expectations.

1. Upstream Protein Production:

• Optimize BMS mammalian expression systems for medium- to tox-scale production.
• Optimize constructs and transfection protocols for high-yield high-quality research tox material.
• Scale upstream processes to 1200 L for 0.5100 g tox campaigns.
• Oversee reproducible fed-batch and perfusion tox runs.
• Maintain documented cell banks and master stocks for all expression systems.

1. Downstream Protein Purification:

• Lead downstream purification to deliver quality research and tox material on time.
• Develop and optimize multi-step chromatography workflows.
• Purify complex biologic formats at tox-relevant scale.
• Use AnSEC SDS-PAGE and endotoxin testing to monitor purification.
• Ensure validated endotoxin control and compliant release specifications.
• Document expression purification and analytical data in BMS systems and ELNs.
• Oversee concentration buffer exchange formulation and sterile filtration for tox material.
• Manage scale-up and technology transfer with reproducible processes and complete batch records.
• Maintain the CMC purification toolbox and adopt technologies that improve tox-campaign throughput.

1. Protein Analytics & Characterization:

• Lead Protein Analytics and set assay qualification and release standards for research and tox material.
• Direct biophysical and biochemical characterization of candidates tox batches including:

• SEC-MALS DLS AUC size and aggregation
• DSF nanoDSF DSC thermal stability
• LC-MS and peptide mapping identity and PTMs including glycans
• SDS-PAGE CE-SDS iCIEF purity and charge variants
• BLI and SPR binding kinetics and affinity
• ELISA and cell-based assays tox-batch potency
• LAL/rFC assays endotoxin testing for in vivo material
• Enforce tox-batch release criteria before in vivo use.

• Maintain CoAs and analytical summaries covering identity purity potency endotoxin and freeze/thaw stability.

• Partner with PCO-DPAS on developability assessments to de-risk candidates before tox.

• Implement and qualify new analytical platforms with Operations and IT.

1. People Management Responsibilities:

• Recruit and onboard talent aligned with pipeline and tox-supply needs.
• Lead performance management goals reviews and development planning.
• Coach teams build capability and scientific rigor.
• Foster a high-performance culture of rigor safety innovation and improvement.
• Address resource capability and succession risks including tox-campaign surges.
• Champion diversity equity and inclusion in hiring and team culture.

Educational Qualification:

Ph.D. in biochemistry molecular biology protein engineering bioengineering or related field.

Experience:

15 years

Technical/functional Skills:

Required:

• Ph.D. in biochemistry molecular biology protein engineering bioengineering or related field.
• 10 years of relevant biopharma protein-sciences experience.
• 5 years managing multidisciplinary scientific teams.
• Expertise across protein engineering expression purification and analytics.
• Accountability for discovery/preclinical protein batches supporting in vivo toxicology including quality documentation and release testing.
• Protein-production scale-up from 50 mg to 100 g for rapid tox supply.
• Track record delivering quality proteins across diverse biologic modalities.
• Strong communication and influence with senior leaders.

Preferred:

• Experience with antibody-discovery platforms.
• Familiarity with IND-enabling/GLP tox studies and CMC transition.
• Knowledge of GLP/GMP-adjacent documentation batch records and CoAs.
• Experience with ADCs multispecifics or emerging tox-stage biologics.
• Protein-science publications patents or invention disclosures.

Behavioral Skills:

Strong problem-solving and data analysis skills excellent written and verbal communication skills good presentation skills and the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet aggressive project timelines. Must demonstrate integrity and take accountability for their work

Equal Opportunity Employer:

It is the policy of Syngene to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age color national origin citizenship status physical or mental disability race religion creed gender sex sexual orientation gender identity and/or expression genetic information marital status status with regard to public assistance veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable legislation or local addition Syngene will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.