Sr. Scientist, Viral Vector
Foster, CA - USA
Job Summary
Were here for one reason and one reason only to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. Weve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But were not finished yet.
Join Kite as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.
We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.
Job Description
Kite Pharma is seeking a highly motivated Senior Scientist with deep expertise in lentiviral and viral vector technologies to support nextgeneration gene and cell therapy programs. The successful candidate will play a critical role in leading a vector core team to produce viral vectors on a regular basis supporting research activities throughout the addition they will initiate and design experiments for the optimization and characterization of viral delivery platforms. They will work cross-functionally interfacing with teams in discovery analytical development and process development.
This role is ideal for a handson scientist who combines strong technical leadership with managerial and leadership skills who can drive complex projects in a fastpaced collaborative biotech environment.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and manage a vector core team to produce lenti and retroviral vectors supporting Research teams and activities in the organization.
Lead experimental design and execution for lentiviral and viral vectorbased gene delivery strategies supporting CART TCRT and emerging gene therapy modalities
Exceptional record keeping and Lab information management system policy adherence
Develop optimize and characterize viral vector production for in vivo and ex vivo lentiviral systems
Apply deep understanding of viral biology vector engineering and gene expression control to improve efficiency safety and scalability
Serve as a technical expert for viral delivery providing guidance to discovery translational and process development teams
Collaborate crossfunctionally with Research teams core groups analytical development process development and regulatory partners
Interpret complex datasets troubleshoot experimental challenges and drive datadriven decision making
Author technical reports protocols and contribute to INDenabling documentation as needed
Present results at internal forums and external scientific meetings
Mentor direct reports and contribute to building best practices within the viral vector group
Basic Qualifications
Advanced scientific degree (MD PharmD PhD) in Molecular Biology Cell Biology Virology Bioengineering or a related field with 2 years of relevant postdoctoral or industry experience
ORMasters degree in Molecular Biology Cell Biology Virology Bioengineering or a related field with 6 years of relevant scientific experience
ORBachelors degree in Molecular Biology Cell Biology Virology Bioengineering or a related field with 8 years of relevant scientific experience
Preferred Qualifications
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology Cell Biology Virology Bioengineering or a related field with 3 years of relevant postdoctoral or industry experience
Demonstrated handson expertise in lentiviral vector design optimization production and transduction
Strong background in viral gene delivery for cell or gene therapy applications
Strong leadership and managerial skills
Proven ability to work in a highly matrixed environment
Deep knowledge of mammalian cell culture transfection/transduction methods and molecular biology techniques (e.g. ddPCR qPCR flow cytometry Western blot ELISA)
Proven ability to independently design and execute complex experiments
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience supporting CART or engineered cell therapy programs
Knowledge of nonlentiviral viral systems (e.g. retroviral AAV vectors)
Experience with scaleup process development or tech transfer of viral vectors
Experience with high throughput screening automation and use of liquid handers (Biomek TECAN etc)
Experience with viral vector producer cell line improvement and optimization strategies.
Track record of publications patents or successful program contributions
Key Competencies
Scientific rigor and experimental excellence
Crossfunctional collaboration and leadership
Strategic thinking with attention to detail
Ability to thrive in a fastmoving resultsdriven environment
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Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives backgrounds and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race color religion national origin sex age sexual orientation physical or mental disabilitygenetic information or characteristic gender identity and expression veteran status or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal state and local order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Act of 1974 and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact for assistance. NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team. Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.
Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune systems ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica CA. For more information on Kite please visit . Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at jobs in the United States:
For more information about equal employment opportunity protections please view theKnow Your Rights poster.
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about discussed or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge (b) in furtherance of an investigation proceeding hearing or action including an investigation conducted by the employer (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.
Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:
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Senior IC
About Company
Kite is dedicated to curing cancer. Learn about the science of cell therapy, our cancer research, and our cancer treatments in the pipeline.