Associate Director, Translational Biology

What if… you could join an organization that creates, resources, and builds life sciences companies that invent breakthrough technologies to transform health care and sustainability? 

Flagship Labs 101 (FL101) is a stealth, Series A funded biotechnology company with a mission to discover and develop therapeutics through the lens of cell-cell contact. We are seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead target validation efforts and mechanistic strategy development, while designing and executing novel therapeutic discovery programs. This role requires a scientist who can provide scientific and technical leadership while maintaining an active presence at the bench, bridging target biology with drug discovery, translating biological insights into actionable therapeutic strategies. This is a unique opportunity to be one of the early employees of a biotech startup that combines an innovative mindset with the resources and know-how of Flagship Pioneering. 

Key Responsibilities 

Target Validation & Mechanistic Strategy 

• Lead comprehensive target validation efforts using disease-relevant model systems to establish therapeutic rationale 

• Design and oversee mechanistic studies to understand target biology, pathway dependencies, and potential for therapeutic intervention 

• Develop validation strategies that integrate genetic, pharmacological, and functional approaches 

• Establish target product profiles and go/no-go criteria for therapeutic programs 

Therapeutic Discovery Program Leadership 

• Design and execute end-to-end therapeutic discovery programs from target identification through lead optimization 

• Define program strategy, milestones, and success criteria in collaboration with cross-functional teams 

• Oversee experimental design and data interpretation to drive program advancement 

• Present program updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership 

Scientific Leadership 

• Supervise and mentor scientists and research associates in target validation and disease modeling 

• Foster collaboration across discovery biology, translational science, and drug discovery teams 

• Stay current with emerging technologies and scientific literature to enhance discovery capabilities 

Required Qualifications 

• Advanced degree in biology, pharmacology, immunology, or related field with PhD plus 5 years experience in biotech or pharma, or MS plus 10 years.  

• Minimum of 3-4 years in a leadership capacity leading project or program teams and experience mentoring direct reports. 

• Proven track record of leading target validation efforts and contributing to therapeutic program advancement 

• Strong understanding of drug discovery principles and translational medicine 

• Experience designing and interpreting complex biological studies with clear decision-making frameworks 

• Demonstrated ability to think critically, solve problems independently, and drive projects forward 

• Excellent communication skills with ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Hands-on experience with primary cell culture systems and functional assays 

• Expertise in 3D cell culture models (organoids, spheroids, tissue-engineered constructs) 

• Proficiency with iPSC-derived cellular models and differentiation protocols 

• Experience integrating multi-omic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) into target validation 

• Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals 

• Disease area expertise across areas such as inflammatory disorders, fibrosis, or oncology 

• Stays current with AI/ML tools that accelerate target and drug discovery workflows. 

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Flagship Pioneering and its affiliated Flagship Lab companies (collectively, “FSP”) do not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to FSP or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Flagship Pioneering’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of FSP, and FSP will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto. 

The salary range for this role is $154,000 - $203,500. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. FL101 currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on FL101's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.