Head of Biology

The organisation

Artica Therapeutics B.V. and its seasoned team started operations in 2020 and were supported by Pre-seed financing from BioGeneration Ventures in 2021, followed by a Seed round supported by Thuja, Seroba, InnovationQuarter and BioGeneration in 2023. Artica is dedicated to finding new small molecule drugs for inflammatory and autoimmune indications using innovative approaches.

The position

Artica is a leader in the field of covalent binding technology as well as in label-free cellular-based screening approaches. The unique combination of these capabilities allows rapid progression of drug candidates that have unprecedented and superior characteristics, creating novel and highly selective therapies for patients with unmet medical needs. Are you the seasoned leader with biology and translational expertise that can help shape the future of Artica’s inflammation and autoimmune portfolio? Do you have a genuine interest for these disorders, and a proven track record in drug discovery and development within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry?

Tasks & responsibilities

As the Head of Biology you will assume overall responsibility for the Biology department. As such, you are responsible for target validation, building assay capabilities and flowchart assays to support progressing an innovative portfolio in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders at Artica Therapeutics. You will take the lead in all pre-clinical biology operations at Artica in the Netherlands. Together with the leadership team at Artica you are responsible for the strategic direction of the biological, pharmacological and translations aspects of projects with the aim to leverage these to clinical candidate stage.

Your responsibilities include overseeing all biological and translational aspects of the drug discovery process at Artica in the Netherlands. In this role, you lead a team of 6-7 Research Scientists and Technicians based in Leiden, actively contributing to the management and shaping of the project portfolio. Your focus involves developing efficient screening assay and flowchart strategies across multiple projects, ensuring effective collaboration with the chemistry team. Beyond project-specific tasks, you play a significant role in defining the overall strategic direction and development of the organisation.

Aligning departmental objectives with the broader business goals, you actively build networks with other team leaders and technical experts both internally and externally. Identifying cutting-edge approaches to impact therapeutic projects is a key aspect of your role. Stakeholder management is a crucial element, requiring the establishment of strong and constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders within Artica, as well as at Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and Venture Capitalists (VCs), both locally and globally. Your communication skills are essential, as you are expected to effectively convey results, both orally and in written form. This includes publishing in peer-reviewed journals and leveraging intellectual property and trade secrets to advance the organisation's objectives.

Candidate profile

What do we ask from you?

• Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline like Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Biomedical Sciences, ideally with a strong inflammation or immunology component;
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on drug discovery from a biological perspective;
• Minimum of 5 years managerial experience;
• You have a proven track record in the delivery of clinical candidate small molecules, ideally in the inflammatory and/or autoimmune space;
• You can work independently and effectively in a matrix environment, coupled with a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to move projects forward;
• Proven publication track record in the field of immunology;
• Excellent command of the English language;
• You are currently living in the Netherlands or willing to relocate (partial working from home can be discussed);
• You will bring your own scientific network, and you can build and maintain your network. You have stakeholder management skills;
• Competences: strong leadership skills, strong communication, organisational sensitivity, strong personality, ability to deal with disappointments, team player, helicopter view, problem-solving, flexibility, and entrepreneurial attitude.

The offer

• A dynamic, innovative, and international working environment to let you be a part of the development of new medicines that can make a difference in the lives of patients;
• The possibility of working in a small, dedicated team where you can learn from each other. The team spirit is very good!
• The possibility to cooperate with your international collaborators.

The Team
In this position, you will report to the CEO of Artica in the Netherlands. We work closely together with the R&D team in Leiden and other cross-functional teams located at CROs in the EU, US, and Asia. The culture is informal with an excellent team spirit. This willingness to share and to learn from each other in an open atmosphere is key to our success. We work for shared objectives and goals!

Interested?

You can apply for this position by using the link below.