About Voyager

 Voyager Therapeutics (Nasdaq: VYGR) is a biotechnology company dedicated to breaking through barriers in gene therapy and neurology. The potential of both disciplines has been constrained by delivery challenges; Voyager is leveraging innovative expertise in capsid discovery and deep neuropharmacology capabilities to address these constraints. Voyager’s TRACER AAV capsid discovery platform has generated novel capsids with high target delivery and blood-brain barrier penetration at low doses, potentially addressing the narrow therapeutic window associated with conventional gene therapy delivery vectors. This platform is fueling alliances with Pfizer Inc., Novartis and Neurocrine Biosciences as well as multiple programs in Voyager’s own pipeline. Voyager’s pipeline includes preclinical programs in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), each with validated targets and biomarkers to enable a path to rapid potential proof-of-biology. For more information, visit www.voyagertherapeutics.com.

Job Summary

The Head of Vector Engineering will report to the Chief Scientific Officer, and will create, articulate, and lead an ambitious scientific vision and strategy for internal AAV gene therapy vector genome research and external innovation at Voyager. She/he/they will be empowered to develop and implement the strategic agenda and road map for the next generation of gene therapy platforms and programs, working in close collaboration with the Chief Scientific Officer and the VP of Novel Capsid Discovery. Partnering with the Chief Business Officer and Chief Executive Officer, they will have a key role in identifying and accessing external innovation and developing strategic industry and academic collaborations that will enhance Voyager’s leadership in CNS gene therapy

 

Key Responsibilities

  • Establish and lead the strategic gene therapy AAV vector engineering roadmap and provide exemplary scientific leadership for the company’s AAV research programs to support the overall corporate strategy.
  • Recruit, motivate, and develop a world-class, highly innovative gene therapy engineering organization; drive a culture that promotes creativity, open communication, and collegiality; ensure projects are run cost-effectively with a sense of patient-centricity and urgency that is recognized by all.
  • Manage transgene-related activities in discovery research, drive innovation in payload/cargo design, and will seek to build inter-department synergy using excellence in communication.
  • Support the continued protection, creation, and expansion of the company’s intellectual property.
  • Participate in the process of selecting, prioritizing, and accelerating the development of assets.
  • Leverage technical opportunities and talent for business advantage and innovation initiatives.
  • Play a major role in the company in the area of business development by recommending key initiatives, plans, collaborations, and potential partnerships that will produce outstanding products and financial results.
  • Present to the company’s Board of Directors and/or Scientific Advisory Board as well as to external stakeholders and the investment community.
  • Ultimately responsible for interrogation of candidate sequences, and reduction-to-practice of sequences intended for clinical application, for numerous gene therapy initiatives.
  • Working with Research, responsible for establishment and testing of constructs in appropriate model systems, including in vitro and/or in vivo screens.
  • Responsible for ensuring data integrity throughout the vector design team, including plasmid nomenclature and archiving.
  • Key point of contact with cross-functional stakeholders to ensure suitability and timely manufacture of candidate gene therapy cassettes for downstream applications.
  • Oversight and implementation of high-throughput gene synthesis and expression screening strategies.
  • Strong interpersonal skills which acknowledge the team nature of shared success, and a communication style conducive to successful coordination to meet shared timelines.

 

 

 Qualifications

  • A Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D. in a scientific discipline required
  • The ideal candidate will be an established scientific leader in the field of gene therapy and have had senior-level scientific/technical responsibility with substantial experience in the successful discovery and/or development of AAV gene therapies, with deep experience in creative and novel AAV vector payload engineering.
  • Must be highly motivated, and will derive motivation from working in a small, entrepreneurial biotech environment, accepting the challenge of broad responsibilities and opportunities within a fast-paced, matrix-focused can-do culture. A hands-on operational approach and ability to deliver on corporate goals integrating internal and external resources will be critical for success in this role.
  • Must have Intellectual and scientific curiosity and integrity; must be scientifically rigorous and creative; committed to patient-centricity, transparency, and ethical research values.
  • Excellence in drug discovery/translational skills demonstrated by experience with payload design/expression control and a successful track record of advancing therapeutically oriented AAV gene therapies.
  • Enthusiasm for operating effectively within an entrepreneurial and science-driven company environment.
  • Can-do team-oriented attitude which is consistent with Voyager core values.
  • Track record of driving innovative ways of thinking and/or innovative ways of using data.
  • Sophisticated scientific management skills and business judgment with an ability to evaluate alternatives, establish priorities, and apply resources effectively.

 

Apply for this Job

* Required
resume chosen  
Dropbox Google Drive
(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)
Cancel
cover_letter chosen  
Dropbox Google Drive
(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)
Cancel

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Voyager Therapeutics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Form CC-305

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 05/31/2023

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor required by law to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We are also required to measure our progress toward having at least 7% of our workforce be individuals with disabilities. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had a disability. Because a person may become disabled at any time, we ask all of our employees to update their information at least every five years.

Identifying yourself as an individual with a disability is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer will be maintained confidentially and not be seen by selecting officials or anyone else involved in making personnel decisions. Completing the form will not negatively impact you in any way, regardless of whether you have self-identified in the past. For more information about this form or the equal employment obligations of federal contractors under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

You are considered to have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if you have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition.

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Autism
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or hard of hearing
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, or irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual disability
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Nervous system condition for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Psychiatric condition, for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or major depression

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Please reach out to our support team via our help center.