Head of Pre-clinical Development

At Exogene, we're reimagining what's possible in cancer immunotherapy. Our mission is to engineer T-cell receptor therapies that can precisely and powerfully target advanced, difficult-to-treat, solid tumours.

To do this, we've built a proprietary lab-in-the-loop platform that merges generative AI, biophysical modelling, and high-throughput TCR screening to rapidly design, test, and optimise TCRs with exceptional affinity and specificity. This convergence of computation and wet-lab experimentation allows us to go from concept to candidate molecules in record time.

Using our lab-in-the-loop platform, we're developing TCR-based trispecific T cell engagers (TCR-TriTCEs), a new therapeutic modality designed to overcome the unique challenges of the solid tumour microenvironment. This work spans multiple disciplines, from protein engineering and AI-driven design to in vivo validation and translational development.

We are seeking a visionary and highly experiencedHead of Pre-clinical Developmentto lead our innovative TCR-TriTCE pipeline from early discovery through to IND-enabling studies. This is a critical leadership role that will manage our dedicated lab team, shape our scientific strategy, and play a pivotal role in Exogene's growth.

You will interact directly with our founders on scientific planning, business development, and fundraising initiatives.

As our Head of Pre-clinical Development, you will be instrumental in translating our cutting-edge AI-discovered TCRs into clinical candidates. You will lead and mentor a talented team, drive the overall pre-clinical drug development pipeline, and ensure our assets are robustly validated and ready for first-in-human studies.

• Strategic Planning: Set and execute the comprehensive in vivo and in vitro validation strategy for our TCR-based trispecific T cell engagers (TCR-TriTCEs), covering safety, efficacy, developability and full PK/PD characterisation.
• Developability & Manufacturability:Oversee all developability assessments, including stability, aggregation, manufacturability, and immunogenicity risk, to ensure our TCR-TriTCE candidates can be scaled efficiently and safely to GMP.
• CRO Oversight:Design and rigorously oversee all lead optimisation and IND-enabling studies. Effectively manage interactions and relationships with Contract Research Organisations (CROs) to ensure high-quality, timely execution.
• Team Leadership:Provide strong scientific and operational leadership to the pre-clinical lab team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and scientific rigor.
• External Relations:Liaise closely with Exogene founders on scientific planning, contribute to business development initiatives, and support fundraising efforts.

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or a closely related field.
• 8+ years of progressive industry experience in biopharmaceutical pre-clinical drug development, with a significant portion dedicated to biologics (T cell engagers, antibodies or any other protein-based therapeutics).
• Demonstrated track record of successfully guiding novel drug candidates from discovery to lead optimisation and through to IND-enabling studies. Experience with submitting and supporting INDs is highly desirable.
• Proven expertise in designing, executing, and interpreting in vivo and in vitro pharmacology studies (efficacy, PK/PD, safety/toxicology) for biologics.
• Deep understanding and practical experience with developability assessments (stability, aggregation, manufacturability, immunogenicity risk).
• Strong experience in managing and collaborating with CROs for key pre-clinical studies.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with prior experience in mentoring and developing scientific talent.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, including internal teams, founders, potential partners, and investors.
• Proven ability to run effective cross-functional data review processes and ensure rigorous documentation standards for regulatory readiness.
• Experience with T-cell immunology, TCRs, or T-cell engagers is a significant advantage.
• Strong commercial understanding of the T cell engager landscape and peptide-HLA target space is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with AI/ML integration in drug discovery is a plus.

• A strategic thinker with a strong scientific vision and the ability to translate strategic goals into actionable pre-clinical plans.
• Highly collaborative, capable of building strong relationships across internal functions and with external partners.
• Inspirational lab leader and mentor who empowers multidisciplinary bench scientists, cultivating rigorous science and continuous learning.
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.
• A proactive problem-solver with exceptional analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, evolving start-up environment.
• Passion for Exogene's mission to revolutionise cancer immunotherapy.

• Market-competitive salary and stock option package.
• A generous leave policy: 25 days holiday, public holidays, plus a day off for your birthday!
• Access to fully equipped private lab in Oxford.
• Flexibility to work from home as project demands allow.
• A supportive, cross-disciplinary team fostering a highly collaborative work environment.

Please send your CV and cover letter (max 400 words) to m.hasan at exogene.co.uk