Job Description
Director, Process Innovation
Location: Walloon Brabant, Belgium
Proclinical is partnering with a highly innovative biotechnology organization that is part of a leading global biopharmaceutical group. The company is at the cutting edge of next-generation in vivo cell and gene therapies, with a particular focus on novel lentiviral vector platforms designed to transform how therapies are delivered and manufactured.
Combining the agility of a research-driven biotech with the scale and resources of a major pharmaceutical organization, this is a collaborative, science-first environment where creativity and technical excellence are encouraged, and where discovery work has a clear line of sight to patient impact.
The Opportunity
Proclinical is seeking a Director, Process Innovation to lead discovery-stage process development and analytical innovation for an emerging lentiviral vector platform.
This is a strategic leadership role focused on early-stage process design, platform building, and technical de-risking, rather than routine manufacturing or late-stage CMC. You will play a critical role in shaping how vectors are produced, characterized, and translated from bench to scalable bioreactor systems - creating the technical foundation that future CMC teams will build upon.
This position can be based in Massachusetts, United States, Belgium or in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom.
What You'll Do:
- Define and drive the vision for early process innovation in lentiviral vector production, operating at the interface of discovery science and enabling technologies.
- Design and optimize processes suitable for small-scale bioreactor manufacturing.
- Lead the development of fit-for-purpose analytical methods to assess vector quality, potency, and consistency at the discovery stage.
- Support the engineering of novel production cell lines to enable next-generation vector platforms.
- Collaborate closely with discovery scientists, CMC, QA, and external CDMOs to ensure alignment and future tech-transfer readiness.
- Provide expert technical judgment, critically evaluating experimental plans, data packages, and external deliverables.
- Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing team that values innovation, rigor, and accountability.
What You'll Bring:
- MSc or PhD in Virology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Proven years of industry experience in bioprocess development and analytical sciences, ideally within viral vectors.
- Proven leadership in early-stage process development, preferably with lentiviral systems.
- Experience working with and overseeing CDMOs or external manufacturing partners.
- Solid understanding of regulatory expectations for gene or cell therapy CMC development.
- Strong communication skills, collaborative mindset, and a passion for advancing transformative medicines.
Why This Role Matters
This is a rare opportunity to shape how future in vivo cell therapies are made - defining new technical standards, enabling innovative platforms, and accelerating the path from discovery to scalable therapies that could transform patient care.
If you are having difficulty in applying or if you have any questions, please contact Neil Walton at (url removed).
If you are interested in applying to this exciting opportunity, then please click 'Apply' or to speak to one of our specialists please request a call back at the top of this page.
Proclinical is a leading life sciences recruiter focused on finding exceptional people and matching them with the finest positions across the globe. Proclinical is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
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