Contract Director, Immunology and Inflammation (I&I) (1-Year Contract, Full-Time, On-Site)
About the Company
PineTree Therapeutics is an innovative biotech company pioneering multispecific degrader antibodies to revolutionize cancer treatment. Our proprietary platform is designed to target and degrade membrane-bound and extracellular proteins, offering a new approach to overcoming drug resistance in oncology. We are advancing a robust preclinical pipeline and actively preparing for translational and early clinical development.
To support our continued growth, we are seeking an experienced Contract Director, Immunology and Inflammation (I&I), to provide strategic and scientific leadership to our I&I research programs, covering a broad spectrum of immune-mediated, inflammatory and fibrotic diseases.
Job Description
The Contract Director, Immunology and Inflammation, will lead and oversee the strategic development of pipeline programs focused broadly on immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including fibrosis, autoimmune conditions, inflammatory disorders, and related diseases. This individual will apply extensive expertise in immunology, inflammation, and translational science to drive preclinical candidate selection, mechanistic understanding, differentiation strategies, and IND-enabling activities. The Director will collaborate across teams to accelerate therapeutic development, significantly contributing to regulatory submissions and documentation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Pipeline Oversight
- Direct and oversee immunology and inflammation-focused pipeline projects from early discovery through preclinical development.
- Provide strategic input on target selection, mechanism of action (MoA) validation, and therapeutic differentiation strategies across a broad range of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
- Assess and prioritize novel immunological pathways and disease mechanisms for therapeutic potential and competitive advantage.
Research and Assay Development
- Lead the design, execution, and interpretation of advanced immunological assays, utilizing diverse disease models relevant to human pathology.
- Oversee development and validation of comprehensive inflammatory disease models, including but not limited to fibrosis, autoimmunity, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and psoriasis.
- Implement novel technologies and methods to improve assay robustness and reproducibility.
Preclinical and Translational Development
- Drive mechanistic studies to elucidate key inflammatory pathways and biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic response.
- Lead IND-enabling activities, including development and execution of rigorous preclinical pharmacology, toxicology, and safety studies.
- Prepare and author detailed scientific and technical reports, supporting regulatory documents, IND packages, Investigator Brochures (IB), and internal documentation.
- Collaborate with translational teams to design biomarker-driven preclinical studies that inform clinical strategy.
Regulatory Documentation and Reporting
- Author and review key sections of regulatory submissions (INDs, IBs, briefing books) ensuring high-quality, scientifically rigorous content.
- Support regulatory interactions by preparing responses to questions from health authorities.
- Provide scientific input to regulatory strategy discussions and filings, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of regulatory guidelines relevant to immunology and inflammatory therapeutics.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Mentorship
- Collaborate closely with internal R&D, CMC, and Translational Research teams to ensure scientific alignment and efficient program progression.
- Mentor and develop junior scientists, fostering a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, and teamwork.
- Represent PineTree Therapeutics externally at scientific conferences, advisory meetings, and strategic partner discussions.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Ph.D. or equivalent in Immunology, Inflammation Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related scientific discipline.
- 10+ years of relevant biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience focused broadly on immunology and inflammation research.
- Demonstrated success advancing therapeutic candidates from discovery through IND submission, particularly in immunological and inflammatory diseases.
- Deep expertise in inflammation biology, immunological mechanisms, cytokine signaling pathways, immune cell biology, and disease-specific pathogenesis.
- Extensive experience developing, optimizing, and interpreting complex in vitro and in vivo inflammatory disease models including autoimmunity, arthritis, IBD, asthma, psoriasis, and fibrosis.
- Strong understanding of the regulatory landscape relevant to IND submissions for immunology and inflammatory therapeutics.
- Proven ability to lead scientific teams, mentor junior scientists, and effectively collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset.
- Strong communication skills, able to clearly articulate scientific concepts and strategies to diverse internal and external audiences.
- Experience with multispecific antibodies or protein degradation technologies.
- Previous success managing external collaborations and partnerships.
- Strong publication and patent track record in immunology and inflammation.
On-site position at PineTree Therapeutics, Cambridge, MA.
Contract Duration:
1 Year (with potential for extension based on performance and business needs).
What We Offer
- Opportunity to be at the forefront of oncology research, contributing to the development of next-generation cancer therapies.
- A collaborative, supportive, and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives, and career development is encouraged.
- Competitive compensation package, including comprehensive benefits and opportunities for professional growth.
We seek candidates with a passion for building a creative company culture that is collaborative, multidisciplinary, and committed to make a transformative impact to our industry. To be successful in this role, we look for passion in scientific innovation, adept business skills, and excitement about working in a dynamic startup environment. A demonstrable track record of success in functioning as part of a project team is essential. Pinetree Therapeutics offers highly competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical and dental insurance, paid time off, and 401(k) with a generous company match.
Pinetree is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person’s race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Pinetree will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Pinetree does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Pinetree, and Pinetree will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.
Career Inquiry Form