This role is based either in the East Coast of the USA (remote) or in our Paddington office in the UK (office based) Job Description Director, Preclinical Development Our Destination “Computing the future of medicine” We are integrating the latest advances in computing and artificial intelligence to develop life-transforming RNA interference (RNAi) medicines. We combine cutting-edge computation and AI with RNAi to make better medicines faster. Our unique approach enables us to differentiate, de-risk, and rapidly deploy our enabling platforms (HepNet™ and GalOmic™) and therapies, improving upon traditional approaches to drug discovery. Our rapid and reproducible process has produced a broad therapeutic pipeline of multiple GalOmic™ RNAi therapies targeting novel genes that have demonstrated disease-modifying potential in preclinical disease models. We are advancing our pipeline towards the clinic, with our most advanced asset (ETX-312, for the treatment of MASH) currently undergoing IND-enabling studies, the final stage of preclinical development. It is an incredibly exciting time for ETX, as we get closer to delivering on our mission of delivering life-transforming medicines to patients and ultimately realising the full potential of our AI-enhanced approach to drug discovery. Our Journey Great progress demands great people. We aim to make the impossible, possible with a healthy dose of fun along the way. We prize creative thinkers who like to join the dots and love to recognise those that do. Everyone has potential; here, you will be able to fully realise it. In joining us, you're not just joining a company, you're taking a chance to pioneering change and shifting the paradigm in biotech. Our dynamic environment and team will empower you to take initiative, explore new ideas, and drive groundbreaking results. Your Adventure This position offers an amazing opportunity to provide leadership for the Preclinical Development team. Reporting into the VP, Head of Early-stage Development this management-level position will oversee the design and execution of preclinical projects, providing technical and scientific expertise and leadership to team members. What you will do You will lead cross-functional project teams to execute an in vivo strategy that ensures efficient and effective project decision-making Ensure all preclinical programs are designed with clear go/no go gates and are completed within established timelines Responsible for preparation and presentation of preclinical project updates to the Executive Team Collaborate closely with project management, finance, and operations teams Manage and progress work with a network of trusted partner CROs to generate data that supports candidate selection and regulatory requirements Serve as the subject matter expert in the indications and disease areas being pursued, developing and maintaining an excellent knowledge of the treatment landscape and early- and late-stage competitor pipelines Develop TPPs, ensuring that the critical biological readouts / key differentiators are addressed; and periodically revising in response to internal data generation and ongoing landscape evaluation Skills & qualifications Essential: A PhD in biology, pharmacology or a related discipline, with a deep insight into how in vivo systems translate to human disease 10 years’ drug discovery experience in pharma and/or biotech with a track record of using pre-clinical models to evaluate new drug candidates and mechanism of action Extensive experience of identifying and evaluating suitable translatable in vivo models for therapeutic programs in different disease areas Knowledge of the CRO landscape and experience working with preclinical CROs to deliver fully costed agreements and study protocols, while building strong relationships with partners A commitment to generating data of the highest integrity, complying with regulatory requirements and ethical standards Project management, organisational and leadership skills and experience are highly valued A sense of drive and urgency to achieve the project goals Ability to form strong working relationships that enable the leveraging of multidisciplinary expertise to deliver projects Excellent communication skills in verbal and written English, with the ability to prepare clearly articulated experimental reports and data presentations, as well as preparation of study reports including drafting pharmacology sections of regulatory documents such as IND filings Nice to have: Experience with IND-enabling activities and the preparation of regulatory packages A background in therapeutic siRNA or other oligonucleotide therapeutics Our culture & values Our success starts & ends with our team – the passionate, curious and collaborative individuals who work here. All are committed to pushing technology to the limit to make a difference to patients, to R&D and to each other – we call this our PACT. We’re not looking for people who are exactly like us. We’re looking for people who care about and value the same guiding principles while bringing different ideas, perspectives & opinions. Benefits We invest in your success Competitive salary Discretionary performance related bonus PACT awards (monthly recognition scheme) If USA based We care about you Private medical cover with United Healthcare Dental plan with Delta Dental Vision plan with VSP Vision Care We help you protect your future 2% contribution to 401(k) up to maximum of $6,900/annum with 3% salary enhancement to help you increase your retirement plan contributions Life insurance (2 x annual salary up to maximum $400,000) We unlock your potential Personal development time Departmental learning and development budget (including attending external training, conferences, etc.) We make it fun Bi-annual social event 22 days PTO 11 US public holidays If UK based We care about you Private medical cover with Bupa Medicash Health Cash Plan Employee Assistance Programme Reward Gateway (deals & discounts and wellbeing centre) Annual season ticket loan We help you protect your future 10% employer pension contribution (you can also make your own contributions via salary sacrifice) Life insurance (4 x annual salary) We unlock your potential Personal development time Departmental learning and development budget (including attending external training, conferences, etc.) We make it fun Social and well-being events throughout the year such as a newly created ETX Summer dodgeball team, bouldering, pizza making sessions and we even have a basketball court on our roof terrace 25 days of annual leave public holidays EDI Statement Our ambition is to have a positive impact on society at a global level by discovering and developing novel therapeutic targets in areas of high unmet need. We believe that providing equal opportunities, valuing diversity, and promoting a culture of openness and inclusivity are vital in the journey to realise our ambition. We therefore aim to create an environment where people are free to be themselves regardless of their identity or background.