Head of Science

Kytopen is streamlining cell engineering for use in the development and manufacture of next-generation cell therapies, with the goal of expanding access to powerful new living medicines. We enable transformative regenerative therapies with our patented Flowfect® continuous non-viral transfection platform. Flowfect® is a fast, scalable, and gentle process that yields billions of high-quality engineered cells in minutes while maintaining cell health and function. We seek passionate, pioneering individuals to join our mission to deliver this transformative technology.

We’re looking for a Head of Science to join our leadership team. The person in this role has overall responsibility for the scientific programs and operations at Kytopen, and is responsible for establishing research and scientific priorities that align with Kytopen’s commercial and strategic priorities. The Head of Science also collaborates with the leadership team to set the strategic direction of the company and works closely with the commercial team to support biological application development and how it integrates with Kytopen’s business model, value propositions, and product offerings. 

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for internal bio-science development
• Establish and maintain a high performing biology team. 
• Lead exploratory work with new cell types and payloads in coordination with the commercial team. 
• Develop of new buffers and protocols to support emerging applications.
• ​​​​​​​Work in coordination with the product development team on incremental and roadmap improvements to instrumentation and consumable products. 
• ​​​​​​​Establish and manage standards, processes and protocols for all labs and biological work across company to ensure appropriate safety and quality.  
• Support for commercial/customer activity.
• ​​​​​​​Support Field Applications and Sales teams on critical customer applications, both in terms of expertise and capacity.
• Act as a thought leader and evangelist to drive adoption of Kytopen’s platform and products. Support commercial efforts as scientific experts via participation in customer meetings and at commercial and scientific conferences. 
• ​​​​​​​Support commercial and strategic engagements with new customers and development partners. Provide scientific expertise to evaluate project viability and oversight of certain development programs.
• Provide scientific perspective and input for strategic planning and tactical execution as part of the leadership team. 
• ​​​​​​​Act as an independent ‘voice of science’ on the leadership team and in strategic discussions. 
• Manage Kytopen’s IP portfolio in coordination with the product development leader. 
• ​​​​​​​Determine and execute strategic direction of current and future academic collaborations in coordination with the Chief Commercial Officer. This includes oversight of our Scientific Advisory Board. 

What we’re looking for:

• PhD in relevant scientific field (e.g., Biology, Chemistry, Bioengineering)
• ​​​​​​​10+ years of experience in life sciences R&D, with 5+ years in leadership roles
• ​​​​​​​Established experience within cell therapy field (7+ years industry experience with gene editing)
• Strong track record of successful scientific product development and commercialization
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills + collaborative approach to work 
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Experience with intellectual property protection and licensing
• Experience with process/product characterization
• Strength in managing competing priorities and timelines

Benefits:

We are a values-driven, creative team, and we know that we’re only successful because of the talented people on our team. We offer competitive compensation including a 401k match and equity, comprehensive package of health benefits, and a supportive work environment that includes hybrid work schedules, flexible vacation, paid family leave, and continuing education support.