Research Section Head for Neurotechnologies

At Roche, we believe it is urgent to deliver medical solutions now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about improving the lives of patients with brain diseases, and strive for ambitious ideas, innovative approaches and urgent action. Our belief is that our success as a company will come from developing therapies for patients in need, which is why we come to work every single day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigor, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow.

Within Roche’s Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Neuroscience & Rare Diseases represents a major focus area where we are committed to realizing our long-term vision of changing lives of patients with severe brain disorders. Our research and early development activities center around large and rare indications within the four major pillars of neurodevelopmental disorders, movement disorders, dementias, and multiple sclerosis. With strength across diverse disciplines, Roche is uniquely positioned to lead in transforming science to medicines for patients with disorders of the nervous system.

To achieve our goals, Roche pRED Neuroscience & Rare Diseases is currently undergoing a major and exciting recruitment effort for new positions including a Head of Section of Neurotechnologies within the Department of Research. All positions are based in Basel, Switzerland.

The position

We are seeking a successful, creative, and enthusiastic leader for the position of Head of the Neurotechnologies Section within the Department of Research in Neuroscience & Rare Disease (NRD) at Roche. The focus of the Neurotechnologies Section is to develop a robust platform of innovative therapeutic technologies ranging from gene delivery, silencing and modification to address biological questions relevant to diseases of the nervous system. The successful candidate will join an industry-leading Neuroscience & Rare Diseases organization with a large portfolio of preclinical and clinical stage projects. As a senior leader, the Head of the Neurotechnologies Section will address fundamental issues of CNS drug development including delivery across the blood brain barrier, application of viral vectors for cell type and tissue specific targeting, and gene editing technologies to disorders of the central nervous system.

Your main responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of platform technologies aimed at developing new therapies for diseases of the brain and to ensure the timely progression to milestones leading to entry into human studies
• Lead and coordinate the activity of 3 laboratories within the Neurotechnologies Section
• Oversee the development of AAV based, Brain Shuttle, and gene editing/delivery technologies
• Support & mentor research project leaders in questions related to project strategy, in particular on questions of strategic fit, scientific rationale, competitive fit and feasibility
• Contribute to the development of a sustainable NRD strategy as a member of the senior management Research leadership team
• Represent Neurotechnologies research to key internal and external stakeholders
• Serve as a visionary leader committed to bringing novel medicines to patients in need
• Be accountable for the establishment of project strategies from target idea throughout the discovery and development phases
• Serve as key contact-person for across NRD, cross-functional and cross-divisional neurotechnology research activities. Be a catalyst for cross-departmental scientific exchange and portfolio support
• Managing a team of some combination of ~15 full time scientists, research associates, postdocs, and PhD students
• Writing proposals and generating presentations for project teams, for target assessment, and for leadership meetings

• Perform duties of a Roche Project Leader (RPL), which include coordinating regular meetings, updating the team on progress, making deadlines, and thinking strategically to advance projects into the clinic
• Prepare manuscripts for publication and present work at scientific meetings.
• Establish collaborations with experts in the field to inform drug discovery decisions, and/or collect critical proof of concept evidence for drug efficacy
• Interact frequently with the other section heads and with the head of Research.

Who you are

• You have a PhD, MD, or PhD/MD with postdoctoral training in neuroscience, and at least 8 years of experience leading a scientific research team in an academic or industry setting leading projects and research teams, mentoring junior scientists and have at least 5 years work experience in leading drug discovery teams in neurotechnologies
• You have an outstanding track record of accomplishment investigating genetic diseases of the brain with proven elements of neuroscience drug discovery
• You have deep area expertise in relevant biological areas including but not limited to:
  • AAV technologies
  • CNS delivery across the blood brain barrier
  • Gene editing/delivery technologies
• You are flexible, able to work and lead multidisciplinary teams and have excellent communication skills in English
• You have a demonstrated passion and commitment for neuroscience drug discovery
• In-depth know-how in the early R&D phases of drug discovery and a deep understanding of the requirements for projects to progress through target assessment, lead identification and lead optimization to candidate selection in a multidisciplinary environment from inception to clinical development
• Ability to think and lead strategically within and outside your primary area: articulate long term objectives and strategies; maintain focus on a long term-strategy while successfully adapting to changing and uncertain environmental conditions. Demonstrated ability to lead his/her team by the leadership commitments

• Experience in personnel leadership, team building, and leadership across a matrix organization where management of a network of interactions is critical
• Ability to achieve results in a matrix organization; align organizational resources to accomplish key objectives
• Builds alliances with key stakeholders
• Able to communicate effectively: clearly articulate complex concepts at all levels of the organization, encourage direct and open discussions; seek common ground in an effort to resolve conflicts
• A can-do, positive mindset with creative ways to resolve topics
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills across all levels of the organization

Are you ready to apply? Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building teams that represent a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills.

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