Senior Director, Clinical Immunology

Position Description

Title: Senior Director, Clinical Immunology

Location: Human Immunology Laboratory/Imperial College, London 

Reports to: Executive Director, Human Immunology Laboratory

Position Summary: 

IAVI is seeking a dynamic and internationally reputable scientist to lead the Global Clinical Immunology Program and interacting closely its discovery, preclinical and clinical development teams. The project portfolio includes vaccines and monoclonal antibodies against HIV, Lassa, Ebola, Marburg and Covid-19, Tuberculosis and Malaria.   The SD will be responsible for the development, qualification and conduct of state-of-the-art immunological assays from first-in-human studies, through to phase I to III clinical trials.  The candidate will leverage the wealth of IAVIs epidemiological and clinical research to address fundamental immunological mechanistic questions that inform rational vaccine design, the identification of prognostic biomarkers and diagnostics. The SD will identify and attract novel funding streams to support translational clinical immunology. This position has a dotted line reporting to VP, Translational Medicine.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strong scientific leadership in applied clinical immunology to support discovery, preclinical and clinical product development teams across the project portfolio.
• Provide scientific leadership in the development, qualification and conduct of state-of-the-art immunological assays to support preclinical, first-in-human and phase I to III clinical trials ahead of product registration
• Line management responsibility for senior managers and technical staff focused on building a highly motivated team, promoting career development and proactive with respect to diversity and inclusion.
• Provide oversight for the quality of data generated at the HIL and the completion of reports in accordance with Good Clinical Laboratory Practise (GCLP) and to international regulatory standards for product registration
• Collaborate with IAVI's and external partners' laboratories worldwide as well as the   Clinical Research Centers in Africa and India.  Serve as a scientific advisor to IAVIs Europe team in Amsterdam.  
• Develop, lead and support funding applications to support translational clinical immunology. Maintain a strong publication record and contribute to sustainability.
• Manage external meetings with funders, IAVIs matrixed teams and partners within Africa and India.
• Lead and contribute to the preparation of reports to funders and stakeholders.
• Represent IAVI HIL at departmental and institution-wide meetings and committees at Imperial College. 
• Contribute to the supervision, mentorship and support of Imperial College postgraduate students at the HIL 
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the manager. 

Education and Experience:

• PhD in immunology, virology, vaccinology, systems immunology, or a relevant field or equivalent research qualification is required.
• Minimum 14 years of experience post primary graduate qualification is required.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a leadership role is required
• Experience in clinical trials and working with international teams globally, including in low and middle-income countries is highly desirable.

 Qualifications and Skills:

• Strong international scientific credibility with knowledge of state-of-the-art human immunology that has a bearing on vaccine development is required.
• Knowledge of the value chain of vaccine development from discovery science through preclinical and clinical testing, to product licensure is required. Familiarity with Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP)and the regulatory environment is required.
• Excellent people and process management skills are required, including an ability to motivate others to create and nurture a culture that is supportive of career development and proactive on diversity and inclusion at all staffing levels
• Ability to focus on delivering scientific objectives amid multiple competing demands and the capacity to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced matrix environment is required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to engage diverse audiences including scientists, senior executives and managers, funders and stakeholders is required.
• Understanding of the critical need for alignment with advocacy, funding, and research partners and appreciation of how to frame strategy in this context is desirable.
• Experience in acquiring substantial independent grant funding is required.

Organizational Overview:

IAVI is a nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to addressing urgent, unmet global health challenges including HIV and tuberculosis. Our mission is to translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions. Through scientific and clinical research in Africa, India, Europe, and the U.S., IAVI is pioneering the development of biomedical innovations designed for broad global access. We develop vaccines and antibodies in and for the developing world and seek to accelerate their introduction in low-income countries. IAVI programs and partnerships are grounded in the regions of the world where the disease burden is the greatest, and our approach emphasizes sustainability. Our network of clinical research center partners in Africa and India helps strengthen in-country research capacity and supports the training and education of the next generation of scientists. The global impact of our science includes fundamental contributions to understanding the biology of HIV infection, which IAVI and others are applying toward advancing vaccine science and immunology. IAVI accelerates scientific discovery and development by fostering unique collaborations among academia, industry, local communities, governments, and funders to explore new and better ways to address public health threats that disproportionately affect people living in poverty. Our global reach, including a clinical research network in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in India, has allowed us to make fundamental contributions to understanding the epidemiology, transmission, virology, and immunology of HIV. This work played a key role in facilitating the design of promising HIV vaccine candidates, as well as the discovery of broadly neutralizing antibodies that are now being advanced as promising approaches for HIV prevention. Our integrated capabilities in vaccine and antibody discovery, development, and clinical research take advantage of bio-pharmaceutical industry expertise to accelerate the development and testing of prevention methods for HIV and other diseases. Through the Product Development Center, we support external researchers with technical and scientific expertise to accelerate the development of their own products.

About the HIL:

IAVI's Human Immunology Laboratory (HIL) based at Imperial College London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital campus was founded in 2001 and funded primarily by IAVI. The HIL serves as the clinical immunology hub for the IAVI's vaccine development partnerships. As an accredited Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) laboratory with expertise in developing and conducting immunology assays for research and clinical trials, the HIL specializes in the analysis of immune responses as part of vaccine development partnerships. The HIL applies expertise toward the development of safe and effective vaccines against a range of diseases including HIV/AIDS, Lassa, Ebola, malaria, and tuberculosis. The HIL is also a central repository for clinical samples collected and received from clinical research centers worldwide, in support of IAVI clinical trials and epidemiology studies.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required of personnel so classified. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship. IAVI is an equal opportunity employer and applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. 

IAVI IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER actively committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive global organization. IAVI believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a representative candidate pool. At IAVI, we celebrate the spectrum of colleagues' experiences and believe that dedication to our mission above all is essential to our success as a scientific global non-profit. IAVI upholds these principles through IAVI's Global Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  

IAVI has zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, national origin, home language, ancestry, religion, marital or civil partnership status, age, physical or mental disability, HIV status and any other medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and veteran status, in addition to any other status protected under the law in any of our locations worldwide.