Kelly · 18 hours ago
Associate Director, Mechanistic Bioassays
Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff, Director/Executive
$160K/yr - $190K/yr
5+ years expKelly Science & Clinical is seeking an Associate Director in a generative AI biotechnology company. This role involves leading a team in the functional characterization of biologics and advancing novel drug candidates through rigorous assay strategies.
OutsourcingProfessional Services
Hiring Manager
Alexandre Neves, Ph.D.
Responsibilities
Mentor and inspire a talented, multidisciplinary team focused on in vitro and ex vivo assay development, mechanistic biology, and functional pharmacology
Serve as a subject matter expert in pharmacology, providing strategic direction on assay strategy and the mechanistic evaluation of biologic therapeutics—including MOA, receptor pharmacology, signaling pathways, and functional outcomes
Champion scientific excellence, data integrity, and quality across all team outputs
Drive the design, optimization, and execution of advanced cell-based functional assays to assess potency, mechanistic activity, selectivity, and biological relevance of therapeutic candidates
Shape assay strategies supporting target validation, MOA elucidation, lead optimization, structure–function analysis, and disease-pathway studies
Integrate functional biology insights with quantitative pharmacology, including dose–response modeling, PK/PD, and receptor occupancy
Represent Pharmacology & Bioassays in cross-functional teams, translating complex datasets into actionable program recommendations
Collaborate closely with colleagues in Protein Engineering, High-Throughput Screening, and Disease Biology to advance aligned experimental plans and drive program success
Identify critical data gaps, propose robust solutions, and ensure strategic decision-making through effective assay application
Support in vivo study design through complementary in vitro/ex vivo testing to inform MOA, biomarker selection, and dose guidance
Build and maintain state-of-the-art workflows for functional assay systems, including primary cell platforms, cytokine/receptor signaling, flow cytometry, and high-content imaging
Establish and implement best practices in assay robustness, statistical rigor, documentation, and reproducibility
Oversee resource allocation, timelines, and workload management for multiple concurrent programs in a dynamic biotech environment
Evaluate and manage external collaborations, including CROs and academic partners
Qualification
Required
PhD in Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, or related field, with 5–7+ years of relevant industry experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Proven record of scientific leadership and mentoring
Hands-on experience with antibody drug development programs
Deep expertise in biologics and engineered protein therapeutics, including antibodies and bispecifics
Strong background in cell biology, cytokine biology, receptor–ligand interactions, signaling pathways, and effector function
Extensive experience in developing and troubleshooting functional assays (e.g., primary cell assays, complex multi-component systems, signaling and reporter assays, ELISA/MSD, flow cytometry, high-content imaging, immune-effector assays)
Demonstrated success advancing candidates through drug development milestones (target validation, lead optimization, IND-enabling studies) and contributing to at least one IND submission
Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire highly skilled scientific teams
Excellent communicator; skillful in translating complex biological insights for diverse audiences
Collaborative, strategic, and adaptable with a forward-thinking mindset
Thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and builds strong cross-functional relationships
Company
Kelly
We’ve been helping organizations find the people they need longer than any other company in the world.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Kelly has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (85)
2024 (76)
2023 (59)
2022 (74)
2021 (81)
2020 (65)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknown1978-01-13IPO
Leadership Team
Chris Layden
Chief Executive Officer
N
Nicholas Zuhlke
Vice President, Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer
Recent News
Kelly Services, Inc.
2025-11-08
2025-11-08
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