VP, In Vitro - Scientific Operations

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Job Summary:

The Global VP of In Vitro Scientific Operations will lead Crown Bioscience’s global in vitro operations across the US, APAC, and Europe, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, decision-enabling data for oncology and immunology drug discovery programs. This role oversees global assay platforms, multi-site scientific teams, operational strategy, and capability expansion across cell-based, immunology, imaging-based, and translational in vitro systems.

The VP will drive scientific excellence, standardize operations, harmonize workflows across regions, and partner closely with Commercial, R&I and cross-functional scientific groups to ensure operational reliability, scientific rigor, and client satisfaction. This leader must be able to connect in vitro science with in vivo, biomarker, and translational workflows to support integrated project delivery—consistent with Crown’s end-to-end service model.

Responsibilities:

Global Operational & Scientific Leadership

• Lead all global in vitro scientific operations across Crown’s sites.
• Ensure consistent and high-quality execution of in vitro studies, maintaining strong scientific rigor, reproducibility, and translational relevance.
• Drive operational efficiencies through standardized workflows, SOP harmonization, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Operational Excellence & Delivery

• Oversee end-to-end operational workflows, including study design support, resource planning, execution, QC, reporting, and on-time delivery.
• Drive improvements in productivity, reproducibility, cycle time, and cross-site alignment.
• Establish and track operational KPIs (quality, timeliness, resource utilization, client satisfaction).

Platform Expansion & Scientific Capability Development

• Identify opportunities to expand and modernize in vitro capabilities.
• Lead implementation of new technologies, automation, and translational assays supporting MoA, PK/PD linkage, and IND-enabling studies.
• Partner with biomarker, in vivo, and translational science leaders to ensure integration across platforms.

Client Engagement & BD Support

• Act as a senior scientific representative for key client meetings, supporting proposal development, study design, troubleshooting, and data interpretation.
• Support BD strategy with strong scientific storytelling, customer retention insights, and expansion of strategic partnerships.
• Guide teams in translating client program objectives into actionable in vitro study plans.

Cross-Functional Scientific Collaboration

• Ensure alignment between scientific operations, project management, quality, and commercial teams.
• Support cross-site initiatives, including platform harmonization and global capability mapping.

Global Leadership, Talent Development & Culture

• Build a high-performance culture emphasizing scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, and client-centricity.
• Provide strategic mentorship, succession planning, and competency development across assay platforms.

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee global in vitro budgets, headcount planning, capital equipment strategy, and site capacity allocations.
• Support revenue planning, operational forecasting, and margin optimization.
• Partner with finance and senior leadership to drive operational efficiency and scalability.

Minimum Requirements:

• Ph.D. in cancer biology, immunology, pharmacology, molecular/cell biology, or related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in oncology/immunology preclinical research with deep expertise in in vitro assay platforms.
• 7+ years of leadership experience managing scientific teams, ideally across multiple global sites.
• Demonstrated track record in CRO scientific operations, with strong understanding of client expectations and data delivery requirements.
• Extensive experience designing, executing, and interpreting mechanistic in vitro assays, immune effector studies, co-culture systems, and imaging-based platforms.
• Proven ability to manage operational workflows, introduce new capabilities, and ensure high-quality scientific output.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience in client-facing scientific roles.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience leading multi-site or global scientific operations within a CRO or service-based company.
• Expertise with advanced or emerging in vitro technologies.
• Deep understanding of oncology, immuno-oncology, and translational biology.
• Strong program or portfolio management exposure within scientific operations.
• Strong commercial partnership history with BD teams and biotech/pharma clients.
• Cross-cultural leadership experience and ability to manage teams across time zones.

Crown Bioscience is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Crown Bioscience is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.

Originally posted on Himalayas