Position is based in our London office or remotely in UK or Germany.

Please submit your CV in English

About the role:

The Head of Clinical Translational Medicine will lead translational strategy and operations across Owkin's expanding clinical pipeline, with initial focus on OKN4395 - a first-in-class EP2/EP4/DP1 triple inhibitor in global Phase 1 trials. This senior leadership role combines strategic oversight with hands-on operational execution, advancing Owkin's AI capabilities through real-world clinical validation while rapidly implementing translational infrastructure that informs both clinical execution and strategic development decisions for multiple high-value incoming programs across oncology therapeutic modalities.

In particular, you will:

Strategic Leadership & Program Development:

• Analyze and interpret biomarker data from ongoing OKN4395 Phase 1 trial to aid proof-of-concept decision-making, optimize dosing, patient selection, and combination strategies
• Design and rapidly implement innovative translational methodologies for strategically important new assets across preclinical and early clinical development stages
• Drive strategic biomarker development priorities that inform both immediate clinical protocols and long-term asset development strategies
• Shape translational programs to support regulatory approval pathways and investor funding objectives

Translational Operations & Quality Delivery:

• Direct outsourcing and validation of clinical biomarker assays across small molecule and biologics programs
• Manage and oversee vendor relationships with central labs and analytical services to ensure fit-for-purpose data delivery on-time and on-budget
• Establish operational frameworks for companion diagnostics spanning traditional genetic/IHC and emerging AI-enabled methodologies
• Implement global sample collection and processing workflows that meet both regulatory standards and operational feasibility requirements

Three-Way Partnership Leadership:

• Drive collaborative partnership between translational medicine, experimental biology teams, and AI/ML groups to create integrated bench-to-bedside and back again hypothesis-testing cycles
• Partner with internal experimental teams to design and prioritize mechanistic experiments based on clinical findings
• Collaborate with AI/Data Science teams to advance Owkin K capabilities and drive clinical breakthroughs, generate real-world proof-points, and refine analytical models
• Synthesize insights across clinical, experimental, and computational domains to drive both tactical and strategic portfolio decisions

Cross-Functional Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Coordinate translational activities across expanding portfolio of programs at different development stages
• Collaborate with Discovery & Development teammates to ensure biomarker strategies strategically shape clinical protocols and asset development while maintaining medical and operational feasibility across global sites
• Develop compelling translational narratives for regulators and investors that support program advancement and funding objectives
• Participate in regulatory interactions with FDA, EMA, and global agencies while contributing biomarker strategies to regulatory submissions
• Lead academic collaborations and build strategic KOL relationships to enhance translational capabilities 

About you

Required qualifications / experience:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in Life Sciences with demonstrated industry experience in bio/pharmaceutical sector
• Proven track record leading translational programs through collaborative leadership across multiple therapeutic modalities
• Extensive experience across multiple therapeutic modalities in oncology, including for example small molecules and antibody-drug conjugates
• Hands-on operational experience managing programs from preclinical transition through clinical proof of concept
• Experience integrating clinical, experimental, and computational approaches to biomarker development
• Budget management experience across multiple programs in matrix organizational environments
• Strong communication skills for presenting complex data to regulators, investors, and diverse stakeholder groups 

Preferred qualifications/bonus:

• Companion diagnostics regulatory knowledge with experience in both traditional and emerging AI-enabled approaches
• Strategic assay development experience - ability to anticipate and prioritize biomarker needs based on clinical insights
• Academic collaboration experience and ability to coordinate experimental and computational teams
• Experience with immuno-oncology mechanisms and AI/ML applications in clinical development
• Global clinical operations experience across multiple regulatory jurisdictions
• Matrix organization experience - proven ability to deliver results through influence and cross-functional collaboration

Leadership Competencies:

• Collaborative influence - drive results through cross-functional coordination rather than direct authority
• Integrative strategic thinking - synthesize insights across clinical, experimental, and computational domains
• Stakeholder communication excellence - translate complex data into compelling narratives for regulators and investors
• Operational delivery - manage multiple programs simultaneously while maintaining quality and timelines
• Strategic anticipation - identify biomarker development needs that influence both clinical protocols and broader development strategies

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