Executive Director, Cell Delivery Engineering

Job Description

General Summary:

The Executive Director, Cell Delivery Engineering (Engineering Sciences) leads the group's design and development of early-stage efforts spanning design, material selection, and synthesis to achieve novel delivery constructs to support cell transplantation. The Executive Director will be uniquely experienced in managing diverse groups across innovation, ideation, and prototyping, with a focus on developing cell delivery strategies that overcome existing limitations in the field. They will manage 3 sub-functions within VCGT Engineering Sciences that are critical to evolving cell delivery technologies and designs, including Device Research, Device & Equipment Design, and Controls Engineering & Automation, and will have significant expertise in device and materials design, early-stage process development, and related prototype manufacturing and testing equipment including a working knowledge of diverse technologies to enable device development. The group will collectively be responsible for supporting the creation and development of new therapeutic device candidates from the point of inception through to proof-of-concept testing. Additionally, the group collaboratively supports the design, development, and tech-transfer of innovative designs, manufacturing equipment, and associated instrumentation to enable implementation into CMC in partnership with Product Engineering and downstream clinical evaluation.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages early design, process development, and prototyping activities related to the creation of cell delivery devices within VCGT Research.
• Integrates function and sub-function strategy knowledge to determine strategic plans within the Research Engineering group and partners with other functions to synergistically expand VCGT's expert capabilities in novel device design.
• Key contributor to expanding portfolio of delivery modalities for treating existing and future disease areas, including bringing insight into continuously emerging technologies in the field that have applicability within VCGT.
• Works cross-functionally with clinical and CMC teams to ensure new device designs meet clinical, regulatory, and downstream GxP requirements.
• Manages personnel performance and develops career growth opportunities of the group.
• Responsible for budget creation and management. Oversees group hiring activities. Responsible for regular review of staff deployment and project status to ensure all projects are appropriately prioritized, resourced, and key goals are met on time.
• Balances innovative exploration activities with the completion of defined project objectives. Leads acquisition of new internal and external scientific and engineering capabilities.
• Directs and participates with own technical leadership in early-stage materials selection, synthesis, fabrication process development, and prototyping projects.
• Develops external relationships to pursue new and emerging delivery technologies to enable next-gen R&D activities.
• Works across Vertex to identify synergistic capabilities and develop enabling partnerships.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Possesses deep and advanced knowledge of biomaterials selection, synthesis/fabrication, and characterization with respect to key delivery properties.
• Exposure to translational biology concepts that influence device design, including host response, kinetic considerations, and biomechanics.
• Experience in implementing orthogonal technologies to support device design and development.
• Design principles, with a working understanding of design iteration, CAD solid modeling, general fabrication, additive manufacturing, subtractive/conventional machining, design/drafting, and sensor controls, and data collection technology.
• Has highly developed writing and oral presentation skills that enable the incumbent to convey the essence and importance of complex concepts and findings in a clear manner.

Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in related disciplines, or equivalent industrial R&D engineering experience in a principal device design, prototype equipment design and management position for over 12 years with at least 7 years of supervisory/management experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Deep experience in integrating and managing teams with complimentary skill sets toward an aligned vision.

Flex Designation:

On-Site Designated

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this On-Site designated role, you will work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at