Associate Director, Clinical Scientist

About Xaira Therapeutics Xaira is an innovative biotech startup focused on leveraging AI to transform drug discovery and development. The company is leading the development of generative AI models to design protein and antibody therapeutics, enabling the creation of medicines against historically hard-to-drug molecular targets. It is also developing foundation models for biology and disease to enable better target elucidation and patient stratification. Collectively, these technologies aim to continually enable the identification of novel therapies and to improve success in drug development. Xaira is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and London. About the Role We are seeking an exceptional and highly motivated Senior Scientist to architect and lead our efforts in in vivo CRISPR screening. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in advancing our mission to pioneer biological discoveries through high-throughput functional genomics. You will lead strategic initiatives that push the technical boundaries of genetic screening at the intersection of mouse models, data science, AI/ML, and translational biology. This position is ideal for a seasoned discovery scientist who excels at translating data-driven insights into therapeutic research while balancing strategic leadership with advanced individual technical contributions. Key Responsibilities * Develop, implement and scale high-throughput CRISPR-based screening protocols in mouse models to uncover genotype-phenotype relationships at scale. * Drive continuous innovation in experimental workflows and screening methodologies. * Partner with computational biology, AI/ML, and drug discovery teams to analyze, interpret, visualize, and communicate findings from large-scale functional genomics datasets. * Identify and resolve challenges in data generation, including assay reproducibility, sample throughput, and quality control. * Independently manage multiple projects, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality data and adherence to team goals. * Maintain accurate records of experiments, protocols, and findings, contributing to internal and external scientific presentations. * Mentor junior staff and research associates, fostering their scientific and professional growth through active technical guidance and career development. * Lead strategic project planning and long-term program development initiatives to ensure alignment with broader therapeutic discovery goals. * Independently drive and oversee complex cross-functional collaborations with internal and external partners to accelerate program milestones. Requirements * Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Genetics, Pharmacology, or a related field, with 4+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience. * Strong experience with in vivo genetic manipulation (e.g., lentiviral or AAV delivery in mice), mouse handling, colony management, and in vivo experimentation, with an understanding of animal welfare and regulatory standards. * Familiarity with perturb-seq and single-cell genomics. * Ability to troubleshoot technical issues, adapt to new protocols, and optimize methodologies for in vivo applications. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of presenting complex scientific results to multidisciplinary teams. * Demonstrated success in working collaboratively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. Preferred Qualifications * Familiarity with spatial omics and interest in exploring new readout methods. * Experience in data analysis using Python or R. * Experience in in vivo CRISPR screening. Compensation We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, seeking to provide an open, flexible, and friendly work environment to empower employees and provide them with a platform to develop their long-term careers. A Summary of Benefits is available for all applicants. We offer a competitive package that includes base salary, bonus, and equity. The base pay range for this position is expected to be $136,000 - $170,000 annually; however, the base pay offered may vary depending on the market, job-related knowledge, skills and capabilities, and experience. Xaira Therapeutics an equal-opportunity employer. We believe that our strength is in our differences. Our goal to build a diverse and inclusive team began on day one, and it will never end. TO ALL RECRUITMENT AGENCIES: Xaira Therapeutics does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias or employees. Xaira Therapeutics is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ABOUT RELATION Relation is a sector defining TechBio company developing transformational medicines, with technology at our core. Our ambition is to understand human biology in unprecedented ways, discovering therapies to treat some of life’s most devastating diseases. We leverage single-cell multi-omics from patient tissue, functional assays, and machine learning to drive disease understanding, from cause to cure. We are scaling rapidly and building a team of exceptional individuals to push the boundaries of drug discovery. You will work in highly interdisciplinary teams where biology, computation, and engineering come together to solve complex problems that have not been solved before. Our state-of-the-art wet and dry labs in the heart of London are designed to accelerate this integration and translate insight into impact. We are committed to building diverse and inclusive teams. Relation is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age. By joining Relation, you will help define how medicines are discovered and deliver meaningful impact for patients. THE OPPORTUNITY Relation is offering an outstanding opportunity for an experienced Associate Director/Director of Medicinal Chemistry to help drive our growing small molecule portfolio. We are looking for a drug discovery scientist with hands-on experience shaping medicinal chemistry strategy and advancing programmes into clinical development. In this role, you will translate cutting-edge biological insights into high-quality clinical candidates, working at the intersection of science and technology within a rapidly growing TechBio company. You will serve as a senior scientific leader across the organisation – influencing project and portfolio decisions, guiding discovery strategy, and partnering closely with colleagues across Discovery and beyond to build world-class drug discovery capabilities. DAY TO DAY, YOU WILL * Lead medicinal chemistry strategy across discovery programmes, applying deep expertise in small molecule drug discovery to drive scientific and portfolio impact * Lead medicinal chemistry activities from hit identification through to development candidate selection, using modern discovery approaches, synthetic organic chemistry and data-driven decision making to achieve key milestones and value inflection points * Design and optimise novel chemical matter using structure-based design and multiparameter optimisation to deliver high-quality molecules with balanced potency, selectivity and developability * Partner closely with cross-functional colleagues across biology, machine learning, translational sciences, toxicology, DMPK and related disciplines to solve complex scientific challenges and accelerate programme delivery * Lead and manage external collaborations and CRO partnerships, ensuring effective execution, clear prioritisation and delivery against timelines, budgets and project goals * Represent medicinal chemistry in project teams, governance forums and portfolio reviews, communicating scientific strategy, progress, opportunities and risks clearly to senior stakeholders * Contribute to the growth and evolution of Relation’s discovery capabilities by introducing new scientific approaches, maintaining awareness of advances in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery and driving continuous improvement * Champion Relation’s collaborative, ambitious and science-driven culture, mentoring colleagues and helping to build an exceptional drug discovery organisation PROFESSIONALLY, YOU WILL HAVE * A PhD in medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, or a related scientific discipline or equivalent experience in industrial drug discovery * Significant experience leading medicinal chemistry programmes within biotech, pharmaceutical or CRO environments * Demonstrated success progressing drug discovery programmes through lead optimisation to development candidate selection, with clear impact on project strategy and delivery * Deep expertise in modern medicinal chemistry approaches, including structure-based drug design, multiparameter optimisation, and the application of computational and data-driven methods to molecule design * Experience building and managing productive collaborations with CROs and external partners to deliver high-quality scientific outcomes * Strong record of scientific achievement and innovation, evidenced through publications, patents, presentations and progression of molecules into development * Passion for small molecule drug discovery, with curiosity for emerging technologies and enthusiasm for integrating computational approaches with experimental science * Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the ability to thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional, matrixed environment * Highly motivated, scientifically rigorous, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving biotech setting Bonus experience: * Working with modalities such as peptides, ADCs, oligonucleotides or targeted delivery approaches PERSONALLY, YOU * Are comfortable working in a matrixed environment, balancing multiple stakeholders and contributing effectively across teams. * Take ownership of your work, proactively seek opportunities to contribute, and enable others to do their best work. * Communicate openly and directly, give and receive feedback constructively, and handle challenging conversations with respect. * Actively seek out diverse perspectives, build strong working relationships, and contribute to shared goals across teams. * Embrace challenges with openness and resilience, set high standards for yourself, and strive to deliver meaningful outcomes. WORKING STYLE & CULTURE AT RELATION At Relation, we operate in a matrixed, interdisciplinary environment, where impact is driven through collaboration across scientific, technical, and operational domains. We collaborate, and you will partner with colleagues across multiple teams and projects, contributing your expertise while aligning to shared company priorities. We work together and win together! The patient is waiting! RECRUITMENT AGENCIES Please note that Relation does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Resumes should not be forwarded to our job aliases or employees. Relation will not be liable for any fees associated with unsolicited CVs. Relation is a committed equal opportunities employer.