Histology Director - Gene Therapy

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Job Summary:

The Histology Director, Inner Ear Biology is a scientific expert, with deep methodological and analytical expertise in inner ear biology and histology. You will play a key role in the design and oversight of nonclinical studies in discovery stages and in early preclinical development of gene therapy product candidates for inner ear disorders. You are responsible for managing and supervising scientists and associate scientists and participating in histology related activities / experiments in mouse and non-human primate animal models, in addition to assurance of proper experimental conduct to ensure data quality and integrity.

Job Description:

• Lead and motivate a team of histology scientists, ensuring allocation of resources required for the timely completion of projects and delivery of data summaries.
• Effectively summarize and communicate strategy, progress, and risks to internal and external stakeholders
• Budget and invoice management for fixed and variable costs including budget planning (including capital equipment and equipment purchases).
• Maximize workflow management in necropsy / histology team throughput in a highly collaborative manner; identifying best-fit tissue processing and image acquisition strategies to support high-throughput generation of high-quality data.
• Identify and develop skills of CROs to support expansion of histologic throughput. Consult and collaborates with program / project leads to drive execution of research objectives. Responsible for communicating anticipated timelines related to Team activities, including potential delays, and proposal of solutions / mitigation strategies.
• Ensures that all procedures performed in necropsy and histology laboratories are conducted in compliance with Lilly policies as appropriate and all institutional, city, state and federal regulations and guidelines, including the institutional animal care and use protocols, SOPs, study protocols, and HSE requirements.
• Provides leadership and day-to-day supervision to histology team to ensure appropriate support for projects.
• Communicate regularly and work collaboratively with researchers to ensure that the company’s needs and goals are met.
• Cultivates a culture of good experimental and documentation practices, enabling timely delivery of data summaries and study reporting.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, molecular, cellular biology, or related field, and a minimum of 5+ years of experience working in a biotech or biopharma laboratory environment
• 3+ years of experience in personnel management in a biotech or biopharma laboratory environment.

• Desire and ability to coach / mentor emerging talent
• Expertise in confocal and widefield microscopy and sufficient proficiency in histologic techniques to oversee team performing gross dissection, microdissection, and/or sectioning of inner ears and designing multiplexed immunofluorescence protocols

• Expertise in cochlear and auditory function test outcome interpretation, e.g., auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission testing
• Clear communication skills and the ability to be an inclusive leader/colleague in a highly interdisciplinary environment
• Effective technical writing, verbal communication, and presentation skills
• Highly creative, detail-oriented, with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

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