Senior Director, Research

Job DescriptionuniQure is dedicated to bringing innovative therapies for unmet medical needs to patients. In doing so, each function in uniQure is directly or indirectly responsible for the lives of patients. This responsibility should be part of our day-to-day working life by (i) living up to high quality standards and (ii) by recognizing the sense of urgency in areas of high medical need. Place in the organization The Research & Early Development team, based in our Amsterdam location, is committed to delivering new technologies and therapeutic targets from discovery to IND.   Purpose of the roleWe are seeking an accomplished, energetic, and detail-oriented biologist, drug developer and team leader to join our Research & Early Development site, providing leadership to the technology development and preclinical research teams developing novel gene therapies (involving gene replacement, gene editing, or gene lowering, or a combination of these approaches).  The candidate is expected to engage in supporting the development of nucleic acid therapeutic modalities (e.g. gene therapy, gene editing), and viral- and /or non-viral delivery approaches, across different disease areas; human biological models, novel assays; and contributing to multidisciplinary drug discovery teams from discovery through to IND-enabling studies. The qualified candidate is a highly motivated, interactive, and team-oriented individual that possesses the ability to work across a highly matrixed environment across different functions, to provide technical and scientific expertise, and people leadership, to advance our drug discovery efforts. Responsibilities of the JobOversee research functions in early preclinical development and technology platform development with multiple reports of PhD-level scientists. Contribute as a key member of a cross functional gene therapy drug discovery team. Lead the ideation, implementation and execution of novel gene therapies, including gene replacement, gene editing, gene lowering, or combinations, across various indications or disease areas via both viral and non-viral delivery routes.Oversee biomarker discovery, candidate identification, proof-of-mechanism, and proof-of-concept studies.Establish and execute functionally integrated project plans to enable accurate project assessments, identification of critical path activities and areas of resource constraint.Oversee project leadership activities, identify and manage project objectives, strategy, work plans, timelines, budgets, providing formal and informal status updates to stakeholders as needed.Interface with senior R&D management on project requirements, status review, and key development decisions.Organize robust communication lines between all relevant functions of the organization.Collaborate with CMC, Bioinformatics, Translational, and Regulatory teams to ensure seamless transition of research programs into development.Organize adequate reporting to support regulatory documentation.Plan, analyze, evaluate, and report on research projects.Oversee electronic lab notebook and record keeping in compliance with company policies. Qualifications & Experience NeededPhD in Molecular Biology, Bioengineering, Pharmacology, or a related field.5–8+ years of relevant industry or postdoctoral experience after PhD.Previous industry experience leading a nucleic acid therapy project and/or teams. Proven experience in developing novel nucleic acid therapies, including gene editing technologies and/or delivery systems (e.g., LNPs, AAVs, polymers, exosomes).Strong subject matter expertise and evidence of publishing impactful research.Knowledge of the drug discovery process and inter-dependencies of key research functionsPrior involvement in early-phase discovery or IND/CTA-stage programs.Familiarity with regulatory frameworks for gene therapies or RNA-based medicines; experience with large animal studies is a plus.Excellent communication, leadership, and collaborative skills in a matrix environment.Experience managing small or large teams, both intra- and cross-function. Enthusiastic mentor and leader with experience managing research scientistsAbility to present and communicate results clearly to internal and external audiences.Experience writing and reviewing scientific and regulatory documents, including IND/CTA reports, scientific articles, patents, SOPs, and protocols.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills; ability to handle multiple tasks under time-related stress.Proficiency in English, both verbal and written.Cooperative: ability to work within a matrix team structure, in a collaborative and portfolio-aware manner to drive projects forward according to agreed budget and timelinesAbility to critically evaluate and interpret data, discuss results with team members, identify issues and provide solutionsAbility to handle multiple tasks under performance and time-related stress Self-organized: ability to focus and to plan appropriatelyDetail-oriented: analytical mindset and ability to identify important detailsProblem-solving: ability to identify problems, discuss them within the team, and propose solutions