Associate Director, Bioanalytical Sciences

As an Associate Director, Bioanalytical Sciences you will provide strategic and hands-on scientific leadership for bioanalytical activities across Alector’s nonclinical and clinical programs. This role combines portfolio-level bioanalytical strategy with direct laboratory engagement and independent assay development. 

Leverage your deep expertise in ligand-binding assays for pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity assessments across a range of biological matrices, comfortably move between the hands-on laboratory work and scientific and people leadership. This role encompasses bioanalytical strategy, independent assay development, optimization, and troubleshooting at the bench, CRO oversight, data interpretation and operational decision-making for the group rather than simply coordinating or delegating activities. 

• Define and drive bioanalytical strategy across programs! Develop fit-for-purpose Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic, immunogenicity, and biomarker strategies that address key scientific questions, anticipate assay needs, identify risks early, and support timely nonclinical and clinical program decisions. 

• Lead assay development and stay hands-on in the laboratory! Independently design, develop, optimize, troubleshoot, and qualify ligand-binding assays using both ELISA and MSD platforms, with proven experience developing assays for antibodies, including PK, ADA, and neutralizing antibody assays. 

• Translate bioanalytical data into clear scientific decisions! Interpret complex results across programs, communicate findings and risks to multidisciplinary teams, and author or critically review high-quality bioanalytical plans, technical reports, study reports, and related scientific documentation. 

• Partner across functions and proactively align expectations! Work with Research, Toxicology, and Clinical Development to align Bioanalytical Sciences priorities, timelines, and capacity with program needs, protecting the team from conflicting demands while continuously improving processes, SOPs, and documentation standards. 

• Lead and develop the team! Build a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, and respect where team members feel comfortable raising questions and challenging assumptions; mentor scientists at all experience levels in a way that removes barriers rather than adding to their workload. 

• Build strong external bioanalytical partnerships! Apply a strong understanding of GLP and bioanalytical guidelines when participating in the evaluation and selection of CROs for nonclinical and clinical assay validation and sample analysis; develop robust human bioanalytical assays for transfer to CROs and provide scientific oversight of method transfer, validation, sample analysis, troubleshooting, deviations, data quality, timelines, and final study reports. Hold vendors accountable for quality and timelines while maintaining productive professional partnerships. 

• Strengthen our bioanalytical capabilities! Develop scientists, establish high standards for experimental rigor and data integrity, and integrate innovative technologies, including laboratory automation, AI, and large language models, to accelerate programs, improve quality, and use resources more effectively! 

• Experience developing bioanalytical assays, including hybrid ELISA approaches, for siRNA, oligonucleotide therapeutics, or antibody-conjugated siRNA/oligonucleotide modalities. 

• Experience developing and implementing biomarker assays to support nonclinical or clinical programs. 

• Experience with Watson LIMS or a comparable bioanalytical laboratory information management system. 

• Experience with automated liquid- or sample-handling platforms such as Hamilton or Tecan. 

• Experience introducing new bioanalytical technologies, automation, or data-analysis approaches into laboratory workflows.