About Halda Therapeutics

Halda Therapeutics is a New Haven CT based, venture-backed biotechnology company focused on the development of a proprietary RIPTAC™ (Regulated Induced Proximity TArgeting Chimeras) therapeutics that work by a novel “hold and kill” mechanism for the precision treatment of cancer. The novel mechanism of action of RIPTAC therapeutics is uniquely designed to address cancer’s ability to evolve bypass mechanisms of resistance, a common limitation of today’s precision oncology medicines.

Our lead RIPTAC programs are in development for major solid tumor types, prostate cancer and breast cancer, with additional RIPTAC therapeutic programs in our pipeline to treat unmet medical needs in cancer. The company initiated its Phase 1 trial in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in Q1 of 2025. 

Halda, located in New Haven CT, was founded by Yale Professor Craig Crews and is led by a leadership team with deep expertise in bifunctional drug discovery, platform innovation, and company building. Halda has raised $200 million in total capital and is funded by top tier venture capital firms.

At Halda, our team is a collective force for drug innovation to conquer cancer.  Halda is a place where you can embrace your purpose and be your true self.  Learn more about us at www.haldatx.com.

The Position 

We are looking for a biology team leader with a strong foundation in cell biology / translational biology to spearhead efforts in preclinical oncology drug discovery programs. The candidate should have a background in small molecule drug discovery, including a minimum of 10 years in industry as a part of drug development programs. An ideal candidate would also bring to the role 4+ years of program leadership and personnel management experience.  

The candidate would be expected to lead drug discovery from program inception to IND filing, including CRO management, KOL identification, and generation of therapeutic hypotheses and patient selection strategies. They will guide project teams to drive towards short-term and long-term goals through a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies to progress lead compounds while understanding underlying biology and mechanism of action.  The candidate would also be expected to contribute to the development of the technology platform including expansion to other therapeutics areas.  The candidate should be comfortable presenting to different audiences including executive leadership, board of directors, and external parties. 

Requirements include: 

• Ph.D. in cell biology/biochemistry/genetics or a related field, and a minimum of 10 years of pharma/biotech experience in drug development.  

• Ability to independently lead preclinical discovery projects, including experience designing, developing, and overseeing cell-based assays and in vivo studies. 

• First-hand experience engineering cell lines to overexpress, mutate, knock down, and knock out genes of interest, and standard analytical techniques such as immunoblotting, qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry etc. 

• Experience designing in vivo studies and understanding of PK/PD and PD/efficacy relationships. 

• Ability to provide translational guidance, including formulating therapeutic hypotheses for well-defined patient populations in oncology. 

• Ability to stay on top of the latest scientific research in the targeted therapy field, with a commitment to deep knowledge in project-specific biology, from target validation to clinical data. 

• Ability to identify and manage relationships with KOLs and external advisors to aid in advancement of programs to IND filing. 

• Ability to address specific questions though experimental design followed by the ability to interpret and communicate results to the scientific team while advancing aggressive program timelines. 

• Ability to proactively identify, evaluate, and manage external vendors of assay services. 

• Ability to be on site at Halda Headquarters in New Haven, CT. This job is for local candidates only.

An ideal candidate will also have: 

• Prior 4+ year drug discovery program leadership experience in an industry setting. 

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, teamwork, and planning skills to accomplish multiple tasks and meet deadlines in a timely manner. 

• Ability to function strategically within a multi-disciplinary discovery and development team to advance small-molecule drug discovery projects. 

Compensation 

The estimated salary range for this position is $200,000-280,000.  Actual compensation will be dependent on candidate experience and other factors. 

The compensation will also include an annual bonus and equity. 

Benefits 

Halda offers a competitive benefit package, including subsidized medical, dental, vision, ST/LT disability, a 401k Plan with generous company contribution and free parking at our New Haven headquarters.  We also offer tuition reimbursement and paid parental leave. 

If you are interested in this opportunity and meet the requirements, please submit your resume and cover letter for consideration.  

Halda is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Principals only.