Program Director Liver

ProQR Therapeutics is a biotechnology company listed on NASDAQ with offices in Leiden, the Netherlands and Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. ProQR is focused on the development of life changing RNA therapies to meet the unmet need of individuals and families with common and rare diseases. A team of 150+ enthusiastic ProQRians from all walks of life and more than 30 different nationalities is up to this challenge. We have the passion and commitment to make a difference in the lives of the communities we serve. Our proprietary Axiomer® RNA editing technology platform enables the editing of specific single nucleotides in RNA using the cells own editing machinery. Axiomer® RNA editing technology harnesses ADAR (Adenosine Deaminase Acting on RNA), which is machinery present in all human cells to repair G-to-A mutations, modulate protein, and enable protective mutation functions. Axiomer could potentially yield a new class of innovative medicines and treat currently untreatable diseases.

Our Axiomer Unit is currently looking for a Program Director Liver (Full-time) to join our team.

As a ProQR Program Director Liver you will lead research programs in collaboration with internal and external partners focused on the development of novel drug candidates for the treatment of chronic liver diseases. You will be a strong scientific thinker with significant experience leading the discovery and development of oligonucleotide therapies for liver diseases and have extensive experience developing and/or evaluating novel nucleic acid-based therapeutics and delivery platforms. As part of the Axiomer Drug Discovery Unit, you will report to the VP Scientific Operations and will work closely with the Chief Science Officer. In your role you will support, evaluate and/or identify business development opportunities to enhance project progression and/or platform expansion, with specific application to the needs of the liver portfolio including nucleic acid-based therapeutics and delivery platforms. You won’t have direct reports but you will lead a project team with multiple project leads in a matrix organization. Good project and organization skills are a must.

How you will contribute:

• Develop and oversee novel scientific projects and manage the work of others directly and in a matrixed structure.

• Lead efforts to determine the mechanism of action for drug targets and candidates using state-of-the-art methods and analytical tools.

• Oversee the execution of drug candidate and platform development programs, utilizing cutting-edge methods and tools such as omics technologies (RNA-seq, proteomics via mass spectrometry), and computational modeling. Collaborate closely with internal teams (R&D, Clinical Operations) and external partners (CROs, academic institutions) to ensure seamless integration and alignment of research efforts, driving innovation and efficiency in drug development.

• Proactively identify complex obstacles to progress by conducting thorough risk assessments and continuous monitoring of project milestones; recommend and implement innovative solutions using a diverse set of resources including advanced data analytics, cross-functional collaboration, and external partnerships; contribute to research projects through creative problem-solving, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and interdisciplinary approaches to drive scientific and operational excellence.

• Develop and determine optimal methods for new assignments by conducting comprehensive literature reviews, pilot studies, and stakeholder consultations; make strategic recommendations on projects based on data-driven insights, feasibility analyses, and alignment with organizational goals.

• Effectively manage a wide variety of tasks, techniques, and projects by prioritizing workloads, and optimizing resource allocation; Integrate these responsibilities to deliver high-quality results with maximum efficiency by fostering cross-functional collaboration, maintaining rigorous quality control standards, and continuously improving processes.

• Be a scientific mentor.

• Communicate effectively with colleagues and leadership.

We expect our Program Director Liver to have:

• PhD degree in a scientific discipline with 10+ years of experience in the discovery and development for liver diseases, or

• MS with 14+ years of experience, or

• BS with 16+ years of experience.

• Experience in the field of genetic liver diseases

• Significant understanding of complex biological systems.

• Expertise in oligonucleotide and/or base editing therapeutics and delivery technologies.

• 10 years of Industry experience required.

• 7 years of Project management experience.

• Experience in supervising/mentoring project teams.

• Proven ability to effectively interact with technical, scientific staff and research management.

• Expertise in the design and execution of in vivo and in vitro studies for the evaluation of liver-related biology and pathology.

• Solid understanding of in silico and computational approaches in drug development

• The ability to work in a dynamic organization

Location: Leiden, NL (on-site).

Skills and competencies that are required to make a difference:

• Flexible and resistant to change
• Pro-active attitude
• Team player
• Being able to work in a fast-paced environment
• Strong project planning and management skills
• Critical thinking, decision making and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication skills (English)
• Pro-active and pragmatic self-starter, with a result-oriented mindset

ProQR as an employer

As an employer, we are a true believer of the value of a workforce in which people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to develop themselves, personally and professionally. We believe that happy and energized people, working well together in an environment in which they thrive, will do phenomenal and awesome things.

We are committed to ensure that no employee, candidate or job applicant receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of race, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership status. At ProQR we want to create an inclusive culture where everyone can be valued for who they are and in which individual differences and the contributions in all forms are recognized and valued.

We offer an exciting and innovative working environment in a very committed organization, with the following benefits:

• 8% holiday allowance
• 30 vacation days
• An annual performance bonus
• Stock options
• A premium-free pension plan
• A commuting allowance
• A subsidized staff restaurant
• Unlimited (un)healthy snacks and drinks
• Employee events (boot camp, Rebel Café and other social events)

Do you think you can contribute in achieving our mission? If so, we’re looking forward to receiving your application by filling out our application form.

You can contact Silvia Catellani via recruitment@proqr.com if you have any questions.