Associate Director, Vivarium & In Vivo Operations in Cambridge

As a member of the Parabilis Medicines team, you will be a part of an organization dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for diseases with urgent unmet needs, harnessing our proprietary peptide platform to transform treatment possibilities for patients. Parabilis is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to unlocking high-impact protein targets long-considered undruggable.

The company has developed a new class of stabilized, cell-penetrant alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that are inaccessible to traditional drug modalities. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Parabilis is advancing a focused pipeline of multiple first-in-class therapies across both rare and common cancers. Its lead asset, zolucatetide (FOG-001), is a first-in-class, clinically validated direct inhibitor of the interaction between β-catenin and the T-cell factor (TCF) family of transcription factors, implicated in millions of cancer cases annually, including in colorectal cancer, desmoid tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma and a range of other Wnt/β-catenin-driven tumors.

In Phase 1 clinical trials, zolucatetide produced the first-ever clinical evidence that it can directly inhibit this interaction, once previously considered “undruggable” despite its role across multiple cancer types. Parabilis is also advancing investigational degraders of ERG and ARON into clinical development for the treatment of prostate cancer, as well as progressing other preclinical programs. Backed by a recent $305 million Series F financing, Parabilis is entering an exciting phase of growth and execution.

We are seeking an experienced leader in vivarium and in vivo operations to oversee our research animal facilities and in vivo study support. In this Associate Director role, you will be accountable for daily operations, resource planning, budgets, technical training and compliance with IACUC, AAALAC and institutional policies. You will manage animal procurement, housing, husbandry services and technical support across discovery and pre‑clinical studies, collaborating with program leaders and CRO partners to align operational support with scientific objectives. A key aspect of this role is developing and coaching a high‑performing technical team while driving operational excellence and continuous improvement to uphold the highest standards of animal welfare.

Key abilities of this role include:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for vivarium operations, ensuring high-quality husbandry, facility maintenance, and resource planning.
• Serve as institutional lead for IACUC protocols and animal use compliance; prepare and lead facility audits and inspections.
• Oversee procurement and inventory of animals and supplies and maintain accurate records of census and environmental conditions.
• Develop and manage the vivarium operating budget, forecasting resource needs and supporting capital planning.
• Provide oversight and coordination of in vivo hands-on training and SOP adherence for a cross-functional group of hybrid scientists; remain willing to perform hands-on work as needed and lead the integration of new skills and techniques as our portfolio and programs expand.
• Coordinate study scheduling and operational support across in vivo pharmacology programs and CRO partners; represent in vivo operations in cross-functional meetings.
• Drive process improvement, SOP development and emergency preparedness; ensure compliance with AAALAC and institutional policies.
• Provide subject matter expertise in in vivo study execution, facility operations, and support program teams by troubleshooting logistics.

What you’ll need to be successful:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in biological sciences, animal science or related discipline; 10+ years of vivarium/in vivo experience including 5+ years in a leadership role; advanced degree (M.S., DVM or Ph.D.) and AALAS/CMAR certification are preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing vivarium operations, including budgets, resource forecasting, animal procurement and facility maintenance.
• In-depth knowledge of AAALAC and IACUC regulations and experience serving as institutional lead for animal use protocols and facility audits.
• Proven ability to supervise, mentor, and develop technical staff and maintain high standards of animal welfare and safety.
• Strong operational planning, problem-solving and process improvement skills, with experience developing SOPs and emergency plans.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across cross-functional program teams and with CRO partners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, work on site and participate in weekend or holiday coverage as needed.

Core Values

Parabilis Medicines is a team of passionate pioneers who are trailblazing the future of precision medicine with the aim of making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. The company is committed to promoting an inspiring and flourishing working environment for all employees across the business, in all departments, and driving innovation for patient benefit.

• Growth-Minded. We’re inventing a new class of medicines—one applicable to therapeutic targets that have been dreamt about, but always considered impossible to drug. Our work requires us to be curious, humble and adaptable.
• In(ter)dependent. We are fiercely independent as a leader in defying the limitations of current therapeutic modalities, and interdependent as a team as we work collaboratively to shift drug discovery paradigms and provide patients with better treatment options.
• Patient-focused. We are deeply focused on patient outcomes, and all energy in the company is focused on science as it translates to patient impact.
• All-In. We’re All-In on solving some of the hardest scientific challenges and delivering one of the most effective new classes of drugs in history.

The base salary range for this position is $165,000-$200,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal practices. Parabilis’s total compensation package also includes an annual target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits designed to support our employees’ overall well-being. As an equal opportunity employer, Parabilis Medicines values an inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.