Job Description

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a highly motivated and accomplished

Senior

Group Leader

to join us in our

Immunology Discovery

Team based in

Slough, UK

.

About the role

This role is integral to driving therapeutic discovery across small molecule and antibody-based programs, supporting target identification, in vitro model development, and mechanistic and translational studies that inform clinical development. You will have deep expertise in immunology, in vitro pharmacology, and translational science.


The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to lead preclinical programs, contribute mechanistic insights to clinical-stage efforts, and represent the company externally through scientific presentations and publications.

Who you'll work with

Reporting to Head of Resolution of Inflammation, you will lead a team of in vitro scientists, fostering scientific growth and program excellence.

What you'll do

Drive novel target identification and validation in immunology, through integration of internal research, human data, and external insights. Develop and implement innovative in vitro immunology models using primary immune cells and disease-relevant systems. Design and optimize mechanistic and functional assays to support the evaluation of small molecules and antibody therapeutics across innate and adaptive immune pathways. Provide translational support for clinical programs, including mechanism-of-action studies, human biomarker strategies, and interpretation of patient-derived data. Lead/contribute to preclinical programs, collaborating with cross-functional discovery and translational teams to drive candidate selection and IND-enabling efforts.

Interested? For this role we're looking for the following education, experience and skills

Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Immunology, Cell Biology, or a related discipline with 6+ years of industry experience in pharmaceutical or biotech R&D. Demonstrated expertise in immune system biology, including experience working with primary human immune cells and immune-relevant disease models. Strong background in translational science, including experience linking preclinical data to clinical outcomes and developing human-relevant biomarkers. Expertise in in vitro assay development (e.g., cytokine profiling, T cell activation, flow cytometry, imaging, CRISPR-based editing). Familiarity with antibody technologies, including functional assays, effector function testing, or bispecific. Expertise working with large data/multi-omics data. Proven track record in supporting small molecule and antibody therapeutic discovery, ideally across both early discovery and clinical stages. Experience presenting at scientific conferences and contributing to high-impact publications is strongly preferred.


Are you ready to 'go beyond' to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About us

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are around 8,500 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us?

At UCB, we don't just complete tasks, we create value. We aren't afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We 'go beyond' to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that's on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.


UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.



Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.