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Director / Senior Director – Discovery Research

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Position Overview: 

 

Morphocell is seeking an accomplished scientific leader to lead its Discovery Research function and help build the next phase of the company’s R&D capabilities. Reporting directly to the Chief Scientific Officer, the Director, Discovery Research will assume responsibility for leading and developing a growing team of scientists and research associates while advancing the scientific understanding and expansion of Morphocell’s proprietary iPSC-derived engineered tissue platform. This position requires a proven leader: someone who is capable of providing the day-to-day management, mentorship, accountability and results-oriented mindset that a strong scientific team needs to perform at a high level.

This role has been created to strengthen management and leadership capacity within the R&D team and to establish an independent leader for Discovery Research. The successful candidate will take direct ownership of a high-potential team, setting clear expectations, establishing the processes and priorities that allow scientists to focus and execute, and investing in the development of each team member. They will also provide scientific and operational leadership across a broad range of activities, including platform optimization, disease biology, proof-of-concept research, new indication assessment, and support of Process Development initiatives, serving as a critical scientific partner across the organization and helping translate research insights into platform advancements and future pipeline opportunities.

Morphocell is open to candidates at the Associate Director, Director, Senior Director, or VP level, depending on experience and demonstrated leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate will combine deep expertise in stem cell biology and iPSC-derived systems with a strong track record of developing scientists, building high-performing research teams, and driving execution in an industry setting.

 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead and manage a growing team of scientists and research associates, setting clear performance expectations, holding the group and individuals accountable, and ensuring the team operates with the structure and discipline needed to deliver consistently.

• Mentor and coach scientists at all levels, providing regular feedback, supporting individual development, and fostering a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning.

• Implement effective processes for project prioritization, resource management, and progress tracking that give the team structure, reduce ambiguity, and enable scientists to do their best work.

• Identify opportunities to develop individual scientists and build team capability over time, creating an environment where people are challenged, supported, and set up to grow.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Morphocell's Discovery Research function, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and platform development priorities.

• Drive research programs focused on platform optimization, disease biology, mechanism-of-action studies, proof-of-concept investigations, and evaluation of new therapeutic indications.

• Advance scientific understanding of Morphocell's engineered tissue technology and identify opportunities to enhance product performance, scalability, and clinical impact.

• Serve as a key scientific partner to Process Development, Manufacturing, Translational Sciences, Quality, Regulatory, and other cross-functional teams.

• Oversee experimental design, data interpretation, scientific rigor, and communication of research findings to internal and external stakeholders.

• Evaluate emerging technologies, scientific trends, and competitive developments to inform research strategy and future platform evolution.

• Contribute to pipeline expansion efforts through identification and assessment of new disease indications and therapeutic opportunities.

• Support intellectual property generation, scientific publications, grant applications, external collaborations, and strategic partnership opportunities where appropriate.

• Present scientific progress, recommendations, and strategic initiatives to execute leadership and other key stakeholders.

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Qualifications: 

• Experience with performance management and driving accountability, including setting goals, delivering constructive feedback, navigating underperformance, and recognizing and retaining strong contributors.

• Proven people leader with demonstrated success building, managing, and developing high-performing scientific teams within an industrial biotechnology, cell therapy, or regenerative medicine environment.

• Experience establishing research processes, setting priorities, driving execution, and creating the structure and accountability needed for a team to operate effectively and grow.

• Experience mentoring and coaching scientists at multiple career stages, with a genuine commitment to individual development and a track record of helping people grow within and beyond their immediate roles.

• Collaborative leadership style with the ability to build strong relationships and influence across Discovery, Process Development, Manufacturing, Translational Sciences, Quality, Regulatory, and other cross-functional groups.

• Strong strategic thinking capabilities combined with a hands-on approach and willingness to remain closely connected to the science and laboratory environment.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex scientific concepts to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment while balancing scientific rigor, operational execution, and long-term organizational objectives.

• Willingness to relocate to the Montreal area and work primarily on-site as part of a highly collaborative R&D organization.
   

Education & Experience:

• PhD in Stem Cell Biology, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Regenerative Medicine, Molecular Biology, Biomedical Engineering, or a related life sciences discipline.

• Significant biotechnology, regenerative medicine, cell therapy, or advanced therapeutics industry experience, with level calibrated based on overall experience and leadership scope.

• Demonstrated success leading and developing scientific teams within an industrial biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or cell therapy environment.

• Experience advancing discovery-stage research programs and contributing to translational or product development activities.

• Proven track record managing complex scientific initiatives and delivering results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented organization.

• Experience in cell therapy or regenerative medicine is essential; liver biology or liver disease experience is considered an asset but is not required.

Technical Expertise:

• Deep expertise in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology, stem cell differentiation, and cellular engineering, with a strong understanding of the underlying scientific and technical challenges associated with cell-based therapeutics.

• Strong background in discovery research, including experimental design, data interpretation, hypothesis-driven investigation, and scientific problem-solving.

• Experience supporting platform development, proof-of-concept studies, disease biology research, mechanism-of-action investigations, and/or new indication assessment.

• Working knowledge of molecular biology, cell culture, genomics, transcriptomics, and related technologies commonly used in regenerative medicine and advanced therapeutics research.

• Understanding of the scientific, technical, and operational considerations required to translate discovery research into development-stage programs.

• Ability to evaluate emerging technologies, scientific trends, and external innovation opportunities to strengthen research strategy and platform competitiveness.

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Why Morphocell: 
 

• Join a dynamic team of professionals committed to pushing the boundaries of cell therapy. 

•  Contribute to groundbreaking advancements in the field of biotechnology. 

• Opportunity for personal and professional growth in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. 

• Competitive compensation package.

• Group medical and dental insurance.

• RRSP matching contribution.

• Commuting travel benefits.
   

If you are highly motivated and have a passion for driving innovation, we invite you to apply and be part of our mission to revolutionize patient care through cutting-edge therapies. 

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter to: career@morphocell.com.