Back to jobs
New

VP of Synthetic Biology & Managing Director of SG subsidiary

Singapore

Who We Are:

Antheia is a science and technology company developing next generation plant-inspired medicines. Applying synthetic biology, genomics, bioinformatics, data science, and fermentation, we harness the most beneficial molecules from plants to create active pharmaceutical ingredients in more controlled and economical ways. We are a close-knit team inspired by the possibilities of delivering transformative technologies and breakthrough science to change the course of medicine. We value our people as our most important resource and are always looking for talented individuals who can make valuable contributions to our efforts.

 

VP of Synthetic Biology & Managing Director of SG subsidiary

 

Who we are:

Antheia is a science and technology company developing next generation plant-inspired medicines. Applying synthetic biology, genomics, bioinformatics, data science, and fermentation, we harness the most beneficial molecules from plants to create active pharmaceutical ingredients in more controlled and economical ways. We are a close-knit team inspired by the possibilities of delivering transformative technologies and breakthrough science to change the course of medicine. We value our people as our most important resource and are always looking for talented individuals who can make valuable contributions to our efforts.

Antheia has a demonstrated biomanufacturing platform for the production of key starting materials (KSMs) and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and is currently looking to expand the pipeline to focus on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics derived from natural products, leveraging partnerships and collaborations within Singapore and the APAC regions.

Position Overview:
We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic VP of Synthetic Biology with strong expertise in molecular biology, genetic engineering and natural product chemistry to lead our team in Singapore. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in natural product discovery, metabolic engineering, and microbiology, with proven leadership skills to drive innovation and translational research.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a synthetic biology strategy to engineer microbial hosts for the efficient biosynthesis of novel bioactive natural products and derivatives with an emphasis on potential oncology drugs and antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) payloads.
  • Strain Engineering: Lead efforts to optimize microbial chassis through metabolic pathway engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology techniques.
  • Enzyme Engineering: Lead efforts to discover new enzyme activities and biosynthetic gene clusters used in natural product biosynthesis, optimize expression and activity in heterologous hosts, and perform biochemical characterization.
  • Fermentation & Scale-Up: Oversee fermentation and downstream process development to ensure high-yield and cost-effective production of natural products in microbial hosts through pilot scale.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with chemistry, analytical, and process development teams to integrate synthetic biology with downstream processing and purification strategies.
  • Innovation & IP Strategy: Drive innovation in synthetic biology technologies while collaborating with legal teams to secure intellectual property protection.
  • Team Leadership & Mentorship: Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing synthetic biology team, fostering a culture of scientific excellence and innovation. Manage our subsidiary in Singapore
  • Regulatory & Compliance: Ensure that microbial strain development and production processes align with regulatory guidelines and industry best practices.
  • Partnership Development: Collaborate with academic institutions, industry partners, and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) to accelerate development efforts.
  • Budget & Resource Management: Develop and manage budgets, timelines, and resource allocation to meet corporate goals efficiently.
  • Partnership development: Support partnership development team by providing technical diligence and participating in calls with potential pharma partners.
  • Perform other duties as assigned[1]

 

Qualifications & Experience:

  • Ph.D. in Synthetic Biology, Metabolic Engineering, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, or related discipline.
  • 15+ years of experience in synthetic biology, microbial engineering, natural product discovery and/or bioproduction, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
  • Proven track record in engineering microbial hosts (e.g., bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes) for the production of complex natural products.
  • Expertise in metabolic pathway optimization, CRISPR-based genome editing, and synthetic regulatory control systems.
  • Familiarity with ADC payload and/or linker chemistry and the integration of biological and chemical manufacturing processes.
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive innovation in a fast-paced biotech environment.
  • Excellent communication skills and ability to engage with stakeholders at all levels, including investors, partners, and regulatory bodies.
  • Frequent travel to the United States and off-hours meetings required.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, specifically in oncology therapeutics and antibody drug conjugate (ADC) development.
  • Track record of securing research funding, grants, or industry partnerships.
  • Experience with computational modeling of metabolic pathways and bioinformatics tools for strain optimization.
  • Experience scaling up bioprocesses from bench-scale to pilot and commercial production.

 

[1] This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Please note that Antheia doesn't discriminate based on age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, medical history, and other non-merit characteristics.

For full-time employees, Antheia offers a comprehensive total rewards package. Part-time (<30 hours per week) and temporary roles are not eligible for Company sponsored benefits.

  • Comprehensive compensation package, which includes annual bonus potential and equity opportunities
  • Paid time off, in addition to company-observed holidays
  • Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan
  • Free access to the Menlo Park Labs Gym
  • Menlo Park Labs free shuttle service to CalTrain, BART Station, and SF

 

Antheia is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law. In addition, Antheia prohibits the harassment of any individual on any of the bases listed above or any other characteristics protected under federal, state, or local laws.

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire..

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at Antheia? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Antheia’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.