Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Virology Manager

🎯 Role Definition

A Virology Manager is a cornerstone of the research and development engine within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical organization. This individual serves as both a scientific leader and a people manager, guiding a dedicated team of virologists in the pursuit of novel therapeutic programs. The role involves setting the scientific direction for projects, overseeing complex experiments in high-containment laboratories (BSL-2/BSL-3), and ensuring the generation of high-quality, reproducible data to support drug discovery and development pipelines. More than just a bench scientist, the Virology Manager is a strategic thinker who translates corporate goals into actionable laboratory work, mentors junior talent, and collaborates across functions like immunology, chemistry, and regulatory affairs to move promising candidates from concept to clinic. This is a dynamic position for an experienced scientist ready to take on greater leadership responsibility and make a tangible impact on human health.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Principal Scientist, Virology
Senior Scientist, R&D (with significant virology experience)
Research Investigator II

Advancement To:

Associate Director, Virology
Director, Biology / R&D
Senior Director, Preclinical Development

Lateral Moves:

Program Manager, Virology
Manager, Assay Development & Screening
Manager, Technical Operations (Virology focus)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide direct line management, scientific leadership, and career mentorship to a team of Ph.D.-level scientists and research associates, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and scientific rigor.
Oversee the day-to-day operations of the virology laboratory, including resource planning, budget management, and ensuring the safe and compliant operation of BSL-2 and BSL-3 facilities.
Spearhead the strategic design, development, optimization, and execution of a diverse range of in vitro and ex vivo virological assays to evaluate antiviral compounds, therapeutic antibodies, and vaccine candidates.
Lead the characterization of viral mechanism of action (MOA), resistance profiling, and the identification of novel drug targets for viral diseases.
Direct the development and validation of critical assays for IND-enabling studies, including neutralization assays, plaque reduction assays (PRNT), TCID50, and viral load quantification (qPCR/ddPCR).
Function as the virology subject matter expert on cross-functional project teams, effectively communicating complex scientific data and strategic recommendations to diverse stakeholders.
Author, review, and approve detailed study protocols, technical reports, and data summaries to ensure data integrity and support regulatory filings.
Manage external research activities, including the selection and oversight of contract research organizations (CROs) for specialized virology studies.
Drive the propagation, titration, and banking of viral stocks according to established standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices.
Maintain a deep and current understanding of the virology scientific literature, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to inform project strategy and identify new opportunities.
Ensure all laboratory work is meticulously documented in electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and that data is analyzed and presented to a high standard.
Contribute significantly to the preparation of non-clinical virology sections for regulatory submissions to global health authorities, such as the FDA and EMA (e.g., INDs, BLAs).
Lead troubleshooting efforts for complex scientific and technical challenges that arise during assay development and compound screening.
Present scientific findings and project updates at internal governance meetings, external scientific conferences, and in peer-reviewed publications.
Guide the development of novel viral infection models, including cell-based and potentially more complex tissue-based systems, to better recapitulate human disease.
Collaborate closely with colleagues in immunology, molecular biology, and protein sciences to integrate virological data into a broader understanding of drug efficacy and safety.
Take responsibility for laboratory equipment maintenance, calibration, and the evaluation of new laboratory instrumentation to enhance capabilities.
Champion laboratory safety and compliance, ensuring all team members are trained on and adhere to institutional biosafety protocols and regulatory requirements.
Participate in the evaluation of new therapeutic concepts and potential in-licensing opportunities by providing expert virology assessment.
Develop and manage project timelines, deliverables, and resource allocation in alignment with overarching corporate goals and program milestones.

Secondary Functions

Support business development activities by providing scientific expertise on potential in-licensing opportunities or collaborations.
Contribute to the organization's intellectual property portfolio by assisting in the drafting and review of patent applications.
Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs to ensure laboratory practices and documentation meet GxP standards where applicable.
Participate in cross-functional strategic planning and resource allocation discussions for the broader R&D department.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced Cell-Based Viral Assays: Deep expertise in developing, optimizing, and troubleshooting a wide array of assays, including plaque assays, neutralization assays, TCID50, and reporter virus assays.
High-Containment Laboratory Experience: Proven hands-on experience and operational management of BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratory environments, with a strong understanding of biosafety principles.
Molecular Virology Techniques: Proficiency in modern molecular biology techniques, including qPCR/RT-qPCR, ddPCR, molecular cloning, and sequence analysis for viral characterization.
Viral Vector & Vaccine Platforms: Experience with the design, production, and characterization of viral vectors (e.g., AAV, Lentivirus, Adenovirus) or vaccine antigens.
Immunological Assay Knowledge: Familiarity with related immunological techniques such as ELISA, ELISpot, flow cytometry, and their application in a virology context.
Mechanism of Action (MOA) Studies: Demonstrated ability to design and execute experiments to elucidate how antiviral agents work.
Data Analysis & Visualization: High proficiency with scientific data analysis software such as GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, and statistical analysis tools.
Regulatory Document Preparation: Experience in writing or contributing to the virology sections of regulatory filings (IND, BLA).
Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including timeline, resource, and budget planning.
CRO Management: Experience in selecting, qualifying, and managing external contract research organizations.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Mentorship: A natural ability to lead, inspire, and develop a team of scientists with varying levels of experience.
Strategic Thinking: The capacity to align team activities with broader company objectives and anticipate future scientific challenges.
Exceptional Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of presenting complex data clearly to both scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: A collaborative mindset with a proven track record of working effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to effectively troubleshoot scientific and operational issues.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic R&D environment and pivot priorities as data and program needs evolve.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to experimental design, data integrity, and documentation.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline.

Preferred Education:

Ph.D. with significant postdoctoral research experience in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Virology
Molecular Biology
Immunology
Microbiology
Cell Biology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

A minimum of 5-8 years of relevant post-doctoral experience, with a significant portion of that time spent in an industrial biotechnology or pharmaceutical setting. A minimum of 2 years of direct management or team leadership experience is typically required.

Preferred:

Direct experience leading a virology team or sub-team in a drug discovery environment.
A strong track record of advancing antiviral or vaccine programs from discovery into preclinical development.
Experience with both small molecule and large molecule (e.g., antibody) antiviral drug discovery.
A history of peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national or international scientific conferences.