Director, Discovery Research Scientific Insights

About the role

The Director, Discovery Research Scientific Insights is a senior scientific and strategic partner to the Head of Discovery Research Program Management & External Partnerships and the Senior Vice President, Discovery Research. This role delivers rapid scientific assessment, portfolio insight, and decision-ready recommendations on high-priority research, partnership, and executive matters.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior Discovery Research leadership on high-priority scientific, portfolio, and executive matters. Responsible for questioning and advising the business to create the best possible outcome to complex scientific issues or projects.
• Bring rigorous conceptual thinking to rapidly assess urgent and complex scientific questions by framing issues, engaging experts, and synthesizing recommendations.
• Leverage deep end-to-end drug discovery expertise to evaluate external research opportunities, including scientific rationale, feasibility, differentiation, risk, and strategic fit.
• Translate complex or incomplete scientific information into concise, decision-ready summaries, options, and clear recommendations.
• Maintain visibility across all Discovery-stage external partnerships, including program status, milestones, emerging issues, and leadership decision points.
• Provide external portfolio insights and executive updates that are accurate, analytically rigorous, and actionable.
• Drive cross-functional alignment with alliance managers and internal stakeholders to surface risks, opportunities, and recommendations for external collaborations.
• Support time-sensitive leadership communications with clear, balanced, and scientifically sound content.
• Anticipate emerging scientific or partnership issues and develop options to enable timely leadership decisions.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant scientific discipline; PhD preferred or equivalent scientific training and experience.
• 12+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D, including substantial Discovery Research experience.
• Deep knowledge of the drug discovery continuum through IND-enabling and/or early clinical development.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate scientific opportunities and translate complex data into recommendations for senior leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level scientific communications. Experience supporting executive reviews, governance forums, or high-stakes scientific communications.
• Exceptional scientific judgment, strategic thinking, and ability to operate effectively under ambiguity.
• Broad scientific curiosity and the ability to rapidly learn, understand, and evaluate science across therapeutic areas, modalities, and emerging topics.