Director, In Vitro Pharmacology

About the role

The Director, In Vitro Pharmacology is a full-time, on-site role based in San Diego, CA.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all in vitro pharmacology activities, including assay design and optimization, high-throughput screening (HTS), SAR screening, and compound profiling to support discovery and preclinical programs.
• Manage scientific teams, set project strategy and timelines, review and interpret data, and ensure scientific rigor and regulatory-ready documentation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with discovery biology, in vivo pharmacology, immunology, and biomarker teams to integrate in vitro findings into broader program objectives.
• Maintain and expand client relationships, contribute to proposal development, and drive continuous improvement in platforms, workflows, and technologies.

Qualifications

• Strong foundation in Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, with the ability to design and interpret in vitro pharmacology studies supporting drug discovery and development.
• Expertise in Pharmacokinetics and related ADME principles, enabling effective integration of in vitro data with in vivo PK/PD and translational strategies.
• Experience working with Oncology and other therapeutic areas, such as immuno-oncology, CNS, metabolic, or autoimmune models, and translating disease biology into assay design.
• Familiarity with In Vivo pharmacology concepts and workflows to ensure alignment between in vitro assays and downstream in vivo efficacy, safety, and toxicology studies.
• PhD in Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, or a related discipline, or equivalent advanced degree (Maser's wtih 3+ with substantial relevant industry experience).
• Proven leadership experience managing scientific teams in a CRO or biopharmaceutical setting, including project oversight, mentoring, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to design, validate, and troubleshoot complex cell-based and biochemical assays, including HTS platforms and automation.
• Solid understanding of molecular and cell biology techniques, including mammalian cell culture and compound handling.
• Experience analyzing, interpreting, and presenting complex biological data.
• Experience with assay detection platforms (luminescence, fluorescence, absorbance, radiometric, and/or imaging-based assays) and familiarity with assay automation and high-throughput screening workflows is highly desirable.
• Experience with automated liquid handling systems, ELN/LIMS platforms, and data analysis tools (e.g., GraphPad Prism) is preferred.
• Experience in CRO or client-facing project environments is a plus.
• Strong organizational, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.