Director of In Vivo Pharmacology

About the role

We’re seeking a driven and experienced and scientifically rigorous Director of In Vivo Pharmacology to join us at a pivotal moment. In this leadership role, you’ll lead a team to conduct animal studies that drive our drug discovery pipeline forward. You will serve as the in-house expert on animal models, in vivo study design, and translational pharmacology.

You’ll play a key role in shaping our scientific strategy and driving milestone achievements across our pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, and interpret in vivo pharmacology studies to support lead optimization, candidate selection, and IND-enabling activities across multiple small molecule programs.
• Develop, validate, and implement disease-relevant animal models (efficacy, mechanistic, and tolerability) in collaboration with internal and external teams.
• Define translational pharmacology strategies, including PK/PD modeling, biomarker selection, and dose prediction frameworks to support clinical translation.
• Partner with DMPK, medicinal chemistry, and biology teams to integrate in vitro and in vivo data into holistic SAR and candidate progression decisions.
• Oversee vivarium staffing, scheduling, and day-to-day operations in collaboration with animal care personnel; serve as primary scientific liaison to the IACUC committee.
• Communicate study results clearly to internal stakeholders through high-quality data packages, presentations, and written reports.
• Contribute to IND filings, regulatory submissions, and due diligence activities as needed.
• Build and mentor a growing in vivo pharmacology team; contribute to a culture of scientific excellence and collaboration.

Requirements

• PhD in pharmacology, physiology, cancer biology, or a related field, with 8+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Deep expertise in small molecule in vivo pharmacology, including broad hands-on proficiency with rodent models of disease (oncology, metabolic, inflammation, or other therapeutic areas).
• Strong understanding of PK/PD principles and experience integrating pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to guide compound optimization.
• Comfort operating at both strategic and bench levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and build effective scientific teams.

Bonus points for

• Experience in cardiometabolic disease and/or aging biology
• Experience in toxicology
• Comfort with cutting-edge data analysis, large data sets, and pioneering AI approaches
• Startup-ready mindset: agile, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity in a fast-paced environment

Location & Logistics

Visa sponsorship available where applicable. We’ll work with you to make it happen.

This role will be located at Redwood LIFE in Redwood City, CA, a modern and stunning life sciences complex in the Bay Area.

Start date: immediate.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Compensation & benefits

We offer a highly competitive salary, substantial equity, and comprehensive benefits, including medical and dental coverage, company-provided lunch, 401k match, and others.

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