Global Head - Small Molecule In Vitro Pharmacology (Automation)

Core responsibilities

• Global strategy for in vitro pharmacology across small and large molecule programs; define and lead the global IVP strategy, aligning capabilities to R&D portfolio priorities and company objectives.
• Organize and lead a high performing, geographically distributed team of directors, managers and scientists, and operations staff; recruit, mentor, and develop leaders.
• Assay standards: set and enforce best practices for assay design, validation, miniaturization, throughput, automation readiness, and reproducibility.
• Operational excellence: establish scalable screening cascades for HTS, hit triage, SAR/DMTA profiling.
• Translational integration: ensure quantitative pharmacology readouts support hit to lead, lead optimization, candidate selection, and IND enabling decisions; serve as a key cross-functional leader in alignment with ADME, DMPK, translational sciences, and clinical biomarker teams.
• Technology investment: lead scouting and implementation for the technology infrastructure to support a highly integrated and AI-leveraged capability.
• Metrics and reporting: define team KPIs such as assay turnaround, miniaturized assay performance, data quality, and predictive value; report impact to senior R&D leadership and the executive team.
• External representation: Act as a primary external scientific leader for IVP; represent the company at alliances, conferences, advisory boards, and regulatory interactions and contribute to publications and patents.
• Business Accountability: Own resource allocation, investment decisions, and budget for the global in vitro pharmacology function; make trade-offs across programs to optimize enterprise value and pipeline progression.
• Capability and culture building: establish a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement; drive adoption of new technologies, methodologies, and ways of working

Required qualifications

• Expected: PhD in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or related discipline with 15+ years industry experience, including progressive leadership at the discovery and early development interface.
• Proven executive leadership track record running discovery pharmacology teams with global responsibilities, budgets, and strategic outcomes.
• Deep hands-on expertise in in vitro pharmacology including biochemical and cell-based assays, target engagement, orthogonal counter-screens, and quantitative dose response analysis.
• Experience with assay miniaturization, automation, informatics and HTS readiness.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence cross functional and executive audiences.
• Proven ability to hire, develop and retain senior scientific leaders.

Preferred experience

• Significant leadership experience in biotech/pharmaceutical organizations with responsibility for global teams, budgets, and cross-functional program outcomes.
• Experience with IND enabling programs and regulatory interactions.
• Familiarity with high content imaging label free techniques TR FRET SPR BLI and other biophysical modalities at scale.
• Use of advanced analytics data pipelines or machine learning to improve assay QC and predictive performance.
• Background in therapeutic areas such as oncology, neuroscience or immunology and designing translational PD and biomarker strategies.
• Prior success in global matrix organizations and leading organizational change.