Scientific Director, Discovery Pharmaceutics

About the role

The Scientific Director, Discovery Pharmaceutics is a key member of the Global Discovery Pharmaceutics team within the Pharmaceutical Development & Supply (PPDS) organization of Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (JJIM). This position is based in Spring House, PA.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert scientific leadership to enable informed molecule design and developability decisions.
• Collaborate in close partnership with chemistry, biology, pharmacokinetics and pre-clinical safety teams.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary scientific team, building technical depth, mentoring talent, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Develop innovative screening tools and formulation approaches, with the capability of meeting rapid cycle times and miniaturization, to influence and enable early discovery.
• Enhance digital tools, data analytics and computational approaches to support developability assessments and improve the quality and speed of decision making in discovery programs.
• Influence compound design early to ensure lead candidates have the desired properties for specific drug delivery platforms and technologies to ensure patient convenience and compliance.
• Enable and overcome exposure challenges for critical tool compounds or non-optimized leads with enabling formulations in support of PK, PK/PD, translational pharmacology and tolerability studies.
• Influence risk management and mitigation.

Requirements

• A PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience OR a Master's degree with 18+ years of relevant experience is required.
• Demonstrated people leadership and talent development, including technical and non-technical coaching and mentoring is required.
• Ability to drive and get results through leading others is required.
• Strong understanding of Discovery and Pharmaceutical Development including ADME, Preclinical Safety evaluation and Drug Development is required.
• Proven experience in developability assessments for synthetic modalities in the area of molecular design, interpretation of pharmaceutical properties in relation to exposure and toxicology data, setting formulation strategies is required.
• Track record of scientific contributions is required.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills are required.
• Strong collaboration and networking capabilities are required.
• Willingness to take informed risks or leave appropriate knowledge gaps, as needed to maintain speed and program progression.

Qualifications

• Education qualifications include a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience OR a Master's degree with 18+ years of relevant experience.

Skills

• Experience and skills include demonstrated people leadership and talent development, ability to drive and get results through leading others, strong understanding of Discovery and Pharmaceutical Development including ADME, Preclinical Safety evaluation and Drug Development, proven experience in developability assessments for synthetic modalities in the area of molecular design, interpretation of pharmaceutical properties in relation to exposure and toxicology data, setting formulation strategies, track record of scientific contributions, excellent communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills, strong collaboration and networking capabilities, willingness to take informed risks or leave appropriate knowledge gaps, as needed to maintain speed and program progression.

Benefits

Johnson & Johnson offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and well-being of our employees. This includes medical, dental, vision coverage, retirement savings plans, paid time off, and more.

Pay

Competitive compensation and benefits package tailored to the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Schedule

Full-time position with standard business hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.