Executive Director – Oncology Discovery Chemistry – Oncology Targeted Discovery

Executive Director – Oncology Discovery Chemistry – Oncology Targeted Discovery

Requirements

• PhD or equivalent degree in chemistry and at least 15 years relevant experience as a medicinal chemist
• Experience developing ADCs and other drug targeting approaches
• Proven track record of portfolio delivery and advancing projects through all phases of the drug discovery process
• Proven people leadership skills and experience leading significant sized medicinal chemistry groups / departments
• Executive level communication skills with ability to work closely with partners across the enterprise and build relationships with senior stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Senior leader, accountable for leading a global discovery chemistry organization focused on the delivery of the ADC and RC oncology portfolios
• Accountable for developing and executing the ADC and RC strategy including next generation linker-payload combinations
• Provide insightful medicinal chemistry critique and portfolio oversight across the small molecule, ADC and RC oncology portfolios
• Provide inspirational line leadership, helping to coach and develop the next generation of drug hunters across the global chemistry and DMPK organization
• Member of the global chemistry & DMPK senior leadership team, contributing to the operational management of the broader department (budgets, hiring, portfolio resourcing, communications, health & safety) as well as helping to shape our culture globally
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the department including establishing novel small-molecule / synthetic platforms and applying these to future oncology projects
• Maintain a high degree of understanding and awareness of key internal and external developments relevant to the design and optimization of next generation targeted approaches (ADCs, RC and SM drug conjugates)
• Work collaboratively with key expert partner functions across discovery and early development (e.g. discovery & pharmaceutical sciences) to drive scientific excellence, prioritize resources and focus activities to maximize portfolio acceleration
• Represent the function at relevant governance meetings including the Oncology Research Board, providing expert scientific input and critique to support project delivery/prioritization
• Provide scientific leadership across the department to inspire innovation, maintain the highest levels of scientific rigor and drive organizational performance
• Work with leading academic institutions, external partners and collaborators to develop business critical science and platforms aligned to our strategic goals
• Maintain and enhance the scientific reputation of the department through high impact publications, presentations at key scientific symposia and building strategic external relationships

Preferred Qualifications

• Expert in drug design concepts and contemporaneous knowledge of novel approaches and modalities relevant to small molecule & ADC drug discovery
• Excellent cross-functional knowledge and expert knowledge of the drug discovery process from target selection through to the nomination of a clinical drug candidate and transition into early development
• Strategically aware and able to identify, develop & apply new technologies and capabilities across the function and wider enterprise
• Experience coaching and developing key talent
• Industry-wide reputation with a significant body of peer-reviewed publications & presentations
• Awareness of the competitive landscape across oncology