Associate Director, Discovery Biology – Protein Homeostasis TRC

Bristol Myers Squibb • San Diego, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center (PH TRC) at Bristol Myers Squibb is a premier oncology research engine focused on delivering transformative therapeutics to patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. The TRC is built on BMS's world-class expertise in targeted protein degradation (TPD) and induced proximity technologies, leveraging these paradigm-shifting modalities to attack previously undruggable oncogenic targets and overcome mechanisms of resistance to existing cancer therapies. Our work spans the full arc of discovery from target identification and biological validation to the advancement of first-in-class degraders and molecular glues into clinical development.

The Discovery Biology Department within the PH TRC is seeking an exceptionally talented and driven Associate Director with a strong and proven track record in drug discovery within the TPD and induced proximity space, combined with deep expertise in cancer disease biology, particularly in oncology and/or hematological malignancies. This is a pivotal scientific leadership role for a candidate who brings both a rigorous mechanistic understanding of protein degradation biology and an intimate knowledge of the molecular and cellular underpinnings of cancer. The successful candidate will be a recognized expert in their field, capable of translating deep disease biology insights into compelling target hypotheses and advancing novel degrader programs from concept to preclinical proof-of-concept. You will lead a team of discovery biologists, partner closely with medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and translational teams, and serve as a key scientific voice in shaping the TPD pipeline strategy at BMS.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree 12+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Master’s Degree 10+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• Or Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences 8+ years of academic and / or industry experience
• 4+ years of leadership experience

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field, with at least 8 years of relevant industry or postdoctoral experience with significant focus on drug discovery in the TPD and/or induced proximity space. Master's or Bachelor's degrees with equivalent experience will be considered, though an advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated and deep expertise in targeted protein degradation (TPD) drug discovery, including hands-on experience with PROTACs, molecular glues, bifunctional degraders, or other induced proximity modalities from early-stage target identification through to preclinical candidate nomination.
• Proven track record and authoritative knowledge of oncology and/or hematological malignancy disease biology, including molecular mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression, resistance pathways, and clinically relevant patient subpopulations. Experience with AML, MDS, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or other hematologic cancers is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of E3 ubiquitin ligase biology, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) pharmacology, and the structural/biochemical basis of ternary complex formation.
• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture, advanced molecular and cellular techniques (CRISPR/Cas9, shRNA, lentiviral systems, western blotting, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry), and development of disease-relevant models including patient-derived and 3D/organoid tumor systems.
• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex, milestone-driven drug discovery programs.
• Skilled in scientific data analysis tools (GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, Excel, PowerPoint) with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a strong record of scientific publications, conference presentations, and/or patents in the TPD and oncology fields.
• Proven ability to mentor, motivate, and develop scientific talent, with a strong commitment to quality, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead highly complex, high-impact TPD and induced proximity drug discovery programs, exercising significant scientific autonomy in defining objectives, prioritizing targets, and driving portfolio decisions.
• Direct cross-functional project teams in the design, execution, and interpretation of preclinical research programs, with a clear emphasis on oncology and hematologic malignancy indications.
• Develop and champion department strategy for target identification and validation, mechanism-of-action (MoA) characterization, and disease positioning, with a particular focus on leveraging induced proximity biology to address unmet medical need in cancer.
• Drive go/no-go decision-making at key program milestones and ensure optimal resource allocation to advance the most promising therapeutic programs.
• Serve as a key scientific thought leader within the TRC, contributing to both near-term program execution and long-term portfolio vision.
• Apply deep knowledge of TPD modalities (including molecular glues, bifunctional degraders, and next-generation induced proximity platforms) to guide target selection and therapeutic hypothesis generation in oncology and hematology.
• Leverage a thorough understanding of cancer disease biology, including oncogenic drivers, tumor microenvironment, resistance mechanisms, and patient stratification, to inform biologically differentiated program strategies.
• Oversee the development and optimization of advanced cell-based and molecular assays supporting drug discovery and translational research, including novel protein degrader characterization, E3 ubiquitin ligase engagement, ternary complex biology, and 3D/organoid tumor models reflective of hematologic and solid tumor disease contexts.
• Guide mechanistic studies and target validation experiments using state-of-the-art technologies (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, inducible shRNA, lentiviral systems, proteomics, functional and biochemical assays).
• Ensure data integrity, high-quality reporting, and presentation of results to internal governance boards and external scientific forums.
• Foster strong partnerships with internal groups — including medicinal chemistry, structural biology, bioinformatics, translational, and clinical teams — to integrate disease biology insights into TPD compound design and optimization.
• Engage proactively with external collaborators (academia, biotech, CROs) to access cutting-edge induced proximity technologies and expand biological understanding of oncology targets.
• Champion the adoption of innovative tools and platforms, including proteomic profiling, phenotypic screening, and patient-derived models, to enhance the translational relevance and clinical success of degrader programs.
• Directly manage and mentor a team of discovery biologists, providing scientific guidance, goal-setting, performance coaching, and career development support.
• Foster a team culture defined by scientific rigor, intellectual curiosity, and a shared passion for developing breakthrough oncology medicines.
• Promote multidisciplinary collaboration and integration of diverse scientific perspectives to accelerate program progression and departmental innovation.
• Prepare and review scientific reports, regulatory documents, publications, and patent applications related to TPD programs and oncology target biology.
• Communicate findings and strategic updates effectively to internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership and external scientific audiences.
• Ensure all research activities comply with regulatory guidelines and uphold BMS standards for scientific rigor, reproducibility, and integrity.

Benefits

• Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
• Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
• Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
• Work-life benefits include: Paid Time Off US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees) Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays Based on eligibility, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day. All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.
• Eligibility Disclosure: The summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees