Chief Scientific Officer, EDI

University of Rochester

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at the Empire Discovery Institute (EDI), part of the University of Rochester, will implement EDI’s strategic research and development roadmap and provide exemplary scientific input into EDI’s research and development programs. This role supports the overall strategy set by institutional leaders and leads the research, translational, and preclinical development of new drug candidates. The CSO will oversee the process from target selection, hit-to-lead identification/optimization, drug candidate selection, Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies, to early clinical development. This position requires leadership in medicinal chemistry within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and a thorough understanding of the drug discovery and development process. The CSO will also be responsible for articulating EDI’s strategy to research collaborators, investors, and pharmaceutical industry partners.

Requirements

PhD degree or higher in science and/or related medical field and 10 years of experience within the pharmaceutical and/or biotech industry, including experience in multiple therapeutic areas with small molecule and biologics required.
Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Proven experience in successfully progressing drug candidates from discovery to IND and early clinical development required.
Demonstrated management and leadership skills, with expertise in drug discovery and development process, with strategic thinking abilities, and strong verbal and written communication skills required.
Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment to accelerate strategic and project decision-making, and evidence for successful cross-disciplinary stakeholder negotiation to drive portfolio and project results required.
Demonstrated ability to translate research into pathway and target identification and validation required.
Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people, the capacity to listen, and the ability to gain trust and inspire others to further the Institute’s mission and priorities required.
Ability to prioritize, delegate, and oversee a complex organizational environment that includes collaborating with multiple academic research institutions, corporate partners, venture capital firms, research foundations, external vendors/CROs, and governmental agencies required.
Capable of independently assuming project and licensing evaluation leadership roles to define and achieve EDI’s objectives and portfolio priorities required.
Ability to be fiscally responsible and to lead decision-making in resource planning, finance, project management, and outsourced CRO relationships required.

Responsibilities

Implements the Empire Discovery Institute’s (EDI) strategic research and development roadmap and provides exemplary scientific input into EDI’s research and development programs to support the overall strategy set by institutional leaders.
Leads the research, translational, and preclinical development of new drug candidates from target selection, hit-to-lead identification/optimization, drug candidate selection, Investigational New Drug (IND) enabling studies, to early clinical development.
Leads medicinal chemistry efforts in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry and maintains a thorough understanding of the drug discovery and development process.
Articulates EDI’s strategy to research collaborators, investors, and pharmaceutical industry partners.
Provides scientific leadership in identifying and developing novel preclinical drug development opportunities in close collaboration with academic partners and investigators.
Leads and manages EDI’s drug discovery efforts through a variety of approaches, including medicinal chemistry, high-throughput screening (HTS), computer-aided drug design (CADD), and fragment-based drug discovery approaches.
Establishes the department’s strategic roadmap for drug candidate selection, advancement, out-licensing, and commercialization in collaboration with EDI’s CEO and scientific advisory panel.
Provides scientific input, guidance, and oversight of external vendors working to establish, optimize, and apply molecular and cell-based assays, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology models, and biomarker approaches to advance EDI programs.
Delivers formal presentations at medical, scientific, strategic partnering, and fundraising meetings on behalf of EDI.
Oversees budget planning and negotiating, in collaboration with EDI’s CEO, in addition to monitoring spending and general fiscal responsibilities.
Other duties as assigned.