Director, Biology-Discovery
About The Position
The Director will lead the Screening and High Throughput Biology group within Quantitative Biosciences Early Discovery. This role sets the group’s scientific direction and oversees a team of approximately eight scientists and associates, applying high-throughput biology capabilities to drug discovery programs across oncology, immunology, neuroscience, metabolic disease, ophthalmology, and infectious disease. The Director works in a highly matrixed environment with Discovery Chemistry, Discovery Biology, DMPK, and in vivo pharmacology, delivering decision-enabling data. The position emphasizes leadership of lab-facing personnel and requires regular onsite presence (4+ days per week) in Rahway, New Jersey. The successful candidate brings deep expertise in high-throughput biology platforms and broad experience in target identification and validation, lead discovery, and optimization. They will guide the group’s priorities and standards, develop its team and technology portfolio, and ensure screening and profiling results inform program decisions.
Requirements
- Ph.D. with 10+ years in Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Biophysics, or a related discipline; alternatively, a BS/MS with 15+ years of directly applicable industry experience and demonstrated scientific leadership may be considered.
- 10+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery.
- Demonstrated expertise in high-throughput biology platforms and hands-on experience in one or more of CRISPR screening, transcriptional profiling at scale such as DRUG-seq, high-content imaging, cell painting, or development of complex cellular models.
- Track record of contributing to early drug discovery programs.
- Experience designing and executing research operating plans in support of lead discovery.
- Direct people-management experience building, leading, and developing teams of scientists in a lab-facing environment.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Quantitative rigor in experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of cell-based assay pharmacology.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to distill complex datasets into clear recommendations for stakeholders.
- Required skills listed: Assay Development, Cell Biology, Drug Development, Drug Screening, Functional Genomics, High-Throughput Screening, Laboratory Automation, and People Management.
Nice To Haves
- Background in quantitative sciences, including quantitative pharmacology, biochemistry, or systems-level/mechanistic approaches to compound characterization.
- Experience managing external collaborations, including CROs and academic partnerships.
- Familiarity with AI/ML tools, data science approaches, and laboratory automation applied to cell-based drug discovery.
- Program or project team leadership experience beyond people management.
- Scientific contributions demonstrated through publications, patents, or recognized internal impact.
Responsibilities
- Work with department leadership to set the group’s scientific vision and strategy, including priorities, success metrics, and standards for data quality and delivery.
- Lead, develop, and retain a high-performing team through accountability, coaching, mentorship, and career development for PhD scientists, MS/BS associates, and contractors.
- Apply high-throughput biology platforms, including CRISPR-based approaches, DRUG-seq, high-content imaging, cell painting, and complex biological models, to enable target identification, hit finding, compound profiling, and lead optimization.
- Design and execute research operating plans that translate program strategy into actionable experimental work streams.
- Interpret screening and profiling data quantitatively and mechanistically, grounded in pharmacology, to inform compound progression decisions.
- Partner cross-functionally to integrate high-throughput biology deliverables into program-level decision-making.
- Foster scientific rigor, curiosity, and data-driven decision-making within the group.
- Build and maintain internal and external networks, including managing CRO relationships and academic collaborations.
- Evolve the group’s technology portfolio and capabilities in response to changing portfolio needs.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision healthcare and other insurance benefits for employees and family.
- Retirement benefits, including 401(k).
- Paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.
- Eligible for an annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
