Director, Biology San Diego, CA (onsite), Confidential Search
About The Position
A newly established, well-funded biotechnology company in San Diego is building a precision medicine pipeline in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — one designed to move beyond today's empirical treatment model toward therapies that both calm inflammation and actively promote tissue healing. This company was founded by the scientific and drug development team behind one of the most significant recent breakthroughs in IBD: the discovery of a novel inflammatory pathway and the antibody therapy that targets it, which advanced from academic research into late-stage clinical development and was ultimately acquired for over $10 billion. That team is now applying the same precision biology approach to the next generation of IBD targets. If you want to work at the earliest stage of a company with a proven playbook — founders who have already taken a first-in-class therapy from bench to clinic — this is a rare seat.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Cancer Biology, or a related field, with 10+ years of industry drug discovery/development experience (M.S. with 15+ years also considered)
- Track record contributing meaningfully to drug programs from discovery through IND-enabling studies, ideally across both small molecule and biologics modalities
- Hands-on experience designing assays (biochemical, biophysical, or cell-based) that inform real discovery decisions
- Experience with lead profiling, candidate nomination, and integrating biology with PK and safety data
- Background leading translational research — PK/PD, efficacy models, biomarkers, target engagement
- A collaborative style: someone who brings people along rather than working in isolation, and who's comfortable with the ambiguity and pace of an early-stage company
- Strong communication skills — you'll be presenting to senior leadership and coordinating across a global network of partners and stakeholders
Responsibilities
- Lead the biology strategy for one or more drug development programs, partnering closely with translational, DMPK, CMC, and toxicology teams
- Design and oversee assays that characterize how a drug candidate engages its target and produces its intended biological effect
- Contribute to lead profiling and candidate selection — helping decide which molecules move forward and why
- Design translational studies that connect what happens in the lab to what will matter in patients (PK/PD, efficacy, biomarkers)
- Help guide IND-enabling studies (GLP toxicology, safety pharmacology, PK) in partnership with regulatory and CRO/CDMO partners
- Represent the science to company leadership, helping inform portfolio strategy and risk decisions
- Translate complex biology into clear direction for a small, high-trust, fast-moving team
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
