Director, Head of Drug Discovery

Arcturus Therapeutics Inc•San Diego, CA

11h•$191,000 - $250,000

About The Position

We are seeking an innovative, highly motivated, and proven "Drug Hunter" at the Director or Senior Director level to join our Translational Biology team and lead the Target Identification and Drug Discovery efforts. The successful candidate will drive the expansion of our proprietary Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP)-mRNA nucleic acid delivery platform, specifically optimizing it for the delivery of therapeutic proteins to treat a broad range of human diseases. In this role, you will be responsible for the development of target ID and discovery strategies, managing a robust Discovery portfolio for therapeutic targets as we aggressively expand our franchise. The candidate will lead the prioritization of therapeutic targets based on scientific rationale, drug ability, medical need, risk, and competitive landscape.

Requirements

PhD with 12–15+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a heavy emphasis on drug target ID, validation, and preclinical discovery drug development.
Proven track record as a "Drug Hunter" leading discovery teams involved in identifying, validating, and successfully advancing novel drug targets/modalities into clinical development.
Deep familiarity with next-generation technologies to identify drug candidates and a clear track record of applying AI applications to drug development.
Proficient computer skills paired with a deep understanding of biostatistics to drive high-throughput screening analysis and predictive modeling.
Deep understanding of drug development, competitive landscapes, and experience managing a Discovery portfolio across multiple therapeutic areas (including rare and non-rare/common diseases).
Strong understanding of classical pharmacological principles and the drug discovery process, with the ability to support the assessment of potency and efficacy and contribute to predictions of human efficacy.
Extensive experience with animal models of disease, as well as the design and interpretation of in vitro and in vivo pharmacology studies to evaluate drug candidates and explore novel therapeutic hypotheses.
Experience utilizing pharmacodynamic endpoints, such as translational biomarkers or in vivo imaging, to guide program progression.
Ability to investigate, select, and/or develop new methods and technologies for project advancement and monitor workflows to enable seamless execution of studies.
Experience managing pharmacology and discovery research in a matrixed environment and establishing high-impact external academic and industry collaborations.
Demonstrated ability to translate overarching strategy into action; excellent analytical skills and an ability to communicate complex biological issues in a simple way to mitigate risks.
Strong sense of urgency, initiative, ethics/integrity, and innovation, alongside excellent presentation and oral/written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in mRNA therapeutics, RNA-based medicines, or LNP delivery platforms is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead a high-performing team to identify and interrogate novel target pathways, enriching the company pipeline and developing innovative research plans to validate targets.
Drive the expansion of our established discovery platform from rare disease targets into broader, more common disease indications.
Leverage next-generation technologies, deep biostatistics, and cutting-edge AI applications to identify drug candidates and manage complex digital workflows.
Formulate clear biological hypotheses, identify preclinical models that accurately represent target patient populations, and successfully advance projects toward clinical development.
Partner across the full spectrum of development activities and project teams to advance ground-breaking, LNP-mRNA-based new drug candidates.
Cultivate strong internal and external relationships with key stakeholders, utilizing excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills to orchestrate realistic, efficient program plans.