Director of Toxicology

RPM ReSearch•Seattle, WA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

RPM ReSearch is partnering with a growing preclinical drug development organization to identify a Director of Toxicology for its Everett, Washington facility. This is an opportunity for an accomplished toxicologist to lead Study Directors, remain connected to the science, work directly with sponsors, and influence how complex development programs are executed. The organization is willing to look beyond titles and degrees, considering candidates who may already be a Director, an Associate Director ready for more responsibility, or an accomplished Senior Study Director who has demonstrated scientific judgment and people leadership. The role involves leading a team of approximately five Study Directors responsible for in vivo preclinical programs, with responsibilities extending beyond supervision to include scientific and professional development of Study Directors, guidance on complex studies, review of results, support for GLP and regulatory compliance, and ensuring timely, scientifically sound work for sponsors. Directors occasionally lead studies to stay connected to study execution and processes. The position is based in Everett, but the individual will join a broader drug development organization with multiple research facilities and capabilities across preclinical research, bioanalysis, clinical research, and drug product formulation and manufacturing. The broader scientific environment includes expertise in various therapeutic modalities, species, study types, and specialized capabilities. Success in this role involves continuing to execute excellent work, ensuring studies are successful, data is interpreted appropriately, reports are timely, and sponsors receive consistent communication and confidence in the science. The role encourages continuous improvement of processes and development of scientists. Sponsors are an integral part of the job, requiring scientific quality and client experience. The Director will serve as a scientific and relationship resource for sponsors, helping to solve technical problems, explain findings, guide next steps, and communicate the organization's capabilities. The company is looking for a combination of significant in vivo toxicology or safety assessment experience, experience conducting GLP and development-enabling studies, strong understanding of study design, execution, interpretation, and reporting, experience leading/mentoring scientific teams, ability to communicate credibly with sponsors, scientific judgment, understanding of quality and regulatory expectations, ability to work across functions, and a genuine interest in developing people. CRO experience is relevant but not strictly required. Educational backgrounds from Bachelor's to Doctoral/Veterinary degrees are considered, with experience being paramount. The role is open to established Directors, Associate Directors ready for more responsibility, and experienced Senior Study Directors/Toxicologists who demonstrate leadership ability. The position offers a middle ground between small specialist organizations and large, potentially siloed ones, providing scientific breadth while keeping leaders connected to teams, studies, and sponsors. The growing organization offers opportunities for expanded influence, responsibilities, and professional development. The base salary range is $130,000–$200,000, with final compensation reflecting experience, GLP study experience, leadership scope, sponsor-facing experience, and responsibility level. The position is on-site in Everett, Washington, with relocation assistance considered.

Requirements

Significant in vivo toxicology or safety assessment experience
Experience conducting GLP and development-enabling studies
Strong understanding of study design, execution, interpretation, and reporting
Experience leading, mentoring, or developing Study Directors or scientific teams
The ability to communicate directly and credibly with sponsors
Scientific judgment when studies become complicated
Understanding of quality and regulatory expectations
Ability to work effectively across scientific, operational, and quality functions
Ability to recognize weaknesses in processes and improve them
Genuine interest in developing people rather than simply supervising them
Bachelor's, master's, doctoral, veterinary, and other relevant scientific educational backgrounds can be considered.
Experience matters.
Successfully led development-enabling toxicology studies.
Understand what it takes to execute GLP work.
Can lead scientists who do this work.
Can develop people.
Can communicate credibly with a sponsor.
Can make good decisions when the science gets complicated.
Managed two people exceptionally well.
Accumulated the scientific experience, judgment, sponsor exposure, and leadership ability to make this their next move.

Nice To Haves

CRO experience is particularly relevant because of the combination of scientific, sponsor-facing, regulatory, and operational responsibilities involved in this position.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of approximately five Study Directors responsible for in vivo preclinical programs.
Develop Study Directors scientifically and professionally.
Provide guidance when studies become complicated.
Review study results and comprehensive summaries.
Support GLP and regulatory compliance.
Ensure sponsors receive scientifically sound work on schedule.
Occasionally lead studies to stay connected to study execution and processes.
Identify and improve processes that could work better.
Develop scientists through coaching, reviewing complex findings, exposing them to sponsor conversations, and helping them understand business implications.
Serve as a scientific and relationship resource for sponsors when needed.
Help solve technical problems for sponsors.
Explain unexpected findings to sponsors.
Help sponsors think through next steps.
Speak with prospective clients about the organization's capabilities.
Communicate directly and credibly with sponsors.
Make good decisions when the science gets complicated.
Recognize weaknesses in processes and improve them.
Develop people rather than simply supervising them.