Executive Director, Therapeutic Applications & Portfolio Team Lead

Generate Biomedicines•Somerville, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Generate:Biomedicines is seeking a visionary and execution-focused Executive Director to lead new Therapeutic Applications (TApps) and serve as a Portfolio Team Lead within our AI-enabled drug discovery engine. This role represents an evolution from the former Head of Early Discovery Biology model. Rather than leading all early discovery activities functionally, this leader will: Define and advance new therapeutic applications enabled by Generate’s platform Translate emerging platform capabilities into differentiated drug discovery programs Lead cross-functional portfolio execution as asset team leader Build and develop focused biological strategy aligned to selected TApps This leader may drive therapeutic applications in areas such as ion channels or other complex target classes, depending on portfolio needs and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Chief Scientific Officer , this Executive Director operates at enterprise scope, shaping pipeline direction, influencing platform investments, and driving programs through key inflection points toward candidate nomination and beyond. This is a highly cross-functional leadership role at the intersection of biology, AI/ML-enabled protein generation, and therapeutic strategy. This position will be located in Somerville, MA and be required to be onsite each week.

Requirements

PhD or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences discipline is required.
~15+ years of biotech/pharma experience spanning discovery and early development.
Demonstrated success advancing biologic programs from early ideation through lead candidate selection (clinical-stage experience preferred).
Experience leading cross-functional drug discovery teams in a matrixed environment.
Proven ability to translate emerging technologies into differentiated therapeutic programs.
Experience managing and developing scientific leaders and teams.
Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
Experience in complex target biology (e.g., ion channels, membrane proteins, difficult-to-drug targets) strongly preferred.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI/ML-driven drug discovery or computational protein design.
Experience across multiple therapeutic areas.
IND-enabling or early clinical program leadership.
External scientific visibility (publications, invited talks, advisory roles).

Responsibilities

Therapeutic Application Strategy Define and drive the vision for new Therapeutic Applications (TApps) enabled by Generate’s Generative Biology™ platform.
Identify high-value disease hypotheses and differentiated target opportunities across therapeutic areas.
Partner closely with the Technology Organization to align platform capabilities with TApp biology needs.
Establish iterative feedback loops between technology development and program progression.
Lead opportunity assessment, biological validation strategy, and competitive differentiation.
Shape how complex or previously intractable biology is addressed through AI-enabled approaches.
Portfolio Team Leadership Serve as Portfolio Team Lead for one or more Therapeutic Applications (e.g., ion channel TApp or other emerging biology areas).
Lead highly cross-functional asset teams spanning Biology, Protein Sciences, Technology, Data Science/ML, DMPK, Translational Sciences, and Early Development.
Define integrated asset strategies from TApp conception through lead candidate selection.
Own program-level prioritization, trade-offs, and milestone execution.
Ensure alignment with enterprise portfolio strategy and resource planning.
Present strategy, risks, and milestone progress to executive leadership.
Represent programs internally and externally as scientific spokesperson where appropriate.
Scientific & Organizational Leadership Build and develop high-performing scientists aligned to TApp strategy.
Set a high bar for scientific rigor, reproducibility, and innovation.
Foster a culture of productive challenge, data-driven decision-making, and digital fluency.
Recruit and mentor emerging scientific leaders.
Enable strong collaboration between platform teams and pipeline teams.
Enterprise & Strategic Impact Contribute to R&D leadership discussions on portfolio balance and long-term strategy.
Influence investment decisions across enabling technologies and therapeutic focus areas.
Help define Generate’s differentiated approach to AI-enabled therapeutic development.
Act as an internal thought partner to the CSO on emerging biology opportunities.
Decisions in this role will materially impact company-level objectives and long-term pipeline value.
Drive Results & Accountability: Set ambitious portfolio and TApp goals and ensure disciplined execution.
Build High-Performing, Diverse Teams: Recruit and develop exceptional talent; foster inclusive, collaborative culture.
Lead Strategically at Enterprise Scale: Align TApp strategy with long-term corporate vision and portfolio objectives.
Encourage Adaptability & Smart Risk-Taking: Advance bold hypotheses and innovative target classes through calculated experimentation.
Communicate with Transparency & Courage: Provide clear, data-driven updates and navigate complex trade-offs with executive stakeholders.