Team Lead/Associate Director in In vitro Pharmacology/Biology

Zealand Pharma • Cambridge, MA

1d

About The Position

As Team Lead/Associate Director in In vitro Pharmacology/Biology, this role will build and lead a high-performing team delivering fit-for-purpose assays to support discovery and preclinical candidate selection. The position will set scientific direction for biochemical, biophysical, and functional assay strategies, ensuring rigorous data generation and interpretation. Close cross-functional collaboration with Global Biology, Chemistry, in vivo Pharmacology, DMPK/Safety, and Formulation will be essential to deliver candidates with the desired pharmacological properties. The role will also help advance innovative platforms (e.g., automation, HTS, imaging) to increase quality, speed, and scalability.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Biology, Biochemistry, or a related field, with 5–8+ years of experience in biotech/pharmaceutical R&D including a supervisory role
• Demonstrated track record building and leading high-performing in vitro pharmacology/biology teams across multiple discovery programs
• Deep expertise across biochemical, biophysical, and functional assay formats, including assay validation and data-quality principles
• Strong experience with automation, liquid handling, HTS enablement, and imaging-based platforms
• Proven ability to oversee rigorous pharmacological data analysis and drive clear, decision-ready conclusions
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience engaging senior stakeholders and external partners

Nice To Haves

• Collaborative, structured, and scientifically curious leader with a strong quality mindset and the ability to balance strategic direction with practical execution.
• Ability to develop people, create clarity in complex portfolios, and foster an inclusive, high-performance team culture.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to communicate clearly with both technical and executive audiences.

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and develop an in vitro Pharmacology/Biology team, including hiring, coaching, mentoring, and hands-on scientific guidance
• Define assay strategy and oversee development, optimization, validation, and transfer of biochemical, biophysical, and functional assays to support screening and MoA studies
• Drive implementation and continuous improvement of lab automation, liquid handling workflows, HTS, and imaging-based assay platforms
• Ensure rigorous analysis, interpretation, and communication of pharmacological data to enable timely, high-quality decisions across programs
• Partner closely with Chemistry, in vivo Pharmacology, DMPK/Safety, and Formulation to align in vitro data packages with candidate-selection needs
• Represent in vitro pharmacology/biology in cross-functional governance and, as relevant, in interactions with external partners and collaborators

Benefits

• The applications will be reviewed as they come in.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree