Vice President, Global Head of AI for Drug Discovery (AIDD)

Genentech • New York City, NY

18d

About The Position

The Vice President and Global Head of AI for Drug Discovery (AIDD) leads a global artificial intelligence and machine learning organization focused on designing therapeutics across Roche/Genentech Research and Early Development (RED). As a member of the Computational Sciences Center of Excellence (CSCoE) leadership team, this role helps advance the development and deployment of AI and computational methods across RED. The position builds, scales, and deploys AI methodologies, models, and computational frameworks for antibody design, protein engineering, and small-molecule design, partnering with Discovery, Early Development, Therapeutic Area, and Translational teams to enable application across the portfolio.

The role defines the AI-driven drug discovery strategy and roadmap, leads the organization’s scientific and operational direction, and sets priorities for talent, infrastructure, resourcing, and capability development. It steers Lab-in-the-Loop strategy, foundation model capabilities, generative AI, machine learning, predictive modeling, autonomous agents, active learning, and AI-driven workflows. The Global Head is also responsible for embedding AI into discovery programs, balancing portfolio-focused methods with frontier research, and translating AI advances into drug discovery outcomes.

The position builds and mentors a high-performing global team and organization, fosters collaboration and continuous improvement, and owns budget and resource allocation across sites. It works closely with gRED, pRED, CSCoE colleagues, and the external AI community. The role is based in New York, San Francisco, or Basel and requires high flexibility and frequent international business travel.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computational Chemistry, Machine Learning, Computational Biology, or a related quantitative field.
• Familiarity with drug discovery, molecule design, and therapeutic discovery.
• Expertise in modern artificial intelligence, deep learning architectures, and generative models; ideally also molecular modeling and computational drug discovery.
• Demonstrated experience advancing state-of-the-art AI infrastructure.
• Record of leading foundation model or large-scale engineering efforts, or building research groups recognized in the external AI community.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and foster global collaboration.
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and bring clarity to team objectives.
• Ability to define and communicate a clear departmental mission and vision and pivot the vision and team quickly in a rapidly shifting and growing environment.
• Track record of operating a large, multi-site organization, including budget ownership, organizational design, and building engineering or platform functions.
• Commitment to building trust and fostering open communication and continuous improvement through feedback.
• Commitment to collaboration with gRED and pRED partners and leveraging synergies within the CSCoE.
• Takes ownership and maintains a strong focus on delivering portfolio results for the benefit of patients.
• High flexibility and willingness to undertake frequent international business travel.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the AI-driven drug discovery strategy, roadmap, and long-term vision.
• Set the strategy for Roche/Genentech’s Lab-in-the-Loop efforts with partners across RED, supporting portfolio decision milestones such as hit identification and lead optimization.
• Embed AI into discovery programs across gRED and pRED in partnership with therapeutic area and discovery leaders, and drive measurable portfolio impact.
• Integrate predictive computational methods, antibody design, protein engineering, and medicinal chemistry into hypothesis-driven drug discovery.
• Track external developments, including co-folding and generative models, and determine where to build, adopt, or partner.
• Manage a balanced portfolio of AI investments spanning portfolio-tied methods and frontier research, with distinct resourcing, success criteria, and time horizons.
• Build, lead, hire, and mentor the global AIDD organization, including AI/ML scientists, engineers, and managers.
• Set organizational strategy and make decisions about talent, infrastructure, resourcing, and capability development.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of computational research across Research and Early Development as a CSCoE leadership team member.
• Run AIDD as a global operation, owning budget and resource allocation across sites, designing the organizational structure, and establishing a leadership operating rhythm.
• Drive sustained investment in engineering and platform capabilities supporting research and portfolio work.
• Establish AIDD as a central engine for applying generative AI, machine learning, and predictive modeling to structural biology, molecular design, and lead optimization.
• Build, scale, and deploy proprietary foundation models, deep learning architectures, and automated design loops in core discovery programs.
• Set the foundation model strategy, distinguishing where proprietary models offer durable differentiation from where open models are sufficient, and build shared capabilities.
• Spearhead integration of autonomous agent systems, high-throughput active learning, and AI-driven workflows, while supporting continuous upskilling across discovery teams.
• Build a high-performance culture based on trust, feedback, ownership, collaboration, and results delivery.
• Optimize global resource allocation according to strategic priorities and develop and sustain distinctive computational and data science capabilities.
• Own the strategy for hiring, developing, and retaining elite global talent.
• Travel frequently internationally as required for this global role.

Benefits

• A discretionary annual bonus may be available based on individual and Company performance.
• The position qualifies for company benefits detailed at the link provided in the posting.

What This Job Offers

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