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

Roche • South San Francisco, CA

19d • $364,140 - $449,820

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 also advances the development and deployment of AI and other computational methods across RED. The position builds and deploys AI methodologies, models, and computational frameworks for antibody design, protein engineering, and small-molecule design, partnering with Discovery, Early Development, Therapeutic Area leads, and Translational teams to apply these methods across the portfolio.

The role sets scientific strategy, develops an organization of AI scientists, machine learning engineers, and computational researchers, and establishes partnerships across gRED, pRED, and the external AI community. It oversees talent, infrastructure, budget, resource allocation, and platform capabilities, while integrating generative AI, machine learning, predictive modeling, foundation models, autonomous agents, active learning, and AI-driven workflows into drug discovery programs. The leader is expected to balance portfolio-tied work with frontier research and foster a collaborative, high-performance culture focused on results for patients.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree 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 department mission and vision, and adapt that vision and the 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, enabling open speaking, and fostering continuous improvement through feedback.
• Ability to prioritize collaboration with gRED and pRED partners and leverage synergies within the CSCoE.
• Ability to take ownership and maintain focus on delivering portfolio results for patients.
• High flexibility and frequent international business travel are required.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the AI-driven drug discovery strategy, roadmap, and long-term vision, balancing technology development with portfolio impact.
• Set the strategy for Roche/Genentech’s Lab-in-the-Loop with RED partners to support portfolio decision milestones, especially hit identification and lead optimization.
• Embed AI in discovery programs across gRED and pRED in partnership with therapeutic area and discovery leaders.
• Champion hypothesis-driven drug discovery by integrating predictive computational methods, antibody design, protein engineering, and medicinal chemistry.
• Track external advances, including co-folding and generative models, and determine where to build, adopt, or partner.
• Manage a balanced AI investment portfolio spanning portfolio-tied methods and frontier research, with distinct resources, success criteria, and time horizons.
• Build and lead the global AIDD organization, hiring, mentoring, and managing AI/ML scientists, engineers, and their managers.
• Set organizational strategy and make decisions about talent, infrastructure, resourcing, and capability development.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of computational research across RED as a CSCoE leadership team member.
• Manage the AIDD organization as a global operation, including budget ownership, resource allocation across sites, organizational design, and leadership operating rhythm.
• Drive 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 discovery programs.
• Set the foundation-model strategy, determining where proprietary models offer durable differentiation and where open models suffice, and develop shared capabilities for portfolio programs and frontier research.
• Integrate autonomous agent systems, high-throughput active learning, and AI-driven workflows, and support continuous upskilling across discovery teams.
• Build a high-performance culture based on trust, feedback, ownership, collaboration, and results delivery.
• Optimize global resource allocation and identify, build, and sustain computational and data science capabilities by accessing premier talent pools.
• Own the strategy for hiring, developing, and retaining elite global talent.
• Travel frequently internationally as required for the 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