Director, DMPK
Denali Therapeutics
September 02, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Key Accountabilities / Core Job Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a group within the Nonclinical Safety Assessment and DMPK organization, providing strategic, project-focused oversight to advance drug candidates from Discovery through CTA/IND-enabling studies into early clinical development, supporting BLA submission.
- Deliver on Project Team objectives by contributing expertise in pharmacokinetics, drug disposition, biodistribution, and translational pharmacology/pharmacodynamics.
- Serve as a subject-matter expert on Project Teams to optimize and select lead clinical candidates; support group members in this capacity.
- Design nonclinical PK/PD studies to answer translational questions and support first-in-human dose predictions; oversee TK analysis for non-GLP and GLP toxicology studies.
- Lead Project Teams and Pharmacology Technical Teams through the CTA/IND-enabling stage.
- Serve on the Development Sciences Leadership Team, contributing to Functional/Organizational strategy, including goal setting and staff development.
- Establish and maintain cross-functional relationships to advance projects to key decisions and milestones.
- Analyze, interpret, and communicate data to project teams, senior management, global health authorities, and partners.
- Author and review nonclinical and clinical sections of regulatory filings.
- Lead direct reports through annual goal setting, growth planning, training compliance, and ongoing feedback.
Qualifications/Skills
- PhD in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology/Toxicology, Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years relevant experience; 8+ years people management/mentorship/coaching.
- Expertise in biotherapeutic drug disposition and pharmacokinetics; track record advancing molecules through CTA/IND to first-in-human trials.
- Ability to evaluate drug properties impacting PK; investigate PK/PD relationships; apply bioanalytical methods (e.g., ligand binding assays, mass spectrometry).
- Experience leading and/or serving on cross-functional Project Teams with data-driven decision-making.
Compensation/Benefits and Application Instructions
- Salary range: $212,000–$276,000. Total rewards include 401(k), healthcare coverage, and ESPP. Learn more at https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/careers
- Lead and manage a group within the Nonclinical Safety Assessment and DMPK organization, providing strategic, project-focused oversight to advance drug candidates from Discovery through CTA/IND-enabling studies into early clinical development, supporting BLA submission.
- Deliver on Project Team objectives by contributing expertise in pharmacokinetics, drug disposition, biodistribution, and translational pharmacology/pharmacodynamics.
- Serve as a subject-matter expert on Project Teams to optimize and select lead clinical candidates; support group members in this capacity.
- Design nonclinical PK/PD studies to answer translational questions and support first-in-human dose predictions; oversee TK analysis for non-GLP and GLP toxicology studies.
- Lead Project Teams and Pharmacology Technical Teams through the CTA/IND-enabling stage.
- Serve on the Development Sciences Leadership Team, contributing to Functional/Organizational strategy, including goal setting and staff development.
- Establish and maintain cross-functional relationships to advance projects to key decisions and milestones.
- Analyze, interpret, and communicate data to project teams, senior management, global health authorities, and partners.
- Author and review nonclinical and clinical sections of regulatory filings.
- Lead direct reports through annual goal setting, growth planning, training compliance, and ongoing feedback.
Qualifications/Skills
- PhD in Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology/Toxicology, Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years relevant experience; 8+ years people management/mentorship/coaching.
- Expertise in biotherapeutic drug disposition and pharmacokinetics; track record advancing molecules through CTA/IND to first-in-human trials.
- Ability to evaluate drug properties impacting PK; investigate PK/PD relationships; apply bioanalytical methods (e.g., ligand binding assays, mass spectrometry).
- Experience leading and/or serving on cross-functional Project Teams with data-driven decision-making.
Compensation/Benefits and Application Instructions
- Salary range: $212,000–$276,000. Total rewards include 401(k), healthcare coverage, and ESPP. Learn more at https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/careers