Executive Director, Metabolism & Obesity

Role Summary

Executive Director, Metabolism & Obesity oversees and facilitates research in metabolic diseases, obesity, and co-morbidities within the Cardiometabolic Disease Discovery Biology Department at a state-of-the-art Research Laboratories center in South San Francisco, CA. The role contributes to the design, prioritization, and execution of the strategic CMD plan, integrating new technology platforms, human biology, and data science to uncover novel biology that advances a high-quality drug discovery pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Lead and help shape the departmental strategy in metabolic disease research and obesity.
• Implement the strategy with key stakeholders within the department and across the network, and collaborate with key opinion leaders in academia.
• Lead development and implementation of in vitro and in vivo assays to investigate disease biology and evolve a robust pipeline of therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases and obesity and their co-morbidities.
• Manage and mentor a team of scientists in metabolic diseases and obesity research.
• Review and pursue external research collaborations and licensing opportunities to capitalize on novel insights and complement internal pipeline.
• Monitor emerging biology and basic and clinical research within metabolic diseases and obesity, and broadly across the scientific spectrum.
• Champion a diverse and inclusive culture within the department and across the organization.
• Recruit, develop, and retain a talented team that delivers on target identification and validation and advances the CMD pipeline.

Education

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a metabolic disorders-related discipline, with 12+ years of drug discovery experience.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 12+ years‚Äô research experience in metabolic diseases and obesity, supported by peer-reviewed publications.
• Industry experience in research & development; prior experience advancing drug discovery programs into early clinical development is highly desired.
• Experience overseeing research projects, setting priorities, and troubleshooting in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Broad knowledge and direct experience in in vitro and in vivo models of metabolic diseases and obesity.
• Solid understanding of drug discovery, clinical development, biomarker discovery, translational research, data science, and human genetics.
• Strong partnering and team leadership with a track record of guiding collaborative teams.
• Excellent mentorship and guidance to reports and peers.
• Proficiency with innovative technologies for preclinical research.
• Effective communication with diverse stakeholders including senior leaders, peers, direct reports, partner organizations, and external collaborators.
• Deep understanding of competitive landscapes across metabolic disease and obesity indications and significant due diligence experience for external assets.

Skills

• Business Development
• Communication
• Drug Discovery Process
• High Performance Team Building
• Innovation
• Leadership
• Management Process
• Market Intelligence
• Mentoring Staff
• Mentorship
• Metabolic Diseases
• Obesity
• Preclinical Research
• Strategic Thinking

Preferred Skills

• Biomarkers
• Human Genetics
• Translational Research