Senior Director, Nucleic Acid Therapy
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Full-time
On-site
San Diego, CA
$217,000 - $325,500 USD yearly
Clinical Research and Development
Want to see how your resume matches up to this job? A free trial of our JobsAI will help! With over 2,000 biopharma executives loving it, we think you will too! Try it now — JobsAI.
Role Summary
Senior Director of Nucleic Acid Therapy to drive research advancing delivery of nucleic acid–based therapeutics. Focus on ligand-mediated extrahepatic delivery and nucleic acid chemistry; prioritizing candidates with background in siRNA/ASOs and multiple ligand platforms.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of cross-functional scientists, provide guidance and mentorship, foster a collaborative work environment.
- Develop and implement strategic plans to leverage approaches for receptor and ligand identification, chemistry optimization, and implementation in drug discovery.
- Work with the team to execute research plans, collect and interpret data, troubleshoot, and define next steps.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive integrated drug discovery projects from target selection to lead optimization and delivery of clinical candidates.
- Stay current with advancements in nucleic acid chemistry and delivery, and integrate new technologies into the drug discovery process.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines, maintain accurate records, and promote scientific rigor and integrity within the team.
Qualifications
- Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, or related field with 11+ years of industry/academic experience and at least 5 years managing a team.
- Master’s degree with 15+ years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s degree with 20+ years of relevant experience.
- Extensive experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or leading academic biomedical research settings, with a proven track record of scientific accomplishments.
- Experience in managing scientific teams, performance management, and building a culture of innovation and inclusion.
- Demonstrated leadership, scientific innovation, and ability to inspire drug discovery teams.
- Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; experience interfacing with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to navigate a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment.
Skills
- Expertise in nucleic acid drug discovery and delivery optimization.
- Experience with ligand-mediated delivery platforms (antibody, peptide, small molecules, etc.).
- Strategic thinking, data interpretation, problem solving, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Regulatory compliance awareness and rigorous record-keeping.