Principal Scientist, Nonclinical Drug Safety Program Discovery

Principal Scientist, Nonclinical Drug Safety Program Discovery

Equivalent in level to Scientific Director.

We are seeking a Discovery Program Leader (DPL) to represent Nonclinical Drug Safety (NDS) on discovery research teams and in scientific and strategic review meetings focused primarily on immunology and oncology. This position requires exceptional leadership, collaboration, and independence, and a passion to work collaboratively across functions and sites to discover novel medicines that improve the lives of patients.

The Discovery Program Leader is responsible for defining and overseeing the NDS strategy for programs in all modalities (including small molecules, peptides, biologics and ADC programs) from Target Identification through to the approval of First‑In‑Human enabling GLP toxicity studies.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing risk assessments for targets.
• Developing de‑risking strategies for discovery programs.
• Collaborating with NDS staff at other sites to execute appropriate studies that support selection of therapeutic targets and identification of new drug candidates.
• Serving on development teams with responsibility for defining GLP toxicology study strategy, executing studies, and contributing to non‑clinical safety sections of regulatory documents that support clinical trials and worldwide marketing authorization.

In this role you will:

• Represent NDS on discovery teams and participate in therapeutic area discovery governance committee reviews.
• Promote and facilitate creative thinking from target identification/validation through lead optimization, primarily in the Immunology Therapeutic Area, but also in Oncology, Cardiometabolic, Infectious Disease and Neuroscience Therapeutic Areas.
• Act as a "drug creator" and champion innovative thinking by influencing cross‑site disease area aligned groups and functional area disciplines.
• Identify and assess potential risks associated with therapeutic targets or development candidates using available literature, internal data, and external information.
• Lead early development teams, informing on preclinical studies that support product development.

• PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Pathology, Biology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry or related STEM field, DVM, MD degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 8+ years of demonstrated pharmaceutical industry experience as a non‑clinical safety scientist (e.g., Toxicology, Pathology) and/or as a non‑clinical safety assessment representative to cross‑functional development and/or discovery teams.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate cross‑functional lines and drive team decision making within a matrix organizational structure.
• Highly dedicated, motivated, resilient, and flexible; capable of creative problem solving and delivering on goals and objectives in a timely fashion.
• Excellent team player who collaborates with discovery team members from various functions, other DPLs, and scientists responsible for study conduct and portfolio management.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, able to establish strong working relationships within networks of employees at all levels.
• Excellent communicator who knows when and how to speak up and appropriately raise issues to stakeholders and management.

• Background in immunology.
• Experience with biopharmaceutical and small molecule pharmaceutical development and/or discovery.
• Experience with regulatory submissions and responses.
• Membership in pharmaceutical consortia and/or external scientific or professional organizations.

Salary range: $ – $. The successful candidate will be eligible for an annual bonus and long‑term incentive, if applicable.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, other insurance benefits for employee and family, retirement benefits including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days.

Employment details:
Regular employee, domestic relocation considered, VISA sponsorship available, mandatory travel 10%, hybrid work arrangement.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and provide equal opportunities to all applicants for employment. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected characteristic.