Senior Director, Neuroscience Translational Pharmacology

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits.

This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

The Neuroscience Thematic Research Center (Neuro TRC) leverages external collaborations and internal research to establish a portfolio targeting unmet needs in neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, neuroinflammatory and neuromuscular, diseases. The Senior Director, Neuroscience Discovery, in collaboration with other members of the Neuroscience TRC, be responsible for the design, conduct, and interpretation of translational pharmacology studies supporting the neuroscience discovery and early development pipeline, with particular emphasis on neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disease programs.

This role serves as a key scientific and strategic partner across the Neuroscience TRC and broader BMS Research organization.

This position is based in Cambridge, MA.

In the role as a Senior Director, Translational Pharmacology, the candidate will:

• Directly manage, mentor, and develop a team of scientists responsible for designing, executing, and interpreting in vivo and translational pharmacology studies across the neuroscience portfolio.
• Ensure scientific rigor, reproducibility, and regulatory-appropriate quality in study design, data interpretation, and reporting.
• Set team priorities, resource plans, and timelines aligned with program and portfolio needs.
• Work collaboratively to establish, maintain and integrate transgenic and other animal models to evaluate and select drug candidates for further investment
• Contribute to Neuroscience portfolio governance within the Neuroscience TRC
• Oversee the design and execution of pharmacology studies (efficacy, target engagement, PK/PD, biomarker) to support IND-enabling activities and entry into early clinical development.
• Partner with colleagues in Translational Discovery, Translational Medicine and early Clinical Development to ensure alignment between preclinical models and clinical biomarker/endpoint strategy.
• Play an active role in shaping research strategy across the neuroscience portfolio
• Identify, recommend, and oversee relationships with academic collaborators and CRO partners; ensure quality, timelines, and scientific integrity of externally generated data.
• Represent the organization in interactions with external partners, guiding collaborative research activities.

• Bachelor’s Degree
  • 15+ years of academic and / or industry experience

Or

• Master’s Degree
  • 12+ years of academic and / or industry experience

Or

• Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences
  • 10+ years of academic and / or industry experience
  • 8+ years of leadership experience

• PhD with 15+ years of experience in drug discovery research spanning small molecule, biotherapeutics and genetic medicines discovery
• Experience leading and supervising PhD, MS/MA and BS/BA scientists
• Experience creating and applying genetically engineered animal models of neurologic disease towards identification an characterization of novel therapeutics
• Experience leading drug discovery programs from ideation to delivery of a therapeutic candidate
• Expertise in quantitative analysis of neuropathological endpoints as applied to animal models of neurodegenerative disease
• Expertise in blood…