Head of In Vitro Pharmacology

Proteros USA Inc; Martinsried; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Professional development

International team

Job summary

Proteros biostructures GmbH in Martinsried near Munich seeks an accomplished leader to establish and advance in vitro pharmacology capabilities for integrated drug discovery. You will design and execute cell-based assays, engineer disease-relevant cell lines, and guide HTS efforts while collaborating across biology, chemistry, and biophysics teams.

The role requires a PhD with 10+ years in industry, strong leadership, and a track record in advancing small-molecule programs from hit to candidate

Qualifications

• PhD in Cellular Biology, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of industry experience in in vitro pharmacology within small molecule drug discovery.
• Extensive expertise in cellular and molecular biology techniques.
• Proven track record contributing from hit to candidate nomination.
• Hands-on assay development for potency, efficacy, and target engagement.
• Mammalian cell culture expertise including stable and transient lines.

Responsibilities

• Establish in vitro pharmacology capabilities for integrated drug discovery.
• Lead design, execution, and analysis of cell-based assays for hit identification and lead optimization.
• Select, engineer, and characterize disease-relevant cell lines.
• Provide strategic input into target selection and validation.
• Design HTS campaigns using advanced assay technologies.
• Apply molecular biology techniques to evaluate compound activity and MOA.
• Ensure robust experimental design, reproducibility, and data quality.
• Lead and mentor researchers to achieve excellence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including chemistry and biophysics.
• Generate high-quality in vitro pharmacology data packages for IND-enabling activities.
• Present scientific findings to stakeholders and partners.
• Lead automation implementation to enhance productivity.

Skills

In vitro pharmacology

Cell-based assays

Mammalian cell culture

High-throughput screening

Automation & liquid handling

Data analysis

Leadership

Project management

Scientific communication

Target validation

Education

PhD in Cellular Biology, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology or related discipline

Tools

Transfection methods

Western blot

qPCR

CRISPR gene editing

Automation systems

Liquid handling platforms

Job description

Your mission

• Establish all in vitro pharmacology capabilities and processes required for integrated drug discovery programs.
• Define and lead the required design, execution, and analysis of cell-based assays to support hit identification, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization campaigns.
• Select, engineer, and characterize disease-relevant cell lines, including stable and transient transfection models.
• Provide strategic input into target selection and validation.
• Design strategies for high-throughput screening campaigns using advanced assay technologies (NanoBRET, NanoBiT, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, luminescence, reporter gene activation, FLIPR and others).
• Apply molecular and cellular biology techniques (e.g., Western blot, qPCR, gene editing, siRNA knockdown, biomarker assays) to evaluate compound activity, efficacy, mechanism of action and pathway engagement.
• Ensure robust experimental design, reproducibility, and data quality while meeting project timelines.
• Lead and mentor a team of research associates and scientists to achieve operational and scientific excellence.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively within cross-functional drug discovery teams, including medicinal chemistry, biophysics, structural biology, protein sciences, and computational chemistry.
• Align scope, timelines and decision points for support of med chem optimization, and generate high-quality in vitro pharmacology data packages to support IND-enabling activities and candidate nomination decisions.
• Present scientific capabilities and findings to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead implementation of automation, liquid handling systems, and high-throughput assay processing to enhance team productivity and scalability.

Your profile

Required

• PhD in Cellular Biology, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of industry experience in in vitro pharmacology within a small molecule drug discovery setting (biotech or pharmaceutical).
• Extensive expertise in cellular and molecular biology techniques.
• Proven track record of contributing to the progression of small molecule drug candidates from hit to candidate nomination.
• Hands-on experience with assay development for potency, efficacy, target engagement, selectivity, and mechanism of action of small molecules.
• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture (including establishing and maintaining transient and stable cell lines).
• Long-standing experience with liquid handling systems, automation, and high-throughput assay execution.
• Strong skills in data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing research associates and scientists.
• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Experience in one or more key disease areas, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, or metabolic diseases.

Preferred

• Familiarity with CRO operating environment, including multi-client project management, resource planning, and client-facing scientific communication.
• Experience with targeted protein degradation modalities (PROTACs, molecular glues, bifunctional degraders).
• Knowledge of DMPK interface: protein binding, metabolic stability, and their impact on in vitro assay interpretation.
• Experience operating within an IND-enabling or GLP-compliant environment.

Why us?

• An entrepreneurial scientific environment at a world-leading structure-based drug discovery CRO.
• A key leadership role with the mandate and resources to build a new pharmacology capability from the ground up.
• Close collaboration with expert teams in structural biology, biophysics, medicinal chemistry, and computational chemistry.
• Competitive remuneration package and opportunities for professional development.
• A dynamic, international, and scientifically driven team based in the Greater Munich area.

Contact Details

Proteros biostructures GmbH
People Team
Bunsenstr. 7a, 82152 Martinsried
[phone]
[e-mail]