Head of Preclinical Research & Development (m/f/d)

Fresenius Kabi; Bad Homburg vor der Höhe; On-site; EUR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Fresenius Kabi seeks a Head of Preclinical R&D to shape and advance preclinical and translational science across Medical Nutrition and Pharma. You will lead the Preclinical R&D organization, generating efficacy, mechanistic, safety, and translational evidence from early concept through lifecycle management.

The role spans Medical Nutrition and Pharma, driving new innovation, ensuring regulatory and lifecycle support, and collaborating with cross-functional and external partners to translate

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Pharmacology, Nutrition Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toxicology, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Substantial industry experience in preclinical and translational R&D.
• Fluent English; willingness to travel internationally.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the global Preclinical R&D strategy and build capabilities to advance innovation and product development across Medical Nutrition and Pharma.
• Lead and develop a high-performing scientific team, fostering excellence, collaboration, accountability, and talent development.
• Drive identification and validation of new innovation opportunities, including high-throughput screening and translational models.
• Oversee efficacy, mechanistic, translational, and safety programs from concept to lifecycle management, including toxicology collaboration.
• Lead preclinical due diligence for external innovation, partnerships, and licensing with evidence-based portfolio input.
• Generate mechanistic and mode-of-action evidence and drive publication strategy to differentiate products.
• Ensure robust preclinical support for regulatory submissions and GLP/data integrity compliance.
• Manage portfolio priorities, resources, budgets, CROs and external partners in a global matrix.

Skills

People leadership

Preclinical R&D

Translational science

Fluent English

Education

PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Pharmacology, Nutrition Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toxicology, Life Sciences

Job description

At Fresenius Kabi, we are committed to improving patient care through scientific excellence, innovation, and meaningful healthcare solutions.

As Head of Preclinical R&D, you will play a key role in shaping and advancing preclinical and translational science across Medical Nutrition and Pharma.

This position combines scientific and people leadership with global responsibility for preclinical and translational R&D. You will lead and further develop the Preclinical R&D organization, generating efficacy, mechanistic, safety, and translational evidence from early concept assessment and proof-of-concept through development and lifecycle management.

The role spans both Medical Nutrition and Pharma, with a particular opportunity to drive new preclinical innovation and discovery in Medical Nutrition, while ensuring robust development, regulatory, and lifecycle support across both areas. Working with cross-functional teams and external partners, you will translate emerging science into differentiated opportunities and provide evidence that enables innovation and portfolio decisions.

Your Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the global Preclinical R&D strategy and build preclinical and translational capabilities to advance innovation and product development across Medical Nutrition and Pharma.

• Lead and develop an engaged, high-performing scientific team, fostering scientific excellence, collaboration, accountability, innovation, and talent development in alignment with the Fresenius Principles.

• Drive the identification and experimental validation of new innovation opportunities, including the use of high-throughput screening and advanced preclinical and translational models to accelerate concept selection and proof-of-concept.

• Oversee efficacy, mechanistic, translational, and safety programs from early concept and proof-of-concept through development and lifecycle management, including toxicology studies in close collaboration with the Toxicology function.

• Lead preclinical scientific due diligence for external innovation, partnering, and licensing opportunities, providing evidence-based recommendations for portfolio decisions.

• Generate mechanistic and mode-of-action evidence and drive the preclinical publication strategy to support innovation and the scientific differentiation of new and established products.

• Ensure robust preclinical support for regulatory submissions, health-authority requests, and lifecycle activities, in compliance with applicable GLP, data-integrity, and 3R requirements.

• Manage portfolio priorities, resources, budgets, and external partners, including CROs, academic partners, and technology providers, and act as the global Preclinical R&D scientific lead across relevant functions.

Your Profile:

• PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Pharmacology, Nutrition Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toxicology, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.

• Substantial industry experience in preclinical and translational R&D, including scientific and people leadership and experience in Medical Nutrition and/or pharmaceutical development.

• Strong expertise in preclinical efficacy, mechanism-of-action research, and translational models, combined with a sound understanding of nonclinical safety, toxicology, and relevant regulatory and GLP requirements.

• Demonstrated track record of identifying and advancing scientific innovation, ideally including high-throughput screening or other systematic discovery approaches, and translating emerging science into differentiated development opportunities.

• Experience developing preclinical strategies and evidence from early innovation and proof-of-concept through development, regulatory support, and lifecycle management.

• Strong scientific judgement and experience in external innovation, scientific due diligence, and the assessment and management of CROs, academic collaborators, or other external research partners.

• Proven track record of successfully leading and developing scientific teams, combined with strong communication, stakeholder, and portfolio management skills in a global matrix organization.

• Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally; additional languages are an advantage.

Why Join Fresenius Kabi?

• Shape global preclinical and translational R&D across Medical Nutrition and Pharma in a leading healthcare company.

• Build scientific capabilities that translate emerging science into meaningful innovation and better portfolio decisions.

• Work across early innovation, product development, and established products, with the opportunity to strengthen new discovery approaches particularly within Medical Nutrition.

• Collaborate with global scientific experts, R&D teams, external research partners, and multidisciplinary teams.

• Contribute to the FutureFresenius journey by helping turn science and innovation into better solutions for patients and sustainable growth.

Join us and help translate preclinical science into meaningful innovation for patients around the world.