DMPK Lead

UCB - Union Chimique Belge; Slough; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

UCB - Union Chimique Belge in the United Kingdom seeks a senior DMPK Lead to provide scientific leadership across discovery and development. You will define DMPK strategies, interpret PK/PD and translational studies, and influence candidate selection and risk mitigation.

This global role requires collaboration with toxicology, clinical pharmacology and translational sciences to advance patient-focused therapies.

Qualifications

• PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, DMPK, or related discipline.
• Significant industrial DMPK experience across discovery and development.
• Strong expertise in ADME, PK studies, and human PK prediction.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and submission processes.
• Experience with modelling and simulation (PBPK preferred).
• Proven ability to work effectively in global, cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead DMPK strategy across discovery and clinical development programs.
• Design and interpret PK, PK/PD, toxicokinetic, ADME, and translational studies.
• Influence compound design, candidate selection, and risk mitigation.
• Predict human pharmacokinetics, dose, and drug–drug interaction risks.
• Contribute to modelling and simulation, including PBPK activities.
• Author DMPK sections for regulatory submissions and internal documents.
• Serve as DMPK expert for due diligence evaluations of external opportunities.
• Provide scientific mentoring and coaching to junior staff.

Skills

DMPK leadership

PK/PD expertise

PBPK modelling

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in Pharmaceutics/Pharmacology/DMPK

Tools

PBPK Modelling

Job description

DMPK Lead

UCB - Union Chimique Belge

Slough, Monheim or Braine-l'Alleud

About the role

In this senior role, you will provide scientific leadership and expertise in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) across global discovery and development programs. You will define and deliver DMPK strategies across the full lifecycle—from early research through clinical development and registration—contributing directly to candidate selection, risk assessment, and patient-focused innovation.

You will play a key role in enabling translation from discovery into clinical success across diverse therapeutic modalities.

Who you’ll work with

You will collaborate within multidisciplinary project teams across R&D, working closely with experts in toxicology, clinical pharmacology, drug design, and translational sciences.

You’ll be part of a team focused on advancing innovative therapies for patients, partnering closely with the wider DMPK community to drive scientific excellence and best practice globally.

What you’ll do

• Lead DMPK strategy across discovery and clinical development programs;
• Design and interpret PK, PK/PD, toxicokinetic, ADME, and translational studies;
• Influence compound design, candidate selection, and risk mitigation;
• Predict human pharmacokinetics, dose, and drug–drug interaction risks;
• Contribute to modelling and simulation, including PBPK activities;
• Author DMPK sections for regulatory submissions and internal documents;
• Serve as DMPK expert for due diligence evaluations of external opportunities;
• Provide scientific mentoring and coaching to junior staff.

Interested? For this role we’re looking for

• PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology, DMPK, or related discipline;
• Significant industrial DMPK experience across discovery and development;
• Strong expertise in ADME, PK studies, and human PK prediction;
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and submission processes;
• Experience with modelling and simulation (PBPK preferred);
• Proven ability to work effectively in global, cross‑functional teams.

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!