Preclinical Programme Leader

Planet Pharma; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Planet Pharma is seeking a Preclinical Programme Leader in Singapore to drive early-stage discovery from target validation to candidate selection, balancing hands-on lab work with strategic programme management.

You will oversee in vivo PK/PD, translational biomarkers, and CRO partnerships, and gradually build and mentor a team to accelerate next-generation medicines for complex chronic conditions.

Qualifications

• PhD in molecular biology, pharmacology, biochemistry or a related field.
• Proven track record in biotech or pharma leading early drug discovery.
• Deep understanding of disease biology, translational biomarkers and targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end discovery programmes from target validation to candidate selection.
• Design and optimize screening cascades across target tissues and models.
• Oversee in vivo PK/PD, biodistribution and efficacy studies.
• Build internal workflows and manage CRO partnerships to ensure data integrity, timelines and budgets.
• Govern scientific governance through SOPs and data-driven go/no-go decisions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Drug discovery

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

PhD in relevant field

Job description

Location: Singapore, relocators welcome!

Position Type: Full-time

About the Opportunity

Are you a visionary drug hunter with deep expertise in advanced therapeutic modalities? Our client, a rapidly growing, translation-focused national platform is seeking a Preclinical Programme Leader to drive innovation in their therapeutic pipeline.

In this role, you will own early-stage discovery programmes from target validation through to the selection of Preclinical Candidates ready for IND-enabling studies. Focusing on complex chronic conditions, you will balance hands-on laboratory setup with strategic programme management. As the pipeline matures, you will transition into building and mentoring a team of scientists to accelerate next-generation medicines.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Programme Ownership: Lead end-to-end scientific and project strategies for discovery programmes from target validation to candidate selection.
• Discovery & Screening: Design and optimize screening cascades across target tissues, ensuring potent cellular uptake and functional activity.
• Pharmacology & Translation: Design and oversee in vivo PK/PD, biodistribution, and disease-relevant efficacy studies.
• Capability Building: Establish internal workflows (in vitro models, animal models, PK/PD assays) while effectively managing external CRO partnerships to ensure data integrity, timelines, and budget alignment.
• Scientific Governance & Leadership: Author SOPs, govern compliance, and collaborate across cross-functional teams to drive clear, data-backed go/no-go decisions.

What We Are Looking For

• Education: PhD in Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related discipline.
• Industry Experience: Proven track record in biotech or pharma leading early drug discovery programmes
• Disease Domain Expertise: Deep systems-level understanding of complex disease biology, tissue pathophysiology, and translational biomarkers.
• Technical Mastery: Strong hands-on expertise in assay development, screening cascades, in vivo PK/PD, and translational disease models.
• Leadership Style: A scientifically rigorous, data-driven leader who thrives in a collaborative environment and balances hands-on execution with team mentorship.

Why Join Our Client?

This is a rare opportunity to operate at the cutting edge of biomedical innovation within a well-funded, biotech-like translation engine. You will play a foundational role in shaping a world-class therapeutics pipeline and transforming clinical outcomes for patients worldwide.