Director, Nephrology Research

Ladders; United States; Remote; USD 189,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health & wellness

Life insurance

Retirement matching

Generous PTO

Job summary

Ladders is seeking a Director of Nephrology Research to drive strategy for rare kidney diseases and guide programs toward IND readiness. The role collaborates with scientists, clinicians, and external partners to identify opportunities and shape preclinical development.

The ideal candidate has a PhD/MD/PharmD with 10+ years in biopharma, strong kidney biology expertise, and a proven track record managing external partnerships and research oversight across discovery to preclinical stages.

Qualifications

• PhD/MD/PharmD in Life Sciences or equivalent.
• 10+ years of biopharmaceutical experience; 6+ years with an advanced degree.
• Expertise in kidney biology and renal drug discovery.
• Proven track record advancing targets from concept to preclinical stages.
• Experience with external partnership management and research oversight.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute research strategy for rare kidney diseases.
• Identify and prioritize therapeutic opportunities based on scientific and market factors.
• Develop research concepts integrating disease biology and therapeutic advancements.
• Serve as scientific lead for nephrology research programs through IND readiness.
• Execute strategies for target validation and early development planning.
• Integrate diverse data types to assess therapeutic validity and potential.
• Identify and assess external scientific opportunities and build key partnerships.

Skills

Kidney biology

Target discovery

Preclinical development

IND readiness

External partnerships

Scientific leadership

Education

PhD/MD/PharmD in Life Sciences

Job description

For our client, we are seeking a Director, Nephrology Research to join the team of a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Biotech space.

This leader will drive research strategy for rare kidney diseases, shaping how early scientific insights are translated into viable therapeutic opportunities. The role will partner closely with scientific, clinical, and external collaborators to advance target identification, validation, and preclinical development. This position is ideal for a seasoned biopharmaceutical scientist who can connect disease biology, market context, and research execution to move programs toward IND readiness.

The Director will also evaluate external opportunities and help build the partnerships needed to strengthen the company’s nephrology pipeline.

Location: Remote - US based candidates only, no visa sponsorship available

Compensation: $189,000 – $246,000 annually

Responsibilities

• Define and execute research strategy for rare kidney diseases
• Identify and prioritize therapeutic opportunities based on scientific and market factors
• Develop research concepts integrating disease biology and therapeutic advancements
• Serve as scientific lead for nephrology research programs through IND readiness
• Execute strategies for target validation and early development planning
• Integrate diverse data types to assess therapeutic validity and potential
• Identify and assess external scientific opportunities and build key partnerships

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, PharmD, or equivalent in Life Sciences preferred
• 10+ years of relevant biopharmaceutical experience; 6+ years with an advanced degree
• Expertise in kidney biology and renal drug discovery
• Proven track record advancing therapeutic targets from concept to preclinical stages
• Strong familiarity with pharmacology studies and cross-functional collaboration
• Experience with external partnership management and research oversight

Benefits

• Comprehensive health and wellness offerings for employees and dependents
• Life insurance and disability coverage
• Retirement plans with employer matching contributions
• Generous paid time off policies

Our client is an equal opportunity employer.