Director Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development

National Institutes of Health; Bethesda (MD); Vor Ort; USD 180.000 - 250.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites applications for the Director of Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development within the NINDS Division of Translational Research. This senior role leads a portfolio spanning discovery to early clinical testing, directing scientists, managers, and partners to translate ideas into patient therapies.

Responsibilities include strategic direction, cross-institution collaboration, and managing a substantial budget while guiding teams through regulatory

Qualifikationen

• PhD or equivalent required; broad multidisciplinary expertise in small molecules and neurotherapeutic development.
• Technical experience in medicinal chemistry, assay development, DMPK, pharmacology, toxicology, IND-enabling studies, regulatory strategy, CMC, and/or clinical development.

Aufgaben

• Collaborate with Principal Investigators, scientists, key opinion leaders, project managers, and consultants to resolve translational challenges and move products to clinical trials.
• Direct and influence multidisciplinary teams to meet milestones within budget and timeline.
• Understand preclinical and early clinical pipeline, including product optimization, assay development, pharmacology, PK/PD, toxicology, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and early human trials.
• Lead teams through drug discovery and IND application processes.
• Foster partnerships with academic institutions and small businesses to strengthen programs.
• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and performance management for program staff.

Kenntnisse

Leadership experience

Executive management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Budget management

Ausbildung

Doctoral-level degree in biomedicine or related field

Master's degree in bioinformatics or related field

Tools

Medicinal chemistry

Assay development

DMPK

Pharmacology

Toxicology

IND-enabling studies

Regulatory strategy

CMC

Clinical development

Jobbeschreibung

Job Posting : Director Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development

The NINDS Division of Translational Research (DTR) is seeking experienced scientists for the position of Director, Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development.

The Director will develop and manage a robust portfolio of neurotherapeutic projects spanning early discovery through clinical trials, with the long-term goal of advancing new treatments that improve patient health. This role requires high-level executive skills to manage a substantial budget and lead a team of scientists, program managers, and support staff in advancing a large pipeline of investigator-initiated highly collaborative research and development projects supported by grants and NIH managed R&D contracts with contract research organizations (CROs) and consultants. BPN-SM takes on promising CNS therapeutic projects that have strong scientific and public health rationale but are often too early, too risky, too novel, or insufficiently commercially mature for traditional pharma investment. The program helps generate the data, development strategy, and candidate quality needed to move these projects toward clinical testing and potential downstream partnership.

As a member of senior leadership, the Director will work with internal and external project teams to manage scientific, drug-development, and regulatory activities, and will help deliver viable biomedical products to the clinic.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, along with broad multidisciplinary scientific expertise in small molecules and neurotherapeutic development, including leadership experience advancing projects from early-stage ideas to patient impact in industry, biotechnology or translational academic settings.

Competitive applicants must have technical experience in one or more specialized areas relevant to small-molecule drug development, including medicinal chemistry, assay development, DMPK, pharmacology, toxicology, IND-enabling studies, regulatory strategy, CMC, and/or clinical development.

The successful candidate will bring scientific credibility, operational excellence, and strong communication skills to a highly visible NIH translational research program.

The Director must be able to:

• Collaborate with Principal Investigators, scientists, key opinion leaders, project managers, and consultants across the therapeutic spectrum to resolve translational challenges and help investigators move products toward clinical trials efficiently and cost-effectively
• Direct and influence multidisciplinary teams to maintain focus on key milestones and critical-path activities, to advance projects on time and within budget
• Understand the full preclinical and early clinical product development pipeline, including product optimization, assay development, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicology, preclinical scale-up and manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and early-phase human clinical trials
• Lead multidisciplinary teams through the drug discovery and IND application process
• Leverage experience in both industry and academic settings to establish and strengthen relationships and partnerships with academic institutions and small businesses
• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, performance management, and professional development for program staff

Duties

The Director exercises broad influence over neurotherapeutic development and policy issues, providing high-level leadership in the following areas:

• Managing a diverse portfolio of neurotherapeutic development projects spanning discovery through first-in-human clinical trials
• Balancing scientific innovation with rigorous project management, sound budget planning, and responsible stewardship of public resources
• Making sound, data-driven judgments on stage-appropriate risk for NIH investments in neurotherapeutic development projects, and timely portfolio decisions
• Supervising seven staff members involved in neurotherapeutic development programs
• Engaging with the extramural translational community through national meetings, targeted foundations, webinars, and other forums
• Advising the NINDS and DTR Directors on research opportunities to advance the mission and success of the BPN-Small Molecules and PTDP programs

Who Can Apply

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

To be eligible for this position, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, or U.S. National. Foreign nationals or legal permanent residents are not eligible for consideration. Candidates must indicate their U.S. citizenship status on their CV or within their email application submission.

In order to qualify for this position, candidates must possess either a doctoral-level degree in biomedicine or a biological related field, or a master's level or higher degree in:

• bioinformatics
• or an emerging or related scientific field.

In addition, candidates must have at least one year of experience related to the position, including achievements in one or more of the following areas to demonstrate the individual has received recognition as an expert in the field:

• Conducted original biomedical research published in peer-reviewed journals of high stature
• Received major prizes and awards (such as visiting professorships and named lectureships) in recognition of original contributions to biomedical research
• Received invitations to speak at or chair major national or international meetings or symposia
• Elected to membership in professional societies of high stature, or
• Meets other criteria demonstrating sufficient rigor or accomplishment in a relevant or closely related field that is necessary to the accomplishment of NIH's mission.

If you are a current Federal Title 5 employee, you must have one year of equivalent experience at the GS-14 level or above

A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Learn more about federal benefits .

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants .

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

If selected, you will be required to complete a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450 to determine if a conflict or an appearance of a conflict exists between your financial interest and your prospective position with the agency.

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts (or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades). Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Learn more about Foreign Education .

Reasonable Accommodation

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

Open

10/26/2026–01/31/2027

• Open

  10/26/2026–01/31/2027

Pay

Commensurate with qualifications and experience

• Pay

  Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Pay Grade

RS

• Pay Grade

  RS

Job Category

Scientific/Medical

• Job Category

  Scientific/Medical

Institute or Center

NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

• Institute or Center

  NINDS (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)