Director/Sr. Director/Exec. Director, Molecular Pharmacology (AMD)

Initial Therapeutics, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 163,500 - 281,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits program

401(k) eligibility

Flexible benefits options

Job summary

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. is seeking a Molecular Pharmacology Lead in South San Francisco, CA. This leadership role requires a PhD with 15+ years of drug discovery experience and a proven track record in delivering high-quality pharmacology data.

The chosen candidate will drive scientific leadership while mentoring scientists, enabling cross-functional collaboration, and fostering a culture of safety and compliance.

This is an onsite position, and the anticipated wage ranges from $163,500 to $281,600, depending on various factors such as education and experience.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of drug discovery experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Ability to lead and develop a team of scientists in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with AI/ML tools and laboratory automation platforms.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead robust screening cascades for compound optimization.
• Mentor scientists to implement new technologies into workflows.
• Create conditions for successful team performance.

Skills

Deep pharmacology expertise

Strong leadership skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Scientific rigor

Proven drug discovery experience

Education

PhD in Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology

Job description

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Position: Molecular Pharmacology Lead in South San Francisco, CA or Indianapolis, IN

Reports to: Head of Molecular Pharmacology, Lilly Research Laboratories

Band: Strategic and Scientific Team Leader

Overview

At Lilly, we serve an extraordinary purpose. We make a difference for people around the globe by discovering, developing and delivering medicines that help them live longer, healthier, more active lives. Not only do we deliver breakthrough medications, but you also can count on us to develop creative solutions to support communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.

The Lilly Small Molecule Design group is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability.

Position Summary

The Advanced Molecule Design team’s mission is to optimize lead molecules to strong drug candidates that become breakthrough medicines. Molecular Pharmacology People Managers (L2) are scientific leaders who drive team performance by combining deep pharmacology expertise with strong people leadership. These roles are responsible for building and sustaining highly effective teams that deliver high-quality data, advance drug discovery programs, and develop the next generation of scientists. L2 leaders are expected to excel in both scientific leadership and people development — delivering on functional goals while creating an environment where scientists thrive and grow.

Key Responsibilities

Technical / Scientific Contributions: Champion Rigorous Science and Deliver on Functional Goals

• Establish robust screening cascades; lead the team to deliver highly reproducible, high-quality assays that drive SAR and compound optimization.
• Routinely investigate and guide mechanistic characterization of molecules in vitro to inform compound optimization and target product profiles.
• Make sound scientific decisions that advance programs while maintaining quality — balance speed with scientific rigor.
• Focus the team on the highest-impact activities that advance programs toward patients.
• Design screening cascades that enable clear, data-driven go/no-go decisions.
• Act with speed and decisiveness on critical scientific issues; surface challenges early with radical transparency.

Enabling: Partnerships and Tools That Accelerate Impact

• Lead cross-functional collaboration; partner with Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, ADME, and other functions to advance program goals.
• Directly mentor and guide scientists to embrace and implement AI, automation, and new technologies into workflows.
• Build ONE TEAM, SAME TEAM collaboration — break down silos and foster partnerships that accelerate programs.
• Build scientific credibility and influence across the organization through deep expertise and strategic thinking.

Supporting: People Leadership and Team Development

• Elevate individual and team performance consistently — provide coaching, feedback, and development that increases impact.
• Develop scientists across all four competency areas: Deep Thinking, Execution & Delivery, Culture & Teamwork, and Growth Mindset.
• Cultivate a growth mindset within the team; address performance gaps and adherence to Lilly cultural standards promptly and constructively.
• Make fair, evidence-based performance assessments; differentiate based on impact and consistency.
• Have courageous conversations — celebrate excellence and address performance gaps directly and constructively.
• Create conditions where scientists can be successful — remove barriers, provide resources, and empower the team.
• Contribute to a work environment that fosters support, collaboration, professionalism, mutual respect, and patient focus.
• Be accessible — make time for your team and create an environment where people feel comfortable bringing challenges forward.

Safety & Compliance — Model Safety Leadership Through Personal Practice

• Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to safety-first laboratory practice: complete required safety training, conduct risk assessments before experiments, and elevate concerns immediately.
• Follow all site safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance requirements; actively reinforce a safety-first team culture.

Basic Requirements

• PhD Degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or related fields with a minimum of 15+ years of drug discovery experience in the pharmaceutical industry; or BS/MS Degree in Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or related fields with 20+ years of equivalent experience.

Additional Preferences

• Demonstrated drug discovery experience with a track record of delivering high-quality pharmacology data that has driven program decisions.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate a team of scientists in a fast-paced research environment.
• Deep scientific background in biochemistry, biophysics, and/or cell biology to guide assay strategy and compound optimization.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills; ability to build productive relationships across disciplines.
• Team player with a positive, can-do attitude and a commitment to scientific rigor, integrity, and Lilly’s cultural values.
• Experience managing direct reports in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery setting.
• Familiarity with AI/ML tools and laboratory automation platforms.
• Broad experience across multiple modalities or therapeutic areas is a plus.

Physical Demands / Travel

The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Work Environment

This is an onsite position.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

*To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the role and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women’s Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.

Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is

$163,500 - $281,600

Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities). Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly’s compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.

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