Director, Structural Biology & Protein Chemistry

Millipore Corporation; Billerica (MA); On-site; USD 237,000 - 356,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off (PTO)

Retirement contributions

Other perquisites

Job summary

EMD Serono in the United States seeks a Director, Structural Biology & Protein Chemistry to lead a team of scientists and shape the strategic direction across drug discovery. You will drive programs from target validation through early clinical candidates, integrating structural data with medicinal chemistry and therapeutic modality decisions.

The role emphasizes autonomy, collaboration with biology, pharmacology, and DMPK, and mentoring the next generation of structural biology talent.

Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a closely related field, with at least 10 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology sector
• Minimum 5 years of direct leadership or managerial experience of multiple reports, with a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and retain high-performing scientific teams
• Proven track record of delivering drug discovery programs from target validation through to clinical candidates, including Pre-IND or IND-enabling experience
• Hands‑on expertise in the expression, purification, stabilization, and biophysical characterization of challenging protein targets, including membrane and soluble proteins
• Proficiency in Cryo-EM is essential.
• Capabilities in at least one other structure determination technology, such as X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), with experience in hybrid or integrative structural approaches.
• Record of high‑impact publications demonstrating structural and mechanistic insights relevant to drug discovery.
• Experience with emerging therapeutic modalities, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific antibodies, PROTACs, or covalent inhibitors.
• Established external network with academic institutions or industry partners to accelerate drug discovery programs.
• Experience contributing to patent filings and intellectual property strategy based on structural biology findings.
• Familiarity with modern data management, bioinformatics, and collaboration tools used in structural biology and drug discovery.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present complex structural data clearly to senior leadership and non-specialist stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of more than ten scientists and set the strategic direction for structural biology and protein chemistry across a broad drug discovery portfolio
• Drive programs from target validation through to early clinical candidates, integrating structural, functional, and mechanistic data to inform medicinal chemistry and therapeutic modality decisions
• Partner with biology, pharmacology, and DMPK functions, manage external collaborations and CROs, and contribute to IP strategy by translating structural findings into patentable discoveries
• Mentor the next generation of structural biology talent and champion scientific excellence

Skills

protein expression

protein purification

biophysical characterization

leadership

drug discovery

Education

PhD in Structural Biology/Biochemistry/Biophysics or related field

Tools

Cryo-EM

X-ray crystallography

NMR

Job description

EMD Serono in the United States seeks a Director, Structural Biology & Protein Chemistry to lead a team of scientists and shape the strategic direction across drug discovery. You will drive programs from target validation through early clinical candidates, integrating structural data with medicinal chemistry and therapeutic modality decisions.

The role emphasizes autonomy, collaboration with biology, pharmacology, and DMPK, and mentoring the next generation of structural biology talent.