Director, Therapeutics Translational Neurobiology

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

The Broad Institute, through its Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, seeks a Director of Therapeutics Translational Neurobiology to shape scientific strategy, identify novel targets, and lead execution across preclinical programs in CNS disorders.

Reporting to Morgan Sheng, the role will build and manage a small team, collaborate with internal scientists, and advance targets from validation to preclinical proof-of-concept, while representing the center externally.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Molecular/Cell Biology, Chemistry, or related life sciences field required
• 10+ years of drug discovery in industry with leadership of multi-project programs; CNS/psychiatric disease experience required
• 7+ years managing a team of scientists; hiring, mentoring, and performance development
• Direct experience managing a multi-project portfolio with prioritization and resourcing decisions
• Exposure to external partnership development, licensing discussions, or business development in biotech/pharma or academic drug discovery
• Comfort operating in a matrixed organization balancing scientific direction with program ownership
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with senior leadership and external partners

Responsibilities

• Define and drive scientific strategy across a portfolio of several therapeutics projects, translating human genetic and biological insights into drug discovery plans
• Collaborate on strategic planning and resource allocation across the broader therapeutics program
• Own portfolio-level budget planning and managerial oversight across several preclinical therapeutics projects
• Oversee and mentor project leads, while building a team to prosecute new targets
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, and professional growth
• Make go/no-go and prioritization calls as data mature, balancing science, feasibility, and fit with the Center’s mission
• Build and maintain relationships with biotech and pharma companies for external alliances
• Represent the Stanley Center’s therapeutics work externally in partnerships and conferences

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Budget planning

Strategic planning

Drug discovery

Scientific communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Ph.D./M.D.- Ph.D.

Job description

The Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute is a world leader in the study of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Founded and supported by the Stanley Family Foundation, the Stanley Center brings together experts in genetics, computation, neurobiology, and therapeutics to work in partnership to understand the biology of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and to translate that understanding into new treatments. Our preclinical therapeutics program takes genetically and biologically grounded targets through early drug discovery to preclinical proof-of-concept, drawing on the Stanley Center's deep expertise in human genetics, iPSC-derived cellular models, postmortem brain tissue, and mouse and non-human primate model systems.

The Role

We're looking for a Director of Therapeutics Translational Neurobiology to help set scientific strategy, identify novel targets, and lead execution across several therapeutics programs within the Stanley Center's preclinical drug discovery portfolio. This is a leadership role for an experienced drug hunter who has moved beyond running a single project and has prior industry experience shaping larger portfolios. Using insights gained from cutting-edge genetic and neurobiological discoveries at the Stanley Center, this person will help identify new areas for therapeutic discovery investment, develop and execute on these strategic investments, and pursue outside partnerships as projects mature.

The person in this role will report to Morgan Sheng, co-director of the Stanley Center and head of Therapeutics. As a key member of the Stanley Center Therapeutics program, this person will oversee existing projects from target validation to drug discovery and preclinical proof-of-concept and have the independence to form and manage a small team of scientists to identify, develop, and prosecute new targets. This work will be done in close partnership with the larger Stanley Center Therapeutics leadership group and Broad's drug discovery chemistry team (Center for Developing Therapeutics; CDoT). The development of strong relationships with Stanley Center geneticists and neurobiologists will support efforts to drive new target identification. To further advance projects as they mature, and in collaboration with the Broad's Office of Strategic Alliances and Partnerships, this person will build and leverage relationships with biotech and pharma partners to develop external alliances.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with existing Stanley Center therapeutics leadership to define and drive scientific strategy across a portfolio of several therapeutics projects, translating human genetic and biological insights into coherent, prioritized drug discovery plans
• Collaborate with others in Stanley Center therapeutics leadership on strategic planning and resource allocation across the broader therapeutics program
• Own portfolio-level budget planning and managerial oversight across several preclinical therapeutics projects from target validation to drug discovery and preclinical proof-of-concept
• Oversee and mentor project leads prosecuting on existing targets, while building out a team to develop and drive the prosecution of new targets
• Foster a strong culture of scientific rigor, collaboration, and professional growth across the team
• Make and defend go/no-go and prioritization calls as projects generate new data, balancing scientific rationale, feasibility, and strategic fit with the Center's mission
• Build and maintain relationships with biotech and pharma companies, working with the Broad's Business Development office to identify and cultivate partnership opportunities as programs mature toward preclinical proof-of-concept
• Represent the Stanley Center's therapeutics work externally, including in partnering discussions, scientific conferences, and diligence processes

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Molecular/Cell Biology, Chemistry, or a related life sciences field required
• 10+ years of drug discovery experience in industry (biotech or pharma), with a demonstrated track record of leading programs from target identification through IND-enabling studies or beyond; CNS or psychiatric disease drug discovery experience required
• Prior experience in industry managing a team of scientists, including hiring, mentoring, and performance development; 7+ years' experience
• Direct experience managing a multi-project portfolio and making prioritization/resourcing decisions across programs
• Established track record of, or direct exposure to, external partnership development, licensing discussions, or business development in a biotech/pharma or academic drug discovery context
• Comfort operating in a matrixed organization, balancing scientific direction from principal investigators with programmatic and portfolio ownership
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to senior leadership, external partners, and scientific audiences

The expected base pay range for this position as listed above is based on a 40 hour per week schedule. Broad provides pay ranges representing its reasonable and good faith estimate of what the organization reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will vary based on factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, education, qualifications, and other factors permissible by law.

At Broad, your base pay is just one part of a comprehensive total rewards package. From day one, this role offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; flexible spending and health savings accounts; at least 13 paid holidays; winter closure; paid time off; parental and family care leave; and an employee assistance program, among other Broad benefits.

The Broad Institute is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.

Should you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] for assistance.