Scientific Director, Lead Generation Biology

Neurocrine Biosciences; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 188,700 - 257,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan with company match

Paid vacation

Job summary

NeurocrineBiosciences in San Diego seeks a senior leader to oversee discovery biology platforms, driving assay development, cellular and biochemical pharmacology, and fit‑for‑purpose screening across diverse target classes. You will coordinate with cross‑functional R&D teams to align strategies with discovery program needs.

You will mentor scientists, ensure data quality and platform reliability, and continuously evaluate new technologies to enhance scalability and impact in early drug discovery.

Qualifications

• Broad discovery biology platform leadership and assay strategy.
• Experience with cellular/biochemical pharmacology assays.
• Strong background in neuroscience or related life sciences.

Responsibilities

• Leads discovery biology platform capabilities across assay development, SAR, SPR and screening workflows.
• Ensures robust, high‑quality pharmacology data across multiple target classes.
• Mentors scientists and staff; drives continuous improvement of workflows.

Education

Bachelor's degree in biological sciences related to behavioral neuroscience, pharmacology or biopsychology

Master's degree in biological sciences related to behavioral neuroscience, pharmacology or biopsychology

PharmD or PhD

Job description

About the Role

Responsible for lead generation biology platforms that support Neurocrine’s early research portfolio. Oversees key capabilities including broad assay development, routine cellular and biochemical pharmacology assays for SAR, SPR and other biophysical and binding approaches, and fit‑for‑purpose screening workflows across broad therapeutic areas, target classes and drug modalities. Leads a laboratory organization focused on delivering robust, high‑quality pharmacology data through scalable, reproducible, and well‑characterized experimental workflows. Partners closely with therapeutic areas, protein engineering, chemistry, and other cross‑functional R&D teams to align assay strategy, execution, and data generation with the needs of discovery programs.

Your Contributions

• Leads discovery biology platform capabilities that support Neurocrine’s early research portfolio, including assay development, routine cellular and biochemical SAR assays, SPR and other biophysical approaches, and fit‑for‑purpose screening workflows
• Oversees the development, optimization, validation, and implementation of robust assay systems to generate high‑quality, reproducible pharmacology data across multiple target classes and therapeutic modalities
• Has a proven scientific‑track record in the pathophysiology underlying immunology, neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric, and/or endocrine disorders
• Partners closely with therapeutic areas, protein engineering, chemistry, translational science, DMPK, and other cross‑functional R&D teams to align assay strategies, experimental workflows, and data generation with discovery program needs
• Leads and manages a laboratory organization responsible for timely execution of discovery assays, data quality, platform performance, and continuous improvement of experimental capabilities
• Evaluates, implements, and advances new technologies, assay formats, instrumentation, and workflow improvements that enhance the quality, efficiency, scalability, and impact of discovery biology platforms
• Mentors, develops, and trains scientists and technical staff with expertise in assay development, cellular and biochemical pharmacology, biophysics, screening technologies, data interpretation, and related discovery biology disciplines
• Contributes scientific expertise to cross‑functional project teams by providing guidance on assay feasibility, pharmacology data generation, screening cascade design, and interpretation of discovery biology results
• Establishes and manages external collaborations with contract research organizations, technology providers, and academic or industry partners to supplement internal capabilities and support discovery program objectives
• Possesses an in‑depth understanding of the competitive drug development environment
• Represents discovery biology platforms in internal forums, project team discussions, external scientific meetings, and other venues as appropriate
• Continuously builds scientific and technical expertise through engagement with emerging technologies, external scientific advances, conferences, publications, and professional networks
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biological sciences preferably related to behavioral neuroscience, pharmacology or biopsychology and 12+ years of pharmaceutical/biotech experience; with a strong research background in neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, and/or biochemistry
• Master's degree in biological sciences preferably related to behavioral neuroscience, pharmacology or biopsychology and 10+ years of related experience
• PharmD or PhD and 8+ years of related experience
• Maintains deep knowledge of state‑of‑the‑art discovery biology, assay development, pharmacology screening, SAR‑supporting assay cascades, biophysical methods, and platform technologies relevant to early drug discovery
• Applies scientific and technical expertise to guide the development, optimization, validation, and execution of robust cellular, biochemical, and biophysical assays across multiple target classes and therapeutic modalities
• Requires in‑depth knowledge of discovery biology operations, assay strategy, data quality expectations, laboratory workflows, business priorities, and the company’s research goals
• Demonstrated ability to translate discovery program needs into practical assay strategies, scalable workflows, and executable tactical plans
• Ability to lead multiple platform areas and work closely with therapeutic area biology, chemistry, translational science, DMPK, automation, informatics, and other cross‑functional partners
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and people‑development skills, with experience supervising scientists and technical staff and/or leading matrixed project or platform teams
• Excellent communication, problem‑solving, analytical thinking, collaboration, and influencing skills
• Ability to establish a broader vision for discovery biology platforms while maintaining strong focus on operational execution, assay reliability, data quality, and continuous improvement
• Excellent project and operational leadership skills, including the ability to prioritize work, manage competing demands, support multiple programs, and deliver high‑quality data within established timelines
• Strong understanding of the drug discovery process and the role of fit‑for‑purpose pharmacology assays in supporting early research decision‑making
• Scientific expertise and technical know‑how across a broad range of relevant techniques, such as cell culture, cellular pharmacology, biochemical assays, molecular biology, receptor pharmacology, enzymology, protein‑based assays, imaging‑based assays, and biophysical approaches including SPR
• Experience developing, implementing, troubleshooting, and scaling assays for routine execution in support of discovery programs
• Critical thinking, scientific curiosity, and passion for enabling high‑quality drug discovery through robust experimental platforms
• Track record of solving challenging technical and operational problems independently and creatively, with evidence of scientific impact through internal contributions, platform advancement, external presentations, publications, or related accomplishments
• Experience evaluating and implementing new technologies, assay formats, instrumentation, automation, or data‑analysis workflows to improve discovery biology capabilities is preferred

Salary & Benefits

The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $188,700.00–$257,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 35% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity‑based long‑term incentive program. Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

NeurocrineBiosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer. We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description.