Senior Director, Discovery Biology

SoTalent; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 212,000 - 333,000; Full time

Job summary

Sotalent in Boston/Cambridge, MA, invites a Senior Director of Discovery Biology to lead target validation, disease biology strategy, and translational biology across discovery programs within an AI-enabled research environment.

You will integrate experimental biology with data and AI-driven drug discovery, define translational biomarkers, oversee CRO biology programs, and collaborate across medicinal chemistry, DMPK, safety and computational teams to advance IND-enabling biology.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology or related field.
• 12–15+ years of drug discovery experience.
• Strong track record in target validation and disease biology.
• Experience contributing to IND filings and IND-enabling biology packages.
• Experience managing external CRO biology programs.
• Ability to connect target biology with translational strategy and clinical hypotheses.
• Experience with AI/ML-enabled data integration and large multi-source datasets.
• Expertise in at least one relevant therapeutic area.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills.
• Ability to operate in a lean, fast-paced research environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead disease biology and target validation strategy across a portfolio of discovery programs (senior leadership).
• Establish mechanistic rationale, differentiation and clinical relevance for therapeutic programs.
• Define translational biomarker strategies to support program progression and go/no-go decisions.
• Design and oversee external CRO biology programs, including in vitro and in vivo studies.
• Critically evaluate scientific data and ensure outputs are decision-ready.
• Integrate biology data into AI-enabled drug discovery and DMTA workflows.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, DMPK, safety and structural biology teams.
• Challenge scientific assumptions and ensure biological rigor throughout program development.
• Represent biology strategy at governance and portfolio review forums.
• Contribute to IND-enabling biology packages and regulatory development activities.
• Monitor developments in disease biology and competitive research to inform portfolio strategy.
• Help establish new operating models for AI-enabled discovery and research automation.

Skills

Target validation

Disease biology

Translational strategy

Cross-functional leadership

AI/ML-enabled data integration

Data integration

Leadership in drug discovery

Collaboration

Team management

Education

PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology or related field

Job description

Senior Director, Discovery Biology

Location: Boston/Cambridge, MA | Salary: $212,000–$333,190/year + performance incentives | Industry: Pharmaceutical / Biotechnology | A senior scientific leadership opportunity is available for an experienced drug discovery professional to lead discovery biology strategy within an AI-enabled research environment. The role will establish the biological and translational foundation for programs, from target validation through clinical hypothesis, while integrating experimental biology with advanced data and AI-driven drug discovery approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead disease biology and target validation strategy across a portfolio of discovery programs
• Establish mechanistic rationale, differentiation and clinical relevance for therapeutic programs
• Define translational biomarker strategies to support program progression and go/no-go decisions
• Design and oversee external CRO biology programs, including in vitro and in vivo studies
• Critically evaluate scientific data and ensure study outputs are decision-ready
• Integrate biology data into AI-enabled drug discovery and design-make-test-analyze (DMTA) workflows
• Collaborate with medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, DMPK, safety and structural biology teams
• Challenge scientific assumptions and ensure biological rigor throughout program development
• Represent biology strategy at governance and portfolio review forums
• Contribute to IND-enabling biology packages and regulatory development activities
• Monitor developments in disease biology and competitive research to inform portfolio strategy
• Help establish new operating models for AI-enabled discovery and research automation

Requirements

• PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology or a closely related scientific discipline
• 12–15+ years of drug discovery experience
• Strong track record in target validation and disease biology
• Experience contributing to IND filings and IND-enabling biology packages
• Proven experience managing and overseeing external CRO biology programs
• Ability to connect target biology with translational strategy and clinical hypotheses
• Experience working with AI/ML-enabled data integration and large, multi-source datasets
• Expertise in at least one relevant therapeutic area
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills
• Ability to operate effectively within a lean, fast-paced and highly innovative research environment

Compensation: $212,000–$333,190 base salary, plus potential short- and/or long-term incentives and comprehensive benefits.