Senior Director, Small Molecule Neurotherapeutics

National Institutes of Health; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites applications for the Director of Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development within the NINDS Division of Translational Research. This senior role leads a portfolio spanning discovery to early clinical testing, directing scientists, managers, and partners to translate ideas into patient therapies.

Responsibilities include strategic direction, cross-institution collaboration, and managing a substantial budget while guiding teams through regulatory

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent required; broad multidisciplinary expertise in small molecules and neurotherapeutic development.
• Technical experience in medicinal chemistry, assay development, DMPK, pharmacology, toxicology, IND-enabling studies, regulatory strategy, CMC, and/or clinical development.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Principal Investigators, scientists, key opinion leaders, project managers, and consultants to resolve translational challenges and move products to clinical trials.
• Direct and influence multidisciplinary teams to meet milestones within budget and timeline.
• Understand preclinical and early clinical pipeline, including product optimization, assay development, pharmacology, PK/PD, toxicology, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, and early human trials.
• Lead teams through drug discovery and IND application processes.
• Foster partnerships with academic institutions and small businesses to strengthen programs.
• Provide strategic direction, mentorship, and performance management for program staff.

Skills

Leadership experience

Executive management

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Communication skills

Budget management

Education

Doctoral-level degree in biomedicine or related field

Master's degree in bioinformatics or related field

Tools

Medicinal chemistry

Assay development

DMPK

Pharmacology

Toxicology

IND-enabling studies

Regulatory strategy

CMC

Clinical development

Job description

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites applications for the Director of Small Molecule Neurotherapeutic Development within the NINDS Division of Translational Research. This senior role leads a portfolio spanning discovery to early clinical testing, directing scientists, managers, and partners to translate ideas into patient therapies.

Responsibilities include strategic direction, cross-institution collaboration, and managing a substantial budget while guiding teams through regulatory