Sr. Director, Pharmacology

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 239,000 - 358,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

Generous PTO

Education assistance

Commuting subsidy

Matching charitable donations

401(k)

Job summary

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, based in San Diego, seeks a Sr. Director of Pharmacology to lead the design, development, and execution of in vitro and in vivo assays that advance drug discovery and human therapeutics.

You will oversee a multidisciplinary Pharmacology team, shape research direction, manage budgets and hiring, and collaborate across sites to align programs with company goals while ensuring regulatory-compliant documentation and high scientific standards.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology or related field with post-doctoral industry experience.
• 12+ years in drug discovery with leadership of research teams.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional pharmacology efforts and manage staff.

Responsibilities

• Direct pharmacology strategy and lead teams across programs.
• Oversee in vitro and in vivo assays for drug discovery and optimization.
• Set priorities, manage budgets, hiring, and staff development.
• Drive planning, data quality, reporting, and regulatory documentation.

Skills

Leadership

Pharmacology expertise

In vitro/in vivo assays

People management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Ph.D. in Pharmacology

Post-doctoral industry experience

Tools

Electrophysiology equipment

Data analysis software

Job description

Job Description

Vertex is seeking an exceptional scientific leader to drive the development and incorporation of human disease models and assays into drug discovery programs. The Sr. Director, Pharmacology will lead a department responsible for the design, development, and execution of in vitro and in vivo assays that support the progression and optimization of human therapeutics, including assays used to determine drug potency, efficacy, and mechanism of action. This leader will also serve as a member of the San Diego biology leadership team and help shape site research direction and cross-departmental projects.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Direct pharmacology strategy, including assays that assess potency, efficacy, and mechanism of action and provide scientific, operational, and people leadership across multiple programs and teams.
• Lead the Pharmacology function and manage a team responsible for in vitro and in vivo assays that support drug discovery and therapeutic optimization.
• Set team priorities, allocate resources, manage budgets and hiring, and ensure progress against company goals. Mentor and develop staff, promote ethical scientific practices, and support a high-performing team culture.
• Drive study planning, data quality, reporting, publications, patents, and compliance with regulatory documentation standards.
• Partner across functions and sites to influence research direction, reduce project risk, and advance innovative solutions.
• Communicate priorities, capabilities, progress, and recommendations clearly to project teams, collaborators, senior management, and across a matrixed organization.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong leadership and strategic thinking, with the ability to lead scientists and coordinate cross-functional drug discovery efforts.
• Proven people management skills, including mentoring, recruiting, and developing scientific teams including Ph.D. scientists and Research Associates.
• Deep expertise in pharmacology, including in vitro/in vivo assay design, execution, analysis, and interpretation. Strong knowledge of pharmacological principles and the drug discovery process.
• Extensive experience with ion channel pharmacology/electrophysiology and mechanism-of-action studies.
• Evidence of developing innovative translational in vitro and/or in vivo models that predict human efficacy.
• Ability to analyze complex data, communicate findings clearly, and recommend next steps to varied audiences.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, matrixed research environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with credibility across senior leadership and scientific stakeholders.

Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, or a related field, with relevant post-doctoral industry employment experience.
• 12+ years of drug discovery experience with demonstrated excellence in early-stage drug discovery and development.
• Successful track record managing functional or cross-functional research groups, including Ph.D. Scientists and Research Associates.

Pay Range

$238,900 - $358,300

Disclosure Statement

The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.

At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations.

• medical, dental and vision benefits
• generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter)
• educational assistance programs including student loan repayment
• a generous commuting subsidy
• matching charitable donations
• 401(k)
• and so much more

Flex Designation

On-Site Designated

Flex Eligibility Status

In this On-Site designated role, you will work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [e-mail]