Head of In Vitro Pharmacology - #2736854

Your mission

• Establish all in vitro pharmacology capabilities and processes required for integrated drug discovery programs.
• Define and lead the required design, execution, and analysis of cell-based assays to support hit identification, hit-to-lead, and lead optimization campaigns.
• Select, engineer, and characterize disease-relevant cell lines, including stable and transient transfection models.
• Provide strategic input into target selection and validation.
• Design strategies for high-throughput screening campaigns using advanced assay technologies (NanoBRET, NanoBiT, TR-FRET, AlphaScreen, luminescence, reporter gene activation, FLIPR and others).
• Apply molecular and cellular biology techniques (e.g., Western blot, qPCR, gene editing, siRNA knockdown, biomarker assays) to evaluate compound activity, efficacy, mechanism of action and pathway engagement.
• Ensure robust experimental design, reproducibility, and data quality while meeting project timelines.
• Lead and mentor a team of research associates and scientists to achieve operational and scientific excellence.
• Collaborate and communicate effectively within cross-functional drug discovery teams, including medicinal chemistry, biophysics, structural biology, protein sciences, and computational chemistry.
• Align scope, timelines and decision points for support of med chem optimization, and generate high-quality in vitro pharmacology data packages to support IND-enabling activities and candidate nomination decisions.
• Present scientific capabilities and findings to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Lead implementation of automation, liquid handling systems, and high-throughput assay processing to enhance team productivity and scalability.

Your profile

Required

• PhD in Cellular Biology, Pharmacology, Chemical Biology or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of industry experience in in vitro pharmacology within a small molecule drug discovery setting (biotech or pharmaceutical).
• Extensive expertise in cellular and molecular biology techniques.
• Proven track record of contributing to the progression of small molecule drug candidates from hit to candidate nomination.
• Hands-on experience with assay development for potency, efficacy, target engagement, selectivity, and mechanism of action of small molecules.
• Proficiency in mammalian cell culture (including establishing and maintaining transient and stable cell lines).
• Long-standing experience with liquid handling systems, automation, and high-throughput assay execution.
• Strong skills in data analysis, interpretation, and scientific communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic research environment.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing research associates and scientists.
• Excellent organizational, written, and oral communication skills.
• Experience in one or more key disease areas, including oncology, immunology, neuroscience, or metabolic diseases.

Preferred

• Familiarity with CRO operating environment, including multi-client project management, resource planning, and client-facing scientific communication.
• Experience with targeted protein degradation modalities (PROTACs, molecular glues, bifunctional degraders).
• Knowledge of DMPK interface: protein binding, metabolic stability, and their impact on in vitro assay interpretation.
• Experience operating within an IND-enabling or GLP-compliant environment.

Why us?

• An entrepreneurial scientific environment at a world-leading structure-based drug discovery CRO.
• A key leadership role with the mandate and resources to build a new pharmacology capability from the ground up.
• Close collaboration with expert teams in structural biology, biophysics, medicinal chemistry, and computational chemistry.
• Competitive remuneration package and opportunities for professional development.
• A dynamic, international, and scientifically driven team based in the Greater Munich area.