Director, Discovery Science

About Initial Therapeutics:

Initial Therapeutics, Inc. is pursuing a bold and original mission: discovering and developing a new class of small-molecule medicines designed to halt pathogenic protein formation in the earliest stages.  Initial’s approach is unique and starkly differentiated from protein degradation and other interventions that recognize and tackle proteins only after they have beenfully formed.

Initial Therapeutics was formed in 2020 and is currently operating in labs in South San Francisco, with a substantial (8- figure) Series A commitment.  Initial is founded by world-renowned scientists who bring relevant expertise and proprietary technology to enable them to address high-confidence, heretofore difficult-to-drug targets in cancer and neurodegeneration.  Screening of proprietary libraries is in progress.

Initial Therapeutics is founder-led and offers a dynamic start-up environment with a close-knit team of highly skilled, mission-driven professionals. We seek colleagues who are inspired to push the boundaries of small molecule discovery using novel approaches and who excel at identifying innovative solutions to challenging problems.

At Initial Therapeutics you’ll find a career where every day brings you adventures, challenges, and breakthroughs.  Join a dynamic, diverse, and growing team dedicated to developing transformative therapies that will revolutionize the future of cancer treatment and outcomes. Initial offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated DIRECTOR to partner with leadership to develop and drive a portfolio-wide oncology discovery pipeline from target validation, lead optimization, and development compound characterization. The successful candidate will have a deep knowledge of assay development and operational experience.  This individual will use their scientific and management skills to lead a highly performing cell biology team to support oncology R&D. Significant experience leading a platform is preferred. The ideal candidate will value collaboration and enjoy working in a dynamic, innovative environment with a passion for developing high-quality data to drive programs forward with scientific excellence and urgency.  This is an onsite position and will work at our SSF location 5 days a week. 

Primary Responsibilities:

• Collaborate across internal functions to develop strong in vitro assay strategies, implement a robust SAR engine, and drive for results to advance the discovery pipelines.
• Align with the executive leadership to manage budget, priorities, and workforce plans to achieve a mechanistic understanding and support SAR for the timely achievement of company goals.
• Help lead, manage, and coach a productive assay team to ensure excellence in the execution of programs, processes, and initiatives.  Translate scientific and resource business strategies to drive strategic outcomes.
• Serves as a primary contact and assay expert across teams to support the research goals, execution, and delivery of high-quality in vitro data to support the oncology pipeline. 
• Contribute to authorship of documents supporting IND, clinical trials, and scientific manuscripts when needed.
• Foster a science-driven, goal-oriented culture that values innovation, teamwork, agility, transparency, accountability, and empowerment.
• Stay up to date on emerging data and current trends in oncology research to support oncology pipelines. 
• Collaborate with other function leaders to provide input on the effectiveness and development of company operational policies and procedures.
• Prepare and present scientific presentations to senior management, project teams, and internal and external collaborations.
• Manage laboratory records in a complete, consistent, and concise manner under company intellectual property policies and practices.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Deep knowledge of the development of cellular assays including troubleshooting and strong implementation of a variety of assay technologies including HiBiT, LUMIT, ALPHALISA, HTRF, CEI (capillary electrophoretic immunoassay), imaging, etc. 
• Proven strong track record and expertise with extensive experience in in vitro assay development and drug discovery.  The ability to influence project teams to adapt an appropriate assay cascade that incorporates time, cost, efficiency, and success is necessary.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills with proven ability to prioritize activities to ensure timely achievement of deliverables.   
• A solid understanding of target selection, prioritization, timelines, and resources needed to deliver results from a platform. The ability to plan the development of targets in parallel and highlight the most successful target to progress at the most rapid rate would be beneficial. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills, high ethical standards, and outstanding written and verbal skills to ensure clear, effective communication. 
• A strategic thinker with excellent leadership skills, and prior project leader roles with deep expertise in oncology discovery, signaling pathways, and assay development is highly preferred.
• Strong track record of scientific productivity as evidenced by high-quality, impactful publications.
• Extended research experience in the fields of molecular and cellular biology and ribosomal biology is a plus.
• Excellent project management and organization skills to multi-task, prioritize options, anticipate challenges, and execute goals as a member of an interdisciplinary team are essential.
• Makes effective and persuasive presentations on sensitive or complex topics to senior management, external customers, collaborators, and public groups.
• Experience in a start-up environment with a fast pace. Seasoned experience with success in multiple start-ups or large pharma preferred.
• Seasoned manager with strong leadership to cope with the changes. This candidate needs to have been a manager for more than 10 years, leading highly accomplished PhD level scientists as well as employees with limited education and experience. This candidate must be able to coach junior scientists on troubleshooting and data analysis and gain a common understanding of the goals.

Key leadership competencies:

• Highly self-motivated, dedicated, proactive, and organized with strong presentation skills.
• Excellent team player with a strong work ethic, high levels of flexibility, and accountability to adapt to changes, and commit to company growth and success.
• Foster respectful, professional, and effective communication with colleagues and management teams.
• Compliance with company policy and adherence to the standard of conduct is mandatory.

Education / Experience

• A Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology or related fields with a minimum of 15 years of relevant industry experience in cancer drug discovery and development or equivalent.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Vaccination Policy:
Initial Therapeutics requires employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Accommodation may be made for approved medical or religious reasons.

Salary Range:

• The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $250,000 per annum. Compensation will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, skill set, years of experience and education.