Vice President of Medicinal Chemistry and DMPK

Vice President, Chemistry and DMPK

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge or Beatson Institute, Glasgow

Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week (flexible working requests will be considered)

Salary: GBP80,000 – GBP100,000 per annum depending on experience plus pension and benefits

Application method: In our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we operate an anonymised shortlisting process. Please therefore ensure that you have completed the work history section of the application form and answered the application questions. CVs are required for all applications, however they will not be reviewed as part of the shortlisting process.

Closing Date: 01 February 2023. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time once we have received sufficient applications.

About Cancer Research UK Drug Discovery

At Cancer Research UK, our focus is on beating cancer. As the world's biggest medical research charity, we've helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.

We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH). We have brought together Cancer Research UK's established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of world class biology, cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.

We have a major focus on establishing and prosecuting biologically themed multi–project alliances with industrial partners, or through creation of new companies. Based at the Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, the Milner Institute in Cambridge, Granta Park in Cambridge, the Beatson Institute in Glasgow, the Francis Crick Institute in London, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs 200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.

We bring together the best minds in basic and clinical cancer research, the diligence and drive of pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and our in–house drug discovery and alliance management capabilities to deliver breakthrough medicines for cancer patients.

Our laboratories house the personnel and state of the art equipment required to progress projects from initial hypothesis through to selection of candidate drugs for regulatory development. We couple this with a deep understanding of academic and industrial drivers, enabling us to build alliances that combine the curiosity of basic research and the rigour of drug discovery.

The Role

Reporting directly to the SVP, Drug Discovery, you will set the vision and lead the Chemistry & DMPK department ( 40 colleagues encompassing synthetic & medicinal chemistry, and DMPK), seeking to accelerate novel therapies into clinical development. You will also play a key Leadership role in the wider CRH organisation, contributing to our Strategic direction. This is a fantastic time to join a newly created organisation to help shape its future.

As the VP Chemistry & DMPK, you will lead and inspire a high–performing team to provide excellence in medicinal chemistry and DMPK across our small molecule oncology portfolio, with a specific emphasis on lead optimisation phase projects. You will be a recognised and passionate leader, able to represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross–site initiatives, and externally. You will drive scientific and technical innovation (including in novel modalities aligned to our strategic direction), incorporating external collaboration and partnership along with internal science builds.

We are seeking an inspirational leader who can articulate a vision for our mission and set direction and inspire commitment for preclinical Discovery.

What will you be doing?

• Set the vision, inspire and lead the Chemistry & DMPK department ( 40 colleagues encompassing synthetic & medicinal chemistry, and DMPK), seeking to accelerate novel therapies into clinical development. You will also play a key Leadership role in the wider CRH organisation, contributing to our Strategic direction
• Lead and inspire a high–performing team to provide excellence in medicinal chemistry and DMPK across our small molecule oncology portfolio, with a specific emphasis on hit identification to lead optimisation phase projects
• Represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross–site initiatives, and externally. This could include leadership of specific alliances, projects and initiatives
• Drive scientific and technical innovation (including in novel modalities aligned to our strategic direction), incorporating external collaboration and partnership along with internal science builds
• Generate exceptional results by influencing multiple stakeholders, driving performance, and collaborating across projects and sites
• Combine excellent team–working skills with cross–functional knowledge to deliver innovation and portfolio success
• Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken
• Manage internal expertise, capacity and resources to drive governance and decision–making regarding scientific portfolio support and technology development
• Promote scientific excellence and embed a culture where external publication is celebrated

Who are we looking for?

• PhD in Chemistry, or equivalent experience
• Extensive experience and expertise in medicinal chemistry in a drug discovery environment
• Proven track record of drug design, portfolio delivery and advancing drug candidates into clinical phase development across a range of challenging target classes
• Proven track record of recruiting, inspiring and developing a diverse world–class group of significant size, and optimising team performance in a highly matrixed discovery project environment
• Recognised industry–wide reputation in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery, evidenced through professional recognition, strong personal network, external presentation and publication in high–impact journals
• Extensive experience of establishing and leading external academic and industrial collaborations, and technology change projects, to advance organisational capability
• Track record of delivering results across a diverse project portfolio by driving strategic, scientific, financial and people performance

What will I gain?

Without you we wouldn't be able to achieve our aim of seeing 3 in 4 people survive cancer by 2034. So, we want to reward you in as many ways as possible. Our benefits package includes discounts on anything from travel to technology, generous holiday allowance, and much more. We want to ensure that you have the best work/life balance possible, so we actively encourage a flexible working culture for all our roles wherever possible. In line with our flexible working policy, you'll be required to work from a specific location for a minimum of three days a week. You'll also be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. And ultimately, you'll know that you'll be changing lives through your work.

If this sounds like you then we are keen to hear from you! If you can demonstrate the above and want to make an impact, then we'd love to have you join the team.