Director, Chemical Biology

About the Department

Our Research & Development organization brings together the best minds in life science innovation. The teams located in facilities in Lexington, Watertown, Cambridge and Seattle reflect the full R&D continuum, from early research through late-stage clinical development. Here, we are building for the future, creating a distinct R&D community based on collaboration, partnerships, and cutting-edge research across multiple modalities and therapeutic areas. We recognize that improving human health starts here and that patients rely on us. Our R&D hub merges biotech speed and agility with large pharmaceutical company quality, resources, and stability, uniting the best of both worlds to develop new medicines for patients.

The Position

Chemical Biology is part of the Novo Nordisk Global Research Technologies organization in Boston, which is engaged in early drug discovery for the development of novel therapies for the treatment of cardio-metabolic diseases, obesity and rare diseases obesity. The unit is building and implementing core technology platforms in peptide chemistry, protraction technologies, oral delivery, targeted delivery and targeted protein degradation needed to discover new important therapeutics within our core business. The team will initiate new discovery projects, design and produce therapeutics across various molecular formats including proteins, peptides and oligonucleotides required for research projects and provide detailed protein science knowledge to mature early-stage therapeutic opportunities.

The Head of Chemical Biology leads a palette of drug discovery activities comprising therapeutic research and technology projects and drives a broad portfolio of external collaborations to the benefit of the global R&ED organization. The ambition is to deliver innovative and high-quality ideas that translate into innovative API strategies via semi-autonomous research efforts and results-driven decisions. The Head of Chemical Biology cultivates a discovery research ecosystem that fosters risk-willing mentalities and unconventional research theories combined with fast and efficient project execution.

Relationships

Reports to a (Corporate) Vice President in Research & Early Development. Directly manages an interdisciplinary team of chemists, chemical biologists, bioanalysis scientists and biochemists at the site. May manage contingent workers. Engages with colleagues across Research & Early Development including direct interactions with GDD and GRT management and other key stakeholders such as project managers, focus group leaders/administrators, and research directors/scientists. Engages with external partners and key opinion leaders in academic and biotech research.

Essential Functions

• Research Chemistry Leadership:
  • Sets overall directions of site and supervises all scientists of Chemistry Biology and their direct reports
  • Defines, shapes, and drives the local research strategies and prioritizations with agility while ensuring proper alignment with current and future global research objectives across all therapeutic areas
  • Leads Chemical Biology research efforts and programs through fast-paced, high-functioning, talent-rich and goal-oriented teams
  • Responsible for talent development of employees in a highly specialized group of scientists with a complex and challenging scientific mindset
  • Responsible for leadership and further development of the organization through interactions with local line managers across R&ED
  • Overall personnel responsibility of the department including supervision, goal-setting, performance review, and on-site personal health and safety of all research positions
  • Responsible for recruiting, evaluating, and hiring all new research positions in the local organization
  • Ensures awareness, transparency, and visibility of strategies and research projects to global R&D management and colleagues via up-to-date channels of communication and ambassador functions to the global organization
  • Secures appropriate and selective integration of Chemical Biology into the Global R&ED organization
  • Maintains an agile environment, including flexible work practices, rapid uptake of new technologies, and a composition of diverse individual knowledge bases, to ensure sustained success for near-term and long-term
  • Together with VP/CVP represents Chemical Biology, Research Chemistry and GRT at board/gove