Associate Vice President/ Vice President

Role: Associate Vice President/ Vice President (Head)- Discovery Biology

Reporting To: Chief Scientific Officer (CSO)

Job location: Bangalore, India

Role overview: The Head – Discovery Biology will lead and shape the biology discovery function across multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, antibody/ADC, and cell & gene therapy platforms. The role requires a visionary scientific leader with deep expertise in oncology/rare diseases/immunology, and a proven track record of translating cutting-edge science into differentiated therapies. This leader will oversee discovery programs from target identification and validation through preclinical proof-of-concept and into early clinical development, partnering closely with chemistry, translational sciences, and clinical development teams.

Desired Profile

• Ph.D. in Cell & Molecular Biology, Immunology or related field; with post-doctoral experience.
• 15+ years of experience in drug discovery within biopharma/biotech, including at least 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Proven track record of advancing multiple programs across therapeutic modalities (small molecules, antibody/ADC, cell & gene therapy) from discovery to IND/early clinical stage.
• Demonstrated expertise in oncology, immuno-oncology, or rare diseases.
• Strong understanding of target biology, pharmacology, biomarker discovery, and translational sciences.
• Experience in managing external collaborations and partnerships.

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with near-term program execution.
• Inspirational leader who fosters innovation, accountability, and team development.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across scientific and business stakeholders.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and portfolio management abilities.

Key Success Factors

• Delivery of high-quality discovery programs that successfully transition to clinical development.
• Building a world-class discovery biology function recognized for scientific innovation and productivity.
• Effective collaboration across functions and external partners to accelerate pipeline progress.
• Establishing the company as a leader in translating biology into transformative medicines.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Define and execute the discovery biology strategy across modalities (small molecules, antibody/ADC, and cell & gene therapy) in alignment with company goals.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of novel targets and therapeutic candidates.
• Drive scientific innovation by integrating emerging technologies, translational insights, and external collaborations.

Program Leadership & Delivery

• Oversee multiple discovery programs from target identification, validation, assay development, and lead optimization through IND-enabling studies.
• Ensure seamless transition of assets from discovery to preclinical and early clinical development.
• Provide scientific direction on mechanism-of-action, disease biology, biomarker discovery, and patient stratification strategies.
• Evaluate risks, troubleshoot challenges, and ensure timelines and milestones are achieved.

Functional & People Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a multidisciplinary team of discovery biologists, immunologists, and translational scientists.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, collaboration, and accountability.
• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier scientific talent.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with medicinal chemistry, protein engineering, pharmacology, toxicology, bioinformatics, translational sciences, and clinical development.
• Interface with senior leadership to shape portfolio strategy and make key investment decisions.
• Collaborate with external academic institutions, CROs, consortia, and biotech/pharma partners to expand capabilities and accelerate progress.

Scientific Excellence & Governance

• Ensure high-quality science, robust data, and compliance with ethical and regulatory standards.
• Represent Discovery Biology in internal governance forums, program reviews, and portfolio discussions.
• Contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and thought leadership.