Senior Director Bioscience - Chief Scientist, Metabolism

Senior Director Bioscience - Chief Scientist, Metabolism

Are you an expert in metabolic diseases research? Are you looking to play a key role in guiding a portfolio of drug discovery projects in multidisciplinary drug development teams to bring novel treatment options to patients? Join us to develop the ground-breaking medicines of the future for Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolic diseases!

At AstraZeneca, we work without barriers between functions at the cutting-edge of science, it’s a place to rethink the future of medicine to answer some of the most complex unmet patient needs. That’s why we love it – this is the place to make a greater impact! 

We are now recruiting a Chief Scientist to lead metabolic disease research within Bioscience department of  Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) therapeutic area. The role will be at Senior Director level.

Early CVRM is accountable for the discovery and development of new medicines within three main strategic disease areas - cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. In this role, you will have the opportunity to work at the forefront of metabolic disease research within CVRM. In a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, you will play an important leadership role to promote the progression of a rich and diverse portfolio of investigational drugs in accordance with the Early CVRM remit. The role is part of the Early CVRM Bioscience leadership team and located at of  AstraZeneca’s vibrant R&D site in Gaithersburg, USA.

What you’ll do

In this highly visible, strategic role, you will be the expert in metabolic diseases research and, in multidisciplinary drug development teams, play a key role in guiding a portfolio of drug discovery projects to bring novel treatment options to patients. Additional accountabilities include:

• Closely collaborate with colleagues in Early CVRM and partner organizations to identify novel anti-obesity and metabolic targets with breakthrough potential and aid with the development of novel assets from discovery to candidate selection and into the clinic.
• Leverage your personal network to establish and implement strategic collaborations with academic institutions or industry partners to enhance the early research pipeline.
• Create and present research strategies and portfolio developments to internal stakeholders.
• Stay updated with the latest pre-clinical and clinical advancements in metabolic diseases and related fields.
• Partner with research scientists in Bioscience to develop and carry out pre-clinical publication and conference dissemination strategies to support department and company goals.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies to integrate novel technologies into the discovery process to maintain a competitive edge.
• Mentor and develop Early CVRM staff, promoting their career growth and helping to create a high-performing collaborative research environment.

Essential for the role

• PhD or MD in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., pharmacology, cell biology, genetics) with significant experience in research.  Candidates with deep expertise in the neurobiology of appetite regulation are preferred.
• A minimum 8 years of experience in novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes and their co-morbidities, with experience in a senior leadership role.
• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Broad understanding of diverse therapeutic areas and modalities.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong creativity, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.
• A demonstrated record of high-quality research indicated by high impact peer-reviewed published manuscripts or other work products.
• Proven track record of advancing drug discovery projects from target ideation through preclinical development and into candidate selection preferred.

So, what’s next?

Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.

Welcome to apply!

Where can I find out more?

Our Gaithersburg site: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/our-locations/gaithersburg.html

CVRM at AstraZeneca:https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-therapy-areas/cardiovascular-renal-and-metabolism.html

CVRM ambition movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfTEz00kx4I

Publications: https://www.astrazeneca.com/publication.htm

When we putteams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

At AstraZeneca, we are unlocking the power of what science can do. We are committed to treating, preventing, modifying and even curing some of the world's most complex diseases. Our combination of curiosity and courage drives us to dig deep into the biology of complex diseases and make bold decisions. We are investing to enhance our understanding of disease as we work towards creating the next generation of therapeutics and pioneering new approaches to better predict clinical success. By advancing our scientific knowledge we are helping to shape the future of healthcare. To create the greatest and swiftest impact on disease.