Senior Director, DMPK (Biotech)

Location: San Diego, California, United States. The role is based at the San Diego research site and is eligible for either hybrid work up to two remote days per week or on-site work five days per week.

Base salary: $232,800–$349,200 per year, plus eligibility for an annual bonus and annual equity awards.

Company

Vertex is a global biotechnology company focused on scientific innovation and the development of therapies for serious unmet medical needs.

What you will do

• Lead DMPK activities on multidisciplinary project teams across drug discovery, development, and marketing approval.
• Develop strategies with medicinal chemistry teams to optimize drug candidates and reduce ADME and drug–drug interaction liabilities.
• Interpret in vitro and in vivo DMPK data and design studies addressing key project questions.
• Prepare DMPK documentation for development candidate nominations, investigator brochures, INDs, and marketing applications.
• Coordinate scientific, operational, resourcing, budgeting, hiring, and project-prioritization activities across global DMPK.
• Represent DMPK with R&D governance committees, senior management, regulatory stakeholders, and the external scientific community.

Requirements

• Advanced experience leading multifunctional DMPK groups in a pharmaceutical company.
• Bachelor's degree with 20+ years of relevant experience, master's degree with 15+ years, or Ph.D. with 11+ years of relevant postdoctoral experience.
• Extensive experience with small molecules, ADME optimization, DMPK tools, and risk assessment for drug discovery and development.
• Demonstrated experience as a DMPK lead across multiple R&D teams and more than one therapeutic area.
• Strong management, mentoring, communication, collaboration, recruiting, and scientific leadership skills.
• Ability to work at the San Diego research site in a hybrid or on-site arrangement.

Nice to have

• Experience or willingness to champion AI approaches that accelerate drug discovery and development.
• Specialist expertise in drug-metabolizing enzymology, drug transporters, bioanalysis, biotransformation, or PK prediction.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid flexibility of up to two remote days per week or an on-site schedule with ad hoc flexibility.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits with paid time off and company shutdowns in summer and winter.
• Educational assistance programs, including student loan repayment support.
• Commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k), and other total rewards benefits.
• Culture focused on continuous learning, scientific innovation, inclusion, and improved patient outcomes.