Senior Director, Head of Research & Early Development (Biopharma)

Location: Remote/Home-Based; listed locations include California, US, Dublin, Ireland, and London, UK.

Salary: Base pay of $228,000–$342,000, plus potential annual incentive compensation, equity, and benefits.

Company

hirify.global is a global biopharmaceutical company developing medicines for serious diseases, with marketed therapies and research programs in sleep disorders, epilepsy, oncology, neuroscience, and rare diseases.

What you will do

• Lead process optimization across early drug development from Discovery and Candidate Drug Nomination through IND/CTA and First-in-Human trials.
• Establish cycle-time benchmarks, remove operational bottlenecks, and scale R&D processes for neuroscience, oncology, and rare disease programs.
• Oversee early portfolio risks, dependencies, milestones, budgets, governance materials, and post-governance tracking.
• Embed and sustain the Orchestra Team Operating Model, clarifying roles, responsibilities, and decision rights across project teams.
• Partner with Chief Scientific Officers, Corporate Strategy, Governance, Finance, and Late Development Project Leads on prioritization, trade-offs, continuity, and resource balancing.
• Manage and develop global early development project managers while supporting high-priority projects directly when required.

Requirements

• Extensive progressive biopharmaceutical industry experience, including direct early drug development experience from Discovery and Pre-clinical through IND-enabling work and First-in-Human trials.
• Proven experience line-managing, coaching, and developing senior project or program managers.
• Ability to influence executive-level scientists, C-suite leaders, and scientific governance bodies without direct authority.
• Hands-on professional proficiency with Planisware, Smartsheet, and Oracle.
• Proven track record of optimizing drug development pathways, redesigning processes, and reducing pre-clinical cycle times.
• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, Engineering, Business, or a related field.

Nice to have

• Advanced degree such as PhD, PharmD, MS, or MBA.
• PMP or equivalent professional project management certification.

Culture & Benefits

• Remote/home-based work arrangement for the listed locations.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, and flexible paid vacation.
• Potential eligibility for discretionary annual cash or incentive compensation and equity grants.
• Equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.