Research Lead in Oncology

Research Lead in Oncology

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas!

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com .

This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Hybrid work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in hybrid work are encouraged to apply.

Purpose:

Research Lead in Oncology at Astellas is a strategic leader and key member of our scientific oncology research team, dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapeutic compounds for cancer treatment. This role reports to the Head of Oncology Research and involves providing global strategic leadership, scientific expertise, and business acumen to drive the success of our nonclinical research programs as well as providing scientific expertise support for clinical programs.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Strategic and Scientific Leadership

• Drive the research program from Discovery (DC) stage through Candidate Nomination (CN) as a leader, ensuring alignment with company goals and a robust pipeline of clinical candidates.

• Co-lead the Asset Maximization Team (AMT) with Asset Lead from CN to First Subject Dose (FSD), supporting clinical development as a subject matter expert (SME) in nonclinical science after FSD.

• Leveraging experience and deep subject matter expertise, provides scientific leadership and mentorship, fostering innovation and guiding teams on strategic and technical decisions.

• Evaluate and prioritize drug candidates based on scientific, medical and commercial considerations in collaboration with Dev and Com representatives, incorporating the latest advancements in oncology research, drug discovery technologies, and industry trends.

• Lead program reviews, milestone decisions, and budget/resource allocation, ensuring financial and operational efficiency for their responsible Research team in collaboration with sub-functional unit heads.

• Share best practices with other Research Leads, leading training programs, and mentoring them to enhance program strategies and execution.

Team Leadership and Management

• Build and lead high-performing, transparent, and creative research teams, fostering innovation and collaboration.

• Manage team priorities, resources, and investments in alignment with the company's overall oncology strategy and objectives.

• Attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent by driving innovation and providing growth opportunities.

• Oversee experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation, ensuring high scientific rigor and impactful decision-making.

Cross-functional Collaboration

• Represent their responsible Research team and collaborate closely with other Research teams, Primary Focus Lead (PFL)-Oncology, Development team, T&M team, and other key stakeholders to drive program success.

• Align research objectives with the broader oncology strategy, ensuring seamless coordination with key stakeholders and leadership teams.

• Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including academic institutions and industry partners.

Qualifications Required:

• V.M., M.D., or Ph.D. in life sciences with 10-14 years of industry experience OR M.S. with 16 years of experience OR B.S. with 20 years of experience.

• A minimum of 5-7 years of drug discovery and development experience in roles of increasing project leadership responsibility.

• Extensive experience leading multiple assets from preclinical to development, particularly in oncology and immune-oncology.

• Proven track record in managing nonclinical research teams and drug development projects in a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting.

• Experience with modalities such as small and large molecules and ADCs, etc...

• Proven track record of successful drug discovery programs, including lead compound identification and optimization.

• Deep understanding of drug discovery techniques and processes, from target identification to preclinical development.

• Excellent leadership and strategic planning skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams towards achieving ambitious goals.

• Strong business acumen and understanding of pharmaceutical industry regulations and processes (e.g. IND, NDA submissions).

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a focus on data-driven approaches.

Working Environment:

• This position is based in the US/Japan but preferred in the US. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas’ Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply.

• The actual base salary/Grade offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down

• 401(k) match and annual company contribution

• Company paid life insurance

• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions

• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions

• Referral bonus program

*LI-CH1

Category Oncology Research

Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment.

EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans