Head of Research And Development

My client is a clinical stage biopharma company developing novel CNS therapeutic products. Roles and Responsibilities Develop and lead Discovery and Preclinical Research strategies for lead and pipeline programs. Manage daily activities, team, and budget, ensuring contingency plans are in place. Produce pharmacology data to standards and create development hypotheses in CNS therapeutic areas. Coordinate with third parties (CROs, partners, academic centres) to achieve strategic goals. Oversee preclinical regulatory submissions and interactions with agencies (FDA, MHRA, EMA, TGA, etc.). Collaborate with Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer on trial designs and protocols. Partner with Intellectual Property team to identify and secure IP from research activities. Ensure studies adhere to SOPs and regulatory guidelines. Design nonclinical programs in compliance with ICH requirements for smooth phase transitions. Maintain Preclinical GxP and Health & Safety standards through ongoing training.

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications Degree in Pharmacology or related field; PhD preferred. Extensive senior-level experience in Pharmacology and Preclinical research within the pharmaceutical industry. Knowledge of preclinical drug development legislation and guidelines. Experience in scientific technical writing for regulatory documents and publications. Proven presentation skills at national and international forums. Strong budget management and organizational skills. Effective problem-solving and time management abilities. Leadership experience in team management and development. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, EndNote, literature search engines, and scientific software (e.g., GraphPad).