Senior Director of Research Job Description Sample Template

JOB TITLE:

  • Senior Director of Research

DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Responsible for the communication of project status and issues and develops strategies to ensure project team goals and deliverables are met.
  • Oversees the management of Research deliverables with a focus on portfolio expansion.
  • Establishes strategies and experimental programs necessary to investigate key lines of scientific inquiry important to the business objectives of the organization, as outlined in the company’s strategic business plan and particular department goals.
  • Plans experimental programs to include design, logistics, resource allocation, schedules, identified critical support needs, and other necessary details to implement the program(s).
  • Supports due diligence projects by defining Research study plans and compound testing scheme requirements and developing overall project timelines and associated budgets.
  • Works across functional areas on projects including initiating/attending sub-team meetings and organizing ad hoc working for groups as needed to move project activities forward.
  • Oversees compilation of project team documents associated with all areas of development.
  • Communicates project status and issues and ensures project team goals and regulatory deliverables are met.
  • Provides guidance to team members to objectively assess and resolve project issues to improve project effectiveness.

EXPERIENCE and QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Ph.D. in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible, relevant experience in pre-clinical drug development.
  • Advanced understanding of the drug development process and the principles, concepts, practices, and standards of pharmaceutical project management.
  • Experience in Research activities with an emphasis on discovery and early clinical-stage assets.
  • Knowledgeable in the tools and procedures of experimentation, including the various experimental designs, statistical tools of data analyses, software applications available for data manipulation and presentation, and instrumentation pertinent to the research.
  • Experience managing cross-functional project teams and working in a semi-virtual environment including CROs and academic collaborations.
  • Skilled at negotiating with business partners or management and influencing senior-level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization.
  • Proficient at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members effectively aligning resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

  • The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. 
  • This employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands or feet, reach with hands and arms.
  • May be required to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.