Vertex Pharmaceuticals · 1 day ago
Senior Director, Structural Biology and Biophysics
San Diego, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$222K/yr - $333K/yr
11+ years expVertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. They are seeking a Senior Director, Structural Biology and Biophysics to define and execute a vision for structural biology and biophysics to accelerate drug discovery, leading a specialized team and integrating diverse scientific approaches.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Define and articulate a scientific vision and strategic plans that integrate experimental structural biology and biophysics data as well as computational approaches to accelerate drug discovery
Lead and manage a team specialized in structural biology and biophysics. Provide guidance and mentorship. Foster a collaborative work environment
Champion existing and new structural biology and biophysical technologies that advance drug discovery projects forward. Propose new applications, apply technology, and follow up on new MoA, drug target and binding site identification and/or kinetic analysis of drug binding
Synthesize diverse approaches across modalities, build strategic collaborations within and outside the organization, and articulate how structural insights translate to biological and therapeutic impact
Independently perform hands-on experimental troubleshooting and methods development in biophysical assay development and protein structure determination by crystallography and/or CryoEM
Stay current with the latest advancements in the field of structural biology and biophysics, and integrate new technologies and methodologies into the drug discovery process
Propose and implement novel and improved data analysis tools. Maintain the excellence of standards for structure and interpretation of all laboratory records, electronic database entries, internal reports, patents, and external communications from the team
Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory guidelines, maintain accurate records, and promote a culture of scientific rigor and integrity within the team
Ensure effective interaction & communication between the structural biology and biophysics group and other disciplines within Research such as pharmacology, molecular and cellular biology, computational chemistry, etc
Develop and implement strategies in collaboration with key stakeholders to ensure the discovery and development of clinical candidates with high clinical success rates
Lead and/or contribute to cross-site and cross-functional goals within Vertex
Qualification
Required
Ph.D. (or equivalent degree) in Structural Biology, Biophysics, or a related field and 11+ years of industry / academic experience with a minimum of 5 years managing a team
Master's degree (or equivalent degree) and 15+ years of relevant employment experience, or
Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent degree) and 20+ years of relevant employment experience
Extensive experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or leading academic biomedical research setting, with a proven track record of leading and managing teams in structural biology and biophysics
Experience in applying structural biology and biophysics to advance drug discovery programs
Established reputation with a strong track record of scientific impact in driving drug discovery programs forward by initiating and implementing structural biology and biophysics for mechanism-of-action studies and drug target or protein binding site identification and characterization
Demonstrated ability to craft and communicate a unifying scientific vision that integrates structural biology, biophysics, and computation into discovery strategies
Proven success in applying structural insights to advance drug discovery from target validation through lead optimization
Experience in managing scientific teams, individual and team performance, goal setting, and career growth development and building a culture of innovation and inclusion
Demonstrated independent thought/creativity in science, leadership skills, and ability to inspire and motivate drug discovery teams
Excellent communication (oral and written) in articulating goals, objectives and results to the group and larger cross-functional project teams
Strong inter-personal, oral, and written communication skills
Extensive experience interfacing with internal and external stakeholders to collaborate and execute on research programs, deliver results, and influence decision making
Ability to navigate and be successful in a fast-paced, innovative, and multi-disciplinary work environment
Preferred
Experience with integral membrane proteins is highly desirable
Benefits
Medical, dental and vision benefits
Generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter)
Educational assistance programs including student loan repayment
A generous commuting subsidy
Matching charitable donations
401(k)
Company
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (188)
2024 (150)
2023 (111)
2022 (164)
2021 (112)
2020 (80)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$657.31MKey Investors
Janssen Belgium
2024-07-10Post Ipo Secondary· $1.11M
2022-05-17Post Ipo Equity· $50M
2009-12-03Post Ipo Equity· $443M
Leadership Team
Reshma Kewalramani
CEO and President
Nina Devlin
Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
Recent News
2026-01-13
2026-01-12
Company data provided by crunchbase