Director/Senior Director, In Vitro Pharmacology

Location: South San Francisco, CA

Department: DRUG DISCOVERY

Who We Are:

Calico (Calico Life Sciences LLC) is an Alphabet-founded research and development company whose mission is to harness advanced technologies and model systems to increase our understanding of the biology that controls human aging. Calico will use that knowledge to devise interventions that enable people to lead longer and healthier lives. Calico’s highly innovative technology labs, its commitment to curiosity-driven discovery science and, with academic and industry partners, its vibrant drug-development pipeline, together create an inspiring and exciting place to catalyze and enable medical breakthroughs.

Position Description: 

Calico is seeking a highly accomplished and strategic Director/Senior Director, In Vitro Pharmacology to lead and expand our drug discovery capabilities in hit identification, hit-to-lead optimization, and preclinical candidate selection. This key leadership role requires deep scientific expertise, a proven track record of advancing drug discovery programs, and exceptional managerial skills, particularly in leading and influencing matrixed internal and external teams. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining and executing the in vitro pharmacology strategy across the entire drug discovery portfolio, ensuring the successful translation of targets into high-quality, IND-enabling data packages. This leader must thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced industrial environment, driving scientific rigor and innovation. 

Responsibilities: 

• Define and execute the overall in vitro pharmacology strategy to support the organization's drug discovery pipeline across diverse therapeutic areas and projects
• Establish and nurture a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and accountability within the in vitro pharmacology group, directing external CROs and indirect resources while strategically building a dedicated internal team to lead core assay execution within matrixed environments
• Provide scientific and strategic leadership across project teams, influencing decision-making at key portfolio inflection points (e.g., hit-to-lead, candidate selection)
• Manage departmental budgets, resource allocation, and workflow prioritization to meet project milestones and timelines
• Lead the strategic deployment of internal and external resources in a matrix structure to ensure the rigorous design, development, and validation of relevant biophysical, biochemical and cell-based assays (e.g., binding, mechanistic, functional, phenotypic) supporting HTS and comprehensive compound profiling 
• Direct all primary and secondary screening and profiling efforts (including SAR, selectivity, mechanism of action and target engagement characterization) across the drug discovery pipeline, ensuring data quality and analysis to support progression from hit identification through to preclinical candidate nomination. 
• Work closely and collaboratively with cross-functional matrixed partners (e.g., Medicinal Chemistry, Therapeutic areas, In Vitro Technology groups, In Vivo Pharmacology) to guide hit-to-lead and lead optimization efforts toward selection of high-quality preclinical candidates
• Identify, evaluate, and manage external CROs (Contract Research Organizations) and academic partners to augment internal capabilities
• Collaborate with In Vitro Technology groups, In Vivo Pharmacology, DMPK, and Toxicology teams to develop the necessary pharmacological data package for IND-enabling studies
• Ensure the timely generation, rigorous analysis, and effective presentation of all in vitro pharmacology data to project teams and senior leadership
• Author and provide expert review for sections of IND-enabling reports and regulatory submissions (e.g., pre-IND briefing documents, IND application modules) related to in vitro pharmacology
• Serve as the subject matter expert for in vitro pharmacology on internal project teams and external collaborations

Position Requirements: 

• Ph.D./postdoctoral in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, or related discipline, with 10+ years of industrial experience in drug discovery 
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience, with a track record of successfully managing teams and mentoring scientists within a matrix environment of internal and/or external resources
• Deep expertise in modern assay technologies (e.g., SPR, ITC, DSF, FRET, AlphaScreen, Ca2+ Flux and cAMP measurement assays, APC, Reporter, MSD, HCA, CellTiter-Glo) and HTS methodologies (Fragment, DEL, HTS)
• Proven ability to design and drive drug discovery programs from target validation through preclinical candidate selection
• Strong working knowledge of data analysis, statistical methods, and informatics tools (e.g., StarDrop, CDD Vault) used in compound screening and profiling
• Exceptional critical thinking, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills applied to complex scientific challenges
• Demonstrated success in leading and influencing cross-functional matrixed teams to achieve shared program goals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex scientific data clearly and effectively to diverse audiences (scientists, management, regulatory bodies)
• Direct experience with writing and contributing to IND-enabling reports and regulatory documentation
• Must be willing to work onsite 5 days a week

The estimated base salary range for this role is $272,000 - $351,000. Actual pay will be based on a number of factors including experience and qualifications. This position is also eligible for two annual cash bonuses.