The Pharmaceutical Sciences Team Lead (PSTL) is a senior scientific and strategic leadership role responsible for advancing pharmaceutical development and CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) strategy across clinical and commercial-stage programs. This individual will lead cross-functional pharmaceutical sciences activities spanning formulation development, analytical development, process development, manufacturing, technology transfer, regulatory submissions, and lifecycle management. The role requires a proven leader with deep expertise in pharmaceutical development, strong regulatory and quality knowledge, and the ability to lead high-performing scientific teams in a fast-paced, matrixed environment. The PSTL will serve as a key contributor to corporate development strategy and represent Pharmaceutical Sciences in executive governance, regulatory interactions, and external partnerships.
Responsibilities
Lead high-performing, collaborative, and accountable Pharmaceutical Sciences teams across multiple functional disciplines.
Establish and drive organizational priorities, resource plans, and development goals aligned with corporate objectives.
Identify program risks proactively and implement mitigation strategies to maintain timelines and deliverables.
Provide scientific leadership for formulation development, analytical development, process development, manufacturing, and technology transfer.
Partner with Non-clinical, Clinical, Regulatory, and Commercial organizations to ensure alignment on development priorities and execution.
Represent Pharmaceutical Sciences in governance committees and executive reviews.
Influence senior leadership decisions through data-driven scientific and operational recommendations.
Collaborate with Regulatory Sciences and Regulatory Affairs on CMC strategy, risk mitigation, and agency responses.
Represent Pharmaceutical Sciences in interactions with global health authorities and regulatory inspections, as needed.
Participate in due diligence activities, external scientific collaborations, and business development evaluations.
Build strong relationships with external partners, vendors, and industry organizations.
Implement scalable systems, processes, and metrics to improve development efficiency and execution quality.
Foster an inclusive and performance-oriented culture that embodies company leadership values and behaviors.
Where You'll Work
This role requires in-office collaboration 2-3x per week in our San Francisco Office and travel, as needed
Who You Are
PhD or equivalent advanced degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, or related scientific discipline preferred.
15+ years of progressive pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience, including significant leadership responsibility in Pharmaceutical Sciences, CMC, or Technical Operations.
Experience leading multidisciplinary scientific teams in matrixed global organizations.
Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical development, manufacturing, analytical development, regulatory expectations, and quality systems.
Experience managing external manufacturing and development partners (CMOs/CDMOs/CROs).
Strategic thinker with strong scientific and operational acumen.
Exceptional communication and influencing skills with executive presence.
Proven ability to drive alignment across complex cross-functional organizations.
Strong decision-making and problem-solving capabilities in dynamic development environments.
Prior experience in NDA/MAA submissions and regulatory approvals.
Experience supporting commercial manufacturing and lifecycle management activities.
Familiarity with global supply chain strategy and technical operations.
Experience in both large pharmaceutical and emerging biotech environments preferred.