Associate Director, Discovery Pharmacology

The Opportunity

This person will:

• Lead discovery pharmacology strategy and execution from target concept through candidate nomination and IND-enabling entry, with modality-informed approaches for small molecules, peptides, small biologics, and antisense oligonucleotides.
• Design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret biochemical, biophysical, cell-based, functional, and mechanism-of-action assays that establish potency, efficacy, selectivity, target engagement, drug-like properties, and biological relevance using a 100% external model with CROs and academic collaborators.
• Own the pharmacology work needed to link exposure, target engagement, pharmacodynamic response, tolerability, early look at translational biomarkers, and early regulatory expectations into a clear rationale for advancing discovery programs.
• Mentor and develop scientific talent while fostering a culture of rigorous experimental design, cross-functional collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Generate, analyze, and synthesize pharmacology datasets to characterize drug like properties, establish proof of concept, define liabilities and/or optimization opportunities, and recommend next experiments, using a 100% externalized model.
• Support or lead early in vivo or ex vivo proof-of-concept studies when needed, ensuring that study design is tied to the pharmacology hypothesis and stage-appropriate decision criteria.
• Apply experience across therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, peptides, small biologics, and antisense oligonucleotides, to select appropriate assay formats and interpretation frameworks.
• Conduct deep scientific diligence on new targets to develop target rationale and experimental paradigm.
• Partner closely with toxicology, bioanalytical, translational biology, and clinical pharmacology colleagues to connect pharmacology readouts with exposure, target engagement, and early developability considerations.
• Manage and direct CROs, academic collaborators, and external partners.
• Prepare concise scientific updates, program/project/study summaries, decision memos, and recommendations for project teams and leadership, with emphasis on data-driven early discovery choices.
• Mentor junior scientists and research associates while remaining directly engaged in experimental strategy, data review, and problem solving.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Molecular or Cell Biology, or a related science with 4 years industry experience; or Masters with 6 years industry experience; or BSci with 10 years industry experience.  
• Must have at least 2 years working in small biotech to be considered, previous remote work is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing pharmacology and early proof of concept studies to support support drug discovery, candidate selection, IND-enabling studies, regulatory submissions, and clinical development.
• Experience authoring, reviewing, and contributing to scientific publications and scientific experimental summary documents.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex biology, physiology, and biochemical data into a drug-product specific mechanism of action.  
• Experienced leading external CROs, consultants, and sponsored research agreements to successfully deliver nonclinical development objectives in tight timelines.
• Demonstrated success working in cross-functional teams.
• Strong and independent organizational skills, with excellent written, verbal, and presentation abilities to effectively communicate scientific concepts to diverse audiences including executive leadership.
• Can travel domestically/internationally up to 20-25%

Work Location and Conditions

• At Amylyx, we proudly support remote work opportunities within the United States. However, due to business considerations related to health insurance coverage and state tax regulations, we are unable to hire employees who reside and/or work in certain states. Currently, we are not considering applicants from Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Michigan and Tennessee.
• You will be expected to travel to our corporate location in Cambridge, MA several times a year and attend other company-related events as necessary and requested.
• You must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at your remote location.