Hit Identification Leader

CK Group are working in partnership with Nxera Pharma UK Limited (formerly Sosei Heptares) to recruit a Hit Identification Leader at a Director level to lead the Hit Identification function/strategy.

Company:

Nxera Pharma is a technology powered biopharma company, in pursuit of new specialty medicines to improve the lives of patients with unmet needs in Japan and globally, focused on therapeutic areas in inflammation diseases, neurology and immunology. 

Location:

Granta Park, Cambridge (UK).

The Role:

The successful candidate will join the Medicinal Chemistry team working closely with stakeholders to define and execute strategies to deliver high quality novel hit matter to Hit to Lead and Lead Optimization Projects. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams and manage other Medicinal Chemists.

The role will include the following responsibilities:

• Lead successful application of Nxera’s proprietary GPCR structural platform, and chemogenomic and phenotypic screening platforms, to Hit Identification.
• Enable and embed other hit finding technologies at Nxera - through expanding in-house capabilities and through partnerships.
• Contribute to the successful progression and delivery of Nxera Internal and Partnered projects.
• Interface Hit Identification with early-stage biology Target Identification/ Validation.

Your Background:

• PhD (or MSc with equivalent lab experience) in a relevant area of Chemistry.
• A proven and extensive track record of small molecule Hit Identification in an industry Drug Discovery setting.
• A history of delivering small molecule Hits which have been progressed and optimised in Drug Discovery projects.
• Proven track record of successfully leading multi-disciplinary projects in the Hit Identification or Hit to Lead phases in an industry Drug Discovery Setting.
• Expertise in application of two or more distinct state of the art Hit Identification technologies/strategies.
• Experience interfacing Hit Identification and molecular tool provision with Target Identification/Validation is desirable but not essential.

Fantastic benefits on offer including:

• State-of-the-art R&D centre located in the heart of the Cambridge science cluster.
• Competitive compensation package including discretionary cash bonuses.
• 25 days annual leave in addition to public holidays.
• Employer contribution to pension.
• Private Medical Insurance and a cash plan for dental and optical reimbursement.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including a subsidised individual gym membership.
• Income protection to cover long term absences due to ill health.
• Group Death in Service equal to 4x basic annual salary.

Apply:

It is essential that applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 105012 in all correspondence.