HEAD OF RESEARCH

At Day One, we are focused on advancing first- or best-in-class medicines for childhood and adult diseases with equal intensity. We were founded to address the lack of new therapies resulting from the traditional drug development model, that has left children with cancer and their families waiting too long for new, life-changing treatments. Our aim is to accelerate better, targeted treatments so patients of any age can look forward from ‘day one’ to the future they’ve envisioned.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Day One is seeking a creative, intelligent, deeply committed, high-integrity, senior scientific leader to work hand in hand with the Head of Research and Development, and the rest of the R&D leadership team, to implement Day One’s strategic research vision and oversee its day-to-day operations. The successful candidate will also have demonstrated a proven track record of successfully identifying, selecting, and developing novel, targeted therapeutics through partnerships or in-licensing. As a critical member of the R&D leadership team, the individual in this position will ensure that investment and portfolio decisions surrounding science, technology and product candidates align with the company’s strategic plan and long term vision.

Key responsibilities include identifying the technologies and platforms needed to support expansion of the Day One portfolio, whether research and development programs arising from those technologies and platforms are internally developed or sourced/partnered externally.You will also be responsible for overseeing the preclinical development and translational success of the Day One portfolio throughout the product development lifecycle. As a senior executive at Day One, your responsibilities will also include contributing to corporate strategy, driving value creation, building and optimizing a sustainable positive culture, recruiting and retaining critical talent, and enabling company growth.

Reporting to the Head of Research and Development, this position has the potential to be fully remote, although travel will be required for in person meetings.

WHO YOU ARE:

You are a scientist, drug developer and drug hunter at heart and have a track record of picking the technologies and platforms that will result in compounds that will make it to the patient. Your superpower is prioritizing and selecting the best oncology targets and technology solutions for those targets that result in specific development programs from amongst the rapidly growing universe of science and biology. Others frequently call you for your help when evaluating targets, technologies, or development programs to invest in, acquire, combine with, or license. When an oncology target is mentioned, you often already know about attempts to drug it, why some have succeeded and others have not, and you have a data-driven opinion about whether that target has any merit at all. You seek the diamond in the rough and a way to succeed when others have failed. You consume data about drug development constantly because you love it and are always on the frontier of emerging information from others so you can learn and adapt fast. In the face of emerging data, you are open to re-evaluating older programs and assumptions. Your best days are when you find a new insight that changes your mind and opens an opportunity for a promising product to help patients in need. You understand the high degree of uncertainty in our field and are comfortable both navigating the unknowns and bringing others along with you.

You have a healthy degree of skepticism and a desire to dig into the data yourself. You are comfortable making recommendations and decisions with imperfect information. Not solely dependent on process, your instinct is to just dive in, but at the same time you recognize that while we can often go faster alone, we can only go far together down a path that will ultimately be of value to patients.

You are a leader who others love to follow because of your integrity, candor, desire to pursue truth, and high expectations. Leading by example is the only form of leadership you know. You have been a part of, and led, high performing teams of all sizes.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Consistent with Day One’s vision and corporate strategic objectives, establish the strategic research roadmap, oversee its execution, and provide exemplary scientific guidance and leadership to the development portfolio, including providing the direction of the nonclinical research programs and early development translational research plans.
• Expand and augment Day One’s pipeline by finding, evaluating, and recommending technologies, platforms and/or programs/opportunities for Day One to in-license/acquire, or partner/combine with in order to accomplish our mission and create value for patients with life-threatening diseases.
  • Think strategically and consider ways to add to our pipeline as well as augment it through novel combinations or novel indications/therapeutic areas consistent with our mission. Understand and guide decisions at the intersection of R&D, corporate development, and future commercial considerations, and be able to effectively communicate this balance.
  • Partner with your (and our) networks of experts as well as our internal scientific and clinical leaders, business development/search & evaluation team, and other internal teams to critically evaluate emerging data, elaborate, substantiate, and diligence therapeutic hypotheses, and enhance the Company’s intellectual property portfolio through these novel insights. This job can feel like you work in a fast-paced venture capital fund combined with a creative clinical stage company.
  • Rapidly evaluate and prioritize concepts and programs raised through Day One’s internal research and external network, while being sensitive to internal focus, resources, and time. A fast ‘no’ is oftentimes necessary to keep the team focused and productive.
  • Expand our network and ensure that we are up-to-date on emerging technologies, targets, and strategies for novel targeted drug development, and new partnership opportunities.
• Help Day One remain a leader in its fields of expertise, including pediatric oncology development, in order to create value for both patients and shareholders.
• Lead and mentor Day One’s scientists to unlock their best efforts to successfully advance our research/preclinical programs, and promote outsized professional development.
• Manage effectively the strategic planning inputs and subsequent budgetary, technical, and human resource corporate allocations to the research and translational medicine portfolio in pursuit of defined business objectives.
• Recruit, lead, manage, develop and retain outstanding scientific and technical talent.
• Partner with your fellow executives to ensure Day One fulfills its mission through growth as an exceptional company, fostering a creative, fast-paced, and fun culture. We expect you to do so by leading through:
  • Driving, but not dominating, by providing crisp, high-level decision-making on strategic and day-to-day business issues without micromanaging.
  • Engaging, inspiring, and successfully communicating with employees of any level in the organization.
  • Understanding and embracing one of our highest values, i.e. that the most precious asset is our team.
  • Proactively contributing to company-building and process evolution as we grow.

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD or MD/PhD in chemistry, pharmacology, biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline
• A minimum of 15 years of experience in the drug discovery/development setting within the biopharmaceutical industry (i.e. biotechnology and/or large pharmaceutical companies); a preponderant focus in oncology is strongly desired. A background in either medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, or cancer biology or equivalent is required. The ideal candidate will possess a broad understanding of targets and therapeutic mechanisms of action, and understands the nuances of pharmaceutical research and development (including the various drug discovery disciplines), from discovery through proof-of-concept. A working understanding of the portfolio decision-making required to build and manage a drug development pipeline is also strongly desired.
• Deep experience and a demonstrated track record of success in:
  • Target evaluation, target validation, and the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents
  • Due-diligence evaluation of external research and/or development programs for in-licensing, partnering, or acquisition
  • Effective leadership of both projects and multi-disciplinary teams of scientists to drive discovery, translational research and/or preclinical drug development, including the ability to lead, influence, and coach high-performing individuals in a virtual environment
  • Moving projects from target selection and validation through nomination of clinical candidates, IND-enabling work, and early clinical development
  • Collaboration with partners in business development, product team leadership, clinical development, translational sciences, IP law, CMC/formulation, and regulatory affairs
• Pediatric oncology and/or rare disease drug development experience is strongly desired
• Extraordinary scientific capacity and expertise, and a demonstrated track record of value creation
• Unwavering integrity and trustworthiness, embodying Day One’s core values
• A willingness to roll up one’s sleeves and lead by example in order to deliver results. Personal accountability and motivation is a must. Driven, determined, and works well under pressure, planning personal workload effectively and able to delegate when others are qualified to share the work
• Curious and creative, with an ability to think outside of traditional drug development and corporate models
• A team player and a mentor – someone who cares for their colleagues as people as well as contributors and collaborators, while delivering results
• Inspires the confidence of others, and inspires others to fulfill their potential
• Ability to thrive in a small company environment and to make clear recommendations and crisp decisions
• Eloquent and passionate when talking about science and the potential to help patients, consistent with audiences that may include company employees, senior business leadership, partners, investors, outside scientists, and Board members
• Keen scientific acumen, rigor and intellectual curiosity, good judgement, and the highest scientific integrity, cognizant of regulatory and GLP process, documentation, and procedural needs when appropriate.
• The ability to elicit and synthesize information from a range of individuals and sources rapidly and clearly communicate findings across the organization, including to senior business leadership, the board of directors, potential partners, and potential investors.
• Start-up/small biotech (< 150 people) experience is strongly preferred, or, clear personality traits that would like to dive into working with a small team.
• A sense of humor, a keen wit, a strong sense of drive, and a chronically positive attitude are always desired. Day One embraces diversity in all parameters.
• Able to travel to the San Francisco area in particular, but anywhere in general, to work in person; we estimate that this may require up to 25% of your time, including scientific and industry conferences.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.

INTERVIEW INTEGRITY

At Day One, we expect each candidate to engage authentically, representing their true qualifications and experiences. As part of our screening process, we will conduct several interviews and background verification. This ensures candidates have the skills they claim and align with our values. We are excited to learn more about you and to create a genuine experience for everyone.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $430,000 - $480,000. Day One considers a range of factors when determining base compensation. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary.

Please visit https://www.dayonebio.com/benefits to see our competitive benefits.

DISCLAIMER

Day One Biopharmaceuticals is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Employment is conditioned upon full vaccination from the COVID-19 virus, including submission of documented proof thereof, as of the start date. Day One Biopharmaceuticals will comply with applicable law regarding the reasonable accommodation of individuals who are not vaccinated because of a disability and/or a sincerely held religious belief.

We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any applicant work visas at this time.

Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Day One Biopharmaceuticals does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of unsolicited resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Day One Biopharmaceuticals or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Day One Biopharmaceutical’s internal HR team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Day One Biopharmaceuticals, and Day One Biopharmaceuticals will not owe any referral or other fees with respect thereto.