Job Description

At Gilead, we’re creating a healthier world for all people. For more than 35 years, we’ve tackled diseases such as HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer – working relentlessly to develop therapies that help improve lives and to ensure access to these therapies across the globe. We continue to fight against the world’s biggest health challenges, and our mission requires collaboration, determination and a relentless drive to make a difference.

We empower our leaders to step up, share ideas, listen, learn, and lead. We’re welcoming bright, diverse, and imaginative minds; we’re nurturing them to foster an environment of inclusion and growth where innovation is encouraged. We expect our people leaders to model that environment, and to focus on creating inclusion, developing talent, and enabling teams.

Every member of Gilead’s team plays a critical role in the discovery and development of life-changing scientific innovations. Our employees are our greatest asset as we work to achieve our bold ambitions, and we’re looking for the next wave of passionate and ambitious people ready to make a direct impact. Join Gilead and help create possible, together.

Job Description

As a Senior Director in the Modeling Group and a Senior Staff member of the Structural Biology and Chemistry Department, you will work with other Senior Staff members to formulate strategies and vision for the department and the group.  As a Core Team member on therapeutic projects, you will work with other Core Team members to develop strategies and directions of project teams beyond computational modeling.  Furthermore, as a member of the Modeling Group, you will work closely within inter-disciplinary project teams deployed in multiple therapeutic areas. In this critical role you will be responsible for proactively delivering structural and computational expertise to influence efforts in target and lead identification as well as lead optimization.

Essential Functions:

Responsible for leading and executing scientific research for the discovery and development of drug candidates or the research support of marketed drugs. Investigates the feasibility of applying advanced principles and techniques of related scientific specialty to potential inventions, products, and problems. Recommends the development of economical, state-of-the art techniques toward the discovery of therapeutic products. Plans, designs, implements, and analyses computational strategies to advance scientific knowledge of drug substances or techniques to identify such substances. Provides direction to research associates or members of project teams in the initiation and execution of laboratory experimentation, considering economic and safety factors. Works on complex problems where analysis of situations or data requires evaluation of intangible variables, requiring regular use of ingenuity and creativity. Makes contributions to scientific literature and conferences through publication and presentation of research results. Participates in development of patent applications. Acts as a resource and provides work direction for other research personnel.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills:

Essential:

Experience in a broad variety of computational techniques is essential, particularly molecular docking, pharmacophore development, library design and analysis, machine learning methods, and protein-ligand simulation. The ability to analyze chemical structures in relation to biological activity in order to guide novel compound design or help evolve the SAR, both independently and in collaboration with medicinal chemists, is crucial.

Solid knowledge of medicinal chemistry principles, including DMPK, as well as the understanding of IP and its analysis is expected. Excellent leadership and communication skills along with the ability to function as an effective member on multiple project teams are mandatory. The ability to develop tools for use by computational and medicinal chemists would be a great plus.

Typically requires a PhD in an appropriate scientific discipline and 12+ years of relevant experience that demonstrates an expertise in a specific field and sustained excellence in performance and accomplishments that align to company goals. Excellent leadership skills are essential, and direct management experience is desirable.  Excellent communication skills (both verbal and technical) and interpersonal skills are required. Must be able to participate in highly effective teams. Exercises independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Demonstrates ability to recognize anomalous and inconsistent results and interpret experimental outcomes. Maintains in-depth knowledge of state-of-the art principles and theories, applying such knowledge to the research direction that supports Company interests. Demonstrates technical proficiency, scientific creativity, collaboration with others and independent thought in suggesting experimental design and research strategy. Must think critically and creatively and be able to work independently, determine appropriate resources for resolution of problems and have strong organizational and planning skills.

Desirable:

Proficiency with the Schrodinger Software Suite and an aptitude toward creating tools and workflows with Pipeline Pilot will be very useful.  Experience in AI/ML is desirable.