Principal Research Scientist I - Functional Reprograming Team Lead

Principal Research Scientist I - Functional Reprograming Team Lead

AbbVie

Oxford, United Kingdom

Job Description

The successful candidate will provide both people leadership and strategic scientific direction, working across a portfolio of assets and collaborating closely with key stakeholders across immunology discovery research and beyond. They must have strong drug discovery experience, excellent people leadership skills, and a passion for turning novel immunology into impactful programmes.

In this role you will be expected to lead a team of multi-disciplinary scientists to deliver a pipeline of novel therapeutics to drive functional reprograming of inflammatory cells. You will be expected to mentor and develop colleagues from a range of scientific backgrounds and foster a strong drug discovery mindset across the team. You will also act as a molecule lead on pipeline programmes, helping to shape cross-functional strategy and ensuring high-quality scientific execution. Over time, you will contribute to building a coherent portfolio of molecules with related mechanisms of action and maximising cross-program learnings.

We are looking for a drug hunter who is highly expert in the area of therapeutics discovery, with a strong working knowledge of immunology and a proven ability to operate effectively in a drug discovery environment. You will be comfortable taking ownership of complex scientific challenges, assessing emerging trends, and identifying innovative approaches that support functional and portfolio goals.

Successful applicant's key responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver drug discovery strategy in alignment with AbbVie’s overall immunology strategy
• Lead and develop a team of 3+ direct reports, ranging from entry level to senior scientist level
• Build scientific capability within the team and foster a strong drug discovery mindset
• Act as molecule lead on pipeline programmes, providing cross-functional leadership as teams form around assets
• Collaborate with colleagues across immunology discovery research, clinical development, development sciences and precision medicine
• Serve as a leading scientist at the DJS-AbbVie Oxford site, and act as a recognised scientific expert within the wider AbbVie R&D organisation in your specialist mechanism of action
• Proactively share knowledge, mentor colleagues and support the development of functional capability
• Ensure high-quality project planning through sound experimental design, early risk assessment and robust contingency planning
• Identify and evaluate emerging scientific trends and translate relevant insights into functional objectives
• Apply imagination and innovation to create and implement new or improved approaches and breakthrough ideas
• Present scientific concepts and results to scientific and non-scientific audiences, including senior stakeholders and external partners

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience across multiple drug discovery programs
• Demonstrated ability to function as a principal investigator, generating original technical ideas and development strategies
• Creative and practical problem-solving skills, with the ability to champion new technologies
• Recognised as an expert in your discipline, internally and ideally externally
• Strong publication, presentation, regulatory and/or patent record
• Excellent scientific communication and presentation skills, including experience presenting at leading scientific conferences

Education:

• BS/MS or PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific area