Associate Director, Pharmacology

Job Description

Job Description

About Parabilis Medicines

Parabilis Medicines is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating extraordinary medicines for patients with serious diseases by unlocking biologically important targets long considered undruggable. The company has pioneered a new class of alpha-helical peptides – Helicons™ – capable of modulating intracellular proteins that have historically been beyond the reach of conventional medicines. The company's lead investigational medicine, zolucatetide, is the first and only direct inhibitor of the β-catenin:TCF interaction, a central node in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway that has eluded drug developers for decades. Zolucatetide is being evaluated in the clinic across multiple Wnt/β-catenin-driven diseases, including desmoid tumors, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and a range of other solid tumor indications. Beyond zolucatetide, Parabilis is advancing additional Helicon-based programs focused on other challenging targets where we believe our medicines could have life-altering impact. For more information, visit  or follow us on LinkedIn.

What's the opportunity?

We are seeking an experienced industry nonclinical pharmacology leader with a demonstrated track record of advancing oncology programs from discovery through IND submission. This role will serve as the nonclinical pharmacology lead on one or more oncology programs, accountable for nonclinical pharmacology strategy, including translational planning and IND-enabling study design, and contributing to regulatory pharmacology content. You will be expected to meaningfully contribute to regulatory filings and identify translational forward approaches that target early clinical development goals.

Your leadership experience and history of working in a highly matrixed cross functional environment will be key in continuing to move oncology programs forward in a collaborative and scientifically rigorous environment. You will work within the existing pharmacology team framework and report directly to the Head of Pharmacology. Success in this role will require excellent communication, scientific thought leadership, a desire to work in a fast paced team environment and an eagerness to grow as a drug hunter.

Key abilities of this role include:

• Lead nonclinical pharmacology strategy for assigned oncology programs from late discovery through IND submission
• Design, oversee, interpret, and communicate in vivo PK/PD and efficacy studies (internally and via CRO partnerships)
• Contribute to IND-enabling study design and author or co-author relevant pharmacology sections of regulatory submissions
• Integrate pharmacology data with DMPK, safety, and biomarker findings to inform development decisions
• Clearly present data and strategy updates to senior leadership and governance teams
• Inspire and mentor junior pharmacology team members

What you'll need to be successful:

• PhD. in Pharmacology, Biology, or related field with 8+ years post-degree experience with a minimum of 2+ years of program leadership and people management experience
• Experience supporting first-in-class or novel mechanism oncology programs
• Experience working with small molecules, peptides, degraders (e.g., PROTACs), or biologics
• Demonstrated success advancing at least one oncology program to development candidate nomination; experience contributing to an IND submission required
• Strong expertise in in vivo pharmacology , PK/PD modeling concepts, and mechanistic biomarker strategy
• Proven ability to independently design and interpret studies that support program milestones
• Demonstrated ability to utilize AI tools for day-to-day work; baseline proficiency is expected, and advanced or innovated use of AI is a strong plus
• Able to work on-site and attend in-person meetings
• Enthusiastic and innovative mindset with the ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-pasted, and highly collaborative environment
• Excellent communication, organization, multi-tasking, flexibility, and team skills.

Core Values

Parabilis is a team of passionate pioneers who are trailblazing the future of precision medicine with the aim of making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. The company is committed to promoting an inspiring and flourishing working environment for all employees across the business, in all departments, and driving innovation for patient benefit.

• Growth-Minded. We're inventing a new class of medicines—one applicable to therapeutic targets that have been dreamt about, but always considered impossible to drug. Our work requires us to be curious, humble and adaptable.
• In(ter)dependent. We are fiercely independent as a leader in defying the limitations of current therapeutic modalities, and interdependent as a team as we work collaboratively to shift drug discovery paradigms and provide patients with better treatment options.
• Patient-focused. We are deeply focused on patient outcomes, and all energy in the company is focused on science as it translates to patient impact.
• All-In. We're All-In on solving some of the hardest scientific challenges and delivering one of the most effective new classes of drugs in history.

The base salary target for this position is $165,000 - $200,000 per year, depending on experience, qualifications, and internal practices. Parabilis's total compensation package also includes an annual target bonus, equity, and a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits designed to support our employees' overall well-being.