Head of Applied Biosciences New Malden, MA

Outer Biosciences’ mission is to improve human skin health by discovering and developing novel bioactives that are more effective and safer than anything available today. Founded by a scientific team with deep experience in engineering advanced organ systems, our fully integrated technology platform combines complex, long-lasting, clinically relevant ex vivo skin models with multimodal data analysis and predictive machine learning. We help pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and cosmetic partners evaluate therapeutic approaches, drug-induced skin toxicity, and the efficacy and biological effects of products and ingredients. Company overview here . Role Overview Outer Biosciences is seeking a Head of Applied Biosciences to lead our applied science team, which conducts client-sponsored research and collaborative programs. This is a director-level,highly external-facing role focused on scientific leadership, team development, building trusted relationships with research partners, and ensuring that each project is completed successfully from initial discussion through final delivery. The role will translate partner needs into scientifically rigorous programs, coordinate internal research & development resources, interpret integrated datasets, and communicate clear conclusions and scientific recommendations. This is not a bench-based position; the role requires close collaboration with commercial, product development, and project management teams to ensure high-quality execution and meaningful scientific outcomes. The ideal candidate combines broad expertise in skin biology and translational research with strong commercial judgment, scientific program leadership, data interpretation, and presentation skills across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer or skin-care applications. This person will report directly to the Chief Scientific Officer. Key Responsibilities Lead and mentor the applied science team, ensuring scientific rigor, data quality, and successful delivery of client-sponsored studies. Translate client objectives into proposals and protocols, defining models, controls, donor plans, endpoints, and interpretation criteria; guide troubleshooting and scientific decisions. Serve as the senior scientific contact for clients, managing expectations and communicating progress, unexpected results, study limitations, and changes in plans. Manage concurrent programs, including scope, timelines, budgets, staffing, shared resources, and deliverables; resolve competing priorities and address risks early. Review integrated datasets and oversee client reports and presentations with scientifically supported conclusions, clear limitations, and recommended next steps. Collaborate with internal discovery and model development, data science, laboratory operations, and commercial teams to align study objectives with technical feasibility and capacity. Build trusted client relationships and identify follow-on studies and collaborative opportunities with the commercial team, drawing on Outer Bio’s broader scientific capabilities. Establish consistent study planning, scientific review, reporting, and client communication practices to improve quality and efficiency. Represent Outer Bio at scientific conferences and industry events, presenting research findings and platform capabilities to scientific and industry audiences. Qualifications and Skills Minimum Education: PhD or equivalent advanced degree in skin biology, dermatology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, bioengineering, or a related discipline. Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, consumer-health, CRO, or scientific services settings. Strong expertise in skin biology and translational research, with demonstrated judgement in experimental design, troubleshooting, data interpretation, and assessment of model limitations. Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: skin immunology, skin disease biology, skin aging, or cutaneous pharmacology and toxicology. Demonstrated success leading a contract research services portfolio and/or complex external scientific programs involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, budgets, and deliverables. Demonstrated ability to build trusted client relationships and support new and expanded research opportunities in partnership with the commercial team through consultative scientific engagement, proposal development, excellent delivery, and identification of follow-on opportunities. Exceptional scientific communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex datasets, limitations, and recommended next steps while maintaining client trust. Demonstrated experience directly managing and mentoring scientists, alongside effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to create accountability and coordinate scientific, operational, analytical, and commercial contributors across concurrent programs. Highly organized, proactive, pragmatic, and resilient. Demonstrated ability to prioritize and successfully deliver multiple concurrent studies, balancing scientific rigor, client needs, timelines, budgets, and shared resources. We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion in all its forms and practices. As a company we promote inclusion and desire to work with people from all walks of life. As we grow our team, we strive to be the change we want to see. If your experience is somewhat different from what we've described and you believe you can bring value and contribute to the role, we'd be honored to learn more about you. Voluntary Self-Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file. As set forth in Outer Bio’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law. If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows: A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability. A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service. An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense. An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985. #J-18808-Ljbffr Outer Bio