Director, Discovery DMPK

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?

Parabilis Medicines' Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) team is seeking an experienced Director-level scientist to provide strategic and scientific leadership across our portfolio of innovative peptide therapeutics. Reporting to the VP of Discovery DMPK, you will serve as a senior DMPK leader and primary representative across cross-functional discovery project teams, shaping DMPK strategy, play a key role in building an AI native organization and influencing key program decisions. You will partner closely with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, and external CRO partners to integrate ADME, PK, and PK/PD insights, proactively identify and mitigate development risks, and advance novel therapeutics from early discovery through development candidate nomination.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for peptide DMPK across multiple discovery programs, establishing ADME strategy and ensuring alignment with program milestones, development objectives, and broader portfolio priorities.
• Lead the design, interpretation, and integration of in vitro and in vivo ADME/PK studies to drive lead optimization, development candidate nomination, and progression into IND-enabling development.
• Serve as a DMPK subject matter expert and strategic partner to medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and other cross-functional functions, integrating DMPK data to influence chemical design and prioritize novel chemical matter with favorable drug-like and translational properties.
• Identify and proactively address key DMPK risks, knowledge gaps, and development challenges, establishing fit-for-purpose strategies to enable program progression.
• Provide scientific oversight of external CROs and partners, ensuring high-quality execution of DMPK studies within program timelines and budgets.
• Present DMPK strategies, integrated data assessments, human translation considerations, and risk/benefit recommendations to project teams and senior leadership to inform key investment and development decisions.
• Provide DMPK leadership for regulatory strategy and submissions, including IND/NDA, Investigator Brochures, briefing documents, and responses to regulatory authorities.
• Co-lead the development and implementation of AI-enabled DMPK workflows and digital solutions to streamline operations, accelerate data analysis and integration, and enable faster, data-driven decision-making across discovery and development programs.
• Build and advance DMPK capabilities in bioanalysis and peptide transporter sciences by strategically leveraging internal expertise, external partners, CROs, and emerging technologies to address program needs and strengthen organizational capabilities.
• Mentor and provide scientific guidance to junior scientists while contributing to the continued development of DMPK capabilities, technologies, and best practices across the organization.

What you'll need to be successful:

• PhD (or equivalent) in DMPK, pharmacology, biology, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline with 10+ years of relevant industry experience, or MS with 13+ years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated track record of leading DMPK strategy across multiple discovery and development programs, including experience advancing compounds through lead optimization, development candidate nomination, and IND-enabling activities.
• Deep understanding of peptide and small molecule ADME/PK principles, with the ability to apply DMPK concepts to complex or emerging modalities. Experience with biologics is a plus.
• Strong understanding of human translation, including PK/PD relationships, human PK and dose projection, transporter/DDI assessment, and exposure-response relationships. Hands-on modeling or regulated bioanalysis experience is desirable.
• Proficiency with Phoenix WinNonlin and R for PK analysis, data interpretation, and PK/PD reporting.
• Significant experience selecting and overseeing external CRO partners, including study strategy, technical oversight, troubleshooting, timelines, budgets, and data quality.
• Demonstrated ability to provide expert-level DMPK guidance for regulatory submissions, including INDs, IBs, briefing documents, and responses to regulatory authorities.
• Strong scientific leadership and influencing skills, with demonstrated ability to drive decisions across medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, clinical pharmacology, and other cross-functional stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to translate complex DMPK findings into clear recommendations for project teams and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize AI tools in day-to-day scientific work; advanced or innovative application of AI to DMPK analysis, data interpretation, or scientific workflows is a strong plus.
• Able to work on-site and participate regularly in in-person project and leadership meetings.

Core Values

Parabilis Medicines 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 range for this position is $210,000-$250,000, 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.

As an equal opportunity employer, Parabilis Medicines values an inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

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