Scientific Director - High Throughput Screening - Early Molecule Discovery

Company: Initial Therapeutics, Inc.
Location: Louisville
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We're looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.The Lilly Small Molecule Discovery group is an organization purpose-built to create molecules that make life better for people. We focus on using cutting edge science to unlock new approaches that can treat people suffering from diseases with poor treatment options. We continually challenge ourselves to deliver molecules that can provide breakthrough efficacy with the highest possible safety margins. We are dedicated to optimizing our mindset, technology, and processes for faster, more nimble execution. Our success is built on a culture that empowers innovative problem solving through open collaboration and individual accountability.Position Summary:Lilly's newly created Early Molecule Discovery team is responsible for small molecule hit to lead prosecution using traditional, and where warranted, novel mechanisms and technologies on early pre-portfolio targets. We are seeking an experienced drug hunter to lead our High Throughput Screening (HTS) efforts within the Ligand ID group. The candidate will direct a dynamic team focused on identifying and advancing small molecule drugs and implementing forward-thinking screening methods to expand Lilly's early target portfolio. Responsibilities include designing, developing, optimizing, and validating molecular and cellular HTS campaigns, including the application of HT-MS solutions. The Director will work closely in the lab with the Early Molecule Discovery team, and the Discovery Technologies team, to develop novel assays into screens on hard to drug targets. Ideal candidates should have extensive experience delivering high-quality screening results under tight deadlines across multiple target areas. This role demands a commitment to data accuracy, quality assurance, and collaboration, both internally and externally.Responsibilities:

• "Lead from the bench" by actively participating in the team's research activities (i.e. hands-on experimental work, experimental design, advanced analysis, etc.)
  • Manage global HTS assay automation capabilities and resources and personnel to support a variety of screening techniques and technologies to provide cutting edge resources across organizational teams.
    • Lead in the development, optimize, and validate custom automation protocols for various biochemical, molecular, and cell-based assays; including mass spectrometry-based readouts (HT-MS).
      • Collaboratively facilitate the evaluation of novel screening platforms as well as data and sample automation innovations, between Early Molecule Discovery and Discovery Technologies groups
        • Train and support scientists on HTS assay development, SOP establishment, and automation integration of assays with the goal of conversion to HTS screening assays.
          • Help to establish protocols and ensure performance and validation of all lab equipment and automation.
            • Ensure team maintains proper documentation and archiving of data and analyses.
              • Communicate results via written and oral presentations as needed.
                • Discuss laboratory operational processes with technical as well as non-technical personnel.
                  • Maintain good interactions with third parties/vendors on new developments and products.
                    • Engage both internal and external teams toward identification, elaboration, and characterization of early lead molecules across multiple projects and mechanismsBasic Requirements:
                      • PhD with minimum of 7+ years academic/research/industry exp (may include post-doc experience), BS with 13+ years industry/academic/research experience. MS with 10+ years industry/academic/research exp.
                        • Extensive hands-on experience with in vitro and in vivo high throughput assay development and validation
                          • History of directly leading team, or teams, of functional area experts
                            • Ability to create, sustain and model culture of innovation, collaboration, and dedicationAdditional Preferences:
                              • History of drug discovery
                                • Experience building mass spectrometry-based solutions and automation of those assays for high throughput experimentation.
                                  • Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively across various disciplines to meet project goals and timelines.
                                    • Flexibility to adjust priorities over time to meet organizational and scientific goals.
                                      • Ability to work independently and as an integral part of a larger collaborative team.
                                        • Continual Learner
                                          • Highly organized with excellent analytical, documentation, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
                                            • Views personal success is a consequence of team's success.
                                              • Self-accountable for the timely delivery of progressable leads to the larger organization
                                                • Self driven, hard working, lab first, data dependent decision makerAdditional Information:Physical Demands/Travel:The physical demands of this job are consistent with a lab environment. The physical demands here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.This position will require some travel 10-15% of the time.Work Environment:This position's work environment is in a Laboratory. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.*To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the role and responsibilities satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form () for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.Lilly is proud to be an EEO Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.
                                                  Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and are open to all employees. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, Black Employees at Lilly, Chinese Culture Network, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinx at Lilly (OLA), PRIDE (LGBTQ+ Allies), Veterans Leadership Network (VLN), Women's Initiative for Leading at Lilly (WILL), enAble (for people with disabilities). Learn more about all of our groups.Actual compensation will depend on a candidate's education, experience, skills, and geographic location. The anticipated wage for this position is$171,000 - $275,000Full-time equivalent employees also will be eligible for a company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance). In addition, Lilly offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees, including eligibility to participate in a company-sponsored 401(k); pension; vacation benefits; eligibility for medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits; flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts); life insurance and death benefits; certain time off and leave of absence benefits; and well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities).Lilly reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion and Lilly's compensation practices and guidelines will apply regarding the details of any promotion or transfer of Lilly employees.#WeAreLilly
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Keywords: Initial Therapeutics, Inc., Fairfield , Scientific Director - High Throughput Screening - Early Molecule Discovery, Executive , Louisville, Ohio