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