R&D Project Leader - Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities

R&D Project Leader - Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities

Servier

Gif-sur-Yvette, France

We are seeking a Project Leader – Cancer Cell Vulnerabilities to join our Oncology team at the Paris-Saclay site. This is a unique opportunity to act as the scientific and strategic architect of oncology drug discovery programs, driving projects from early concept to Preclinical Candidate (PCC) nomination. Your work will be pivotal and will directly impact the value created for patients within our therapeutic pipeline.

Responsibilities:

• Lead oncology discovery programs from target identification and validation through to PCC nomination with accountability for project strategy, scientific excellence, timelines, and quality of execution.
• Define and drive the scientific and translational strategy, including mechanism of action, clinical hypotheses, and patient stratification.
• Chair and lead the cross-functional Core Team, orchestrating scientific ambition with operational execution in partnership with Project Management.
• Drive scientific recommendations, Go/No-Go proposals, and risk-based decision-making within the governance framework
• Integrate diverse expertise across biology, pharmacology, chemistry, DMPK, biomarkers, and IP to ensure project coherence.
• Lead the design of mechanistic and pharmacology studies supporting clinical relevance.
• Engage and align internal stakeholders.
• Contribute to external opportunity assessment and represent the company in external scientific interactions.
• Mentor junior scientists and promote a culture of scientific excellence, innovation, and urgency.

Profile:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Cancer Biology, Cell or Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, or a related discipline.
• 7–10+ years of experience in oncology small molecule drug discovery within a pharma or biotech environment.
• Proven track record of successfully leading cross-functional discovery programs from target validation to PCC nomination.
• Strong understanding of tumor biology, cancer vulnerabilities, translational research, and preclinical development.
• Demonstrated leadership in matrix organizations with excellent communication, influence, and collaboration skills.
• Highly organized approach with the ability to manage complex scientific risks and alternative scenarios.
• A proactive mindset with an interest in AI and digital tools as enablers of R&D acceleration.
• Fluency in English (oral and written) is mandatory for this international environment.