Vice President, Research & Discovery

Vice President, Research & Discovery

Company: High-Growth Oncology Biotechnology Company
Location: Bay Area, CA
Employment Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

Brio Resource Group is partnering with a high-growth biotechnology company developing innovative oncology therapies to hire a Vice President, Research & Discovery.

This executive leadership position will define the company’s discovery strategy and guide its research portfolio from target identification and validation through preclinical development and candidate nomination. The successful candidate will connect scientific strategy with development priorities, portfolio investment, resource allocation, and the evidence required to advance promising oncology programs.

Key Responsibilities

  • Define and execute the company’s research and discovery strategy.
  • Establish scientific priorities, program objectives, success criteria, and portfolio decision points.
  • Lead multidisciplinary research teams across target discovery, validation, biology, pharmacology, and preclinical development.
  • Evaluate targets, mechanisms of action, translational hypotheses, and preclinical evidence to guide candidate selection.
  • Advance oncology programs from early discovery through development-candidate nomination.
  • Partner closely with Translational Sciences, Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, CMC, and business leadership.
  • Provide disciplined scientific and portfolio recommendations to the executive team and Board of Directors.
  • Oversee external research collaborations, academic partnerships, CROs, and scientific advisors.
  • Build scalable research capabilities and recruit, mentor, and develop scientific leaders.
  • Monitor emerging oncology science, competitive programs, and technology developments to inform portfolio strategy.

Qualifications

  • PhD or equivalent advanced research training in cancer biology, molecular biology, pharmacology, immunology, or a related life sciences discipline.
  • Significant research and discovery leadership experience within biotechnology or pharmaceuticals.
  • Demonstrated success advancing oncology programs from target identification through candidate nomination and into development.
  • Deep expertise in oncology drug discovery, translational science, and preclinical-development strategy.
  • Strong scientific judgment with experience assessing program risk, evidence quality, and portfolio investment decisions.
  • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary scientific teams and external research partnerships.
  • Experience partnering across Research, Translational Sciences, Clinical Development, CMC, Regulatory Affairs, and executive leadership.
  • Strong record of building research capabilities and developing scientific talent within an emerging or high-growth biotechnology environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This role offers the opportunity to shape the scientific direction of a growing oncology biotechnology company, influence critical portfolio decisions, build an accomplished research organization, and advance innovative therapeutic programs toward clinical development.

We will provide a complete job description and additional company information after an initial résumé review.