Associate Director or Director, GPCR Biology

JOB SUMMARY

Iambic Therapeutics is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Associate Director or Director to join the GPCR Biology group and advance our core mission of accelerating small molecule drug discovery through the integration of experimental and AI/ML-driven approaches. The successful candidate will lead project teams with a deep understanding of the progression of drugs from hit identification through IND submission, setting scientific direction and driving cross-functional collaboration with Chemistry, DMPK, Safety, and Computational teams. This position is located at our San Diego Headquarters.

IMPACT & SCOPE

• Define and own GPCR biology strategy across one or more programs; work is critical and high impact to portfolio trajectory.

• Lead through teams (internal and CRO), establishing best in class experimental strategies, data quality standards, and decision frameworks.

• Serve as biology thought partner to program leadership; influence portfolio planning and resourcing.

• Partner with Iambic’s computational and ML scientists to incorporate AI/ML-based tools and models that accelerate data interpretation, hypothesis generation, and decision-making across biology workflows.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Program leadership: Initiate, direct, and execute biology plans that support medicinal chemistry and translational goals across discovery stages (hit to lead, LO, candidate selection, IND enabling).

• Cross functional integration: Chair or co lead cross functional workstreams; align assay strategy with SAR hypotheses, DMPK/PD needs, and safety/translational biomarkers.

• Collaboration leadership: Lead or co-lead key scientific collaborations with internal and external partners, driving integration of data and strategy toward shared objectives.

• Assay strategy & data integrity: Conceptualize and oversee design/validation of in vitro and ex vivo assays (signaling, binding, trafficking, imaging, and mechanism of action) enabling robust potency, selectivity, and efficacy assessments. Establish acceptance criteria, controls, and QC/QA standards.

• External execution: Manage and mentor CRO/partners; scope statements of work, timelines, budgets, and deliverables. Ensure reproducibility and compliance with internal SOPs and GLP adjacent expectations where appropriate.

• People leadership & development: Manage and grow a team of scientists/associates; set goals, provide feedback, and develop talent.

• Decision making: Drive stage gate criteria, risk registers, and mitigation plans; author/own decision memos and present to governance/leadership.

QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD in pharmacology, biochemistry, cell biology or related field with 12+ years of relevant industry experience in small molecule discovery or Master’s Degree with 15+ years of experience may be considered.

• Demonstrated success leading cross functional project teams advancing programs from hit identification toward IND, with ownership of decision criteria and milestone delivery.

• Deep expertise in GPCR biology: signaling and trafficking mechanisms; assay formats (e.g., HTRF, reporter gene, BRET/FRET, imaging); and interpretation of complex pharmacology (e.g., allostery, bias, kinetics, receptor reserve, desensitization).

• Experience designing, validating, and transferring assays to CROs/automation/HTS; familiarity with HTS methodologies and counterscreens.

• Proven ability to guide resolution of high impact technical issues across functions; track record of scientific creativity and rigorous data standards.

• Strong people management skills: mentoring scientists, performance management, and building inclusive, high trust teams.

• Excellent written and verbal communication; adept at executive level summaries and data driven recommendations.

• Able to work out of our San Diego Headquarters in Sorrento Valley

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience coordinating in vivo pharmacology or translational biomarker strategies.

• Exposure to immunology or immunopharmacology and its intersection with GPCR signaling.

• Familiarity with AI/ML-based drug discovery platforms and comfortable collaborating with computational/cheminformatics teams.

• Previous experience leading or co-leading scientific collaborations or consortia.

ABOUT IAMBIC THERAPEUTICS

Iambic is a clinical-stage life-science and technology company developing novel medicines using its AI-driven discovery and development platform. Based in San Diego and founded in 2020, Iambic has assembled a world-class team that unites pioneering AI experts and experienced drug hunters. The Iambic platform has demonstrated delivery of new drug candidates to human clinical trials with unprecedented speed and across multiple target classes and mechanisms of action. Iambic is advancing a pipeline of potential best-in-class and first-in-class clinical assets, both internally and in partnership, to address urgent unmet patient need. Learn more about the Iambic team, platform, pipeline, and partnerships at iambic.ai.

MISSION & CORE VALUES

Our mission is to deliver better medicines through innovations in AI-based discovery technologies. The culture and work at Iambic Therapeutics are profoundly strengthened by the diversity of our people and our differences in background, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences. We are committed to building an inclusive environment where a diverse group of talented humans work together to discover therapeutics and create technologies.

PAY AND BENEFITS

We offer industry leading competitive pay, company paid healthcare, flexible spending accounts, voluntary life insurance, 401K matching, and uncapped vacation to our team. We are in a brand-new state-of-the art facility in beautiful San Diego with an onsite gym, dining, and easy access to great places to live and play.