Job Detail

At Roche, we believe it’s urgent to deliver medical solutions right now – even as we develop innovations for the future. We are passionate about transforming patients’ lives and we are fearless in both decision and action. And we believe that good business means a better world.

That is why we come to work each day. We commit ourselves to scientific rigour, unassailable ethics, and access to medical innovations for all. We do this today to build a better tomorrow.

The position

We are seeking outstanding candidates for the position of Head of Early Development within the Neuroscience and Rare Disease (NRD) Discovery and Translation Area (DTA) at Roche. This position will manage a team of Research Project Leaders and laboratory staff. The Head of Early Development position will report to the Head of Rare Disease and join the leadership team of the pRED Rare Disease group. The successful candidate will join an industry-leading Rare Disease department with a diverse portfolio of preclinical and clinical stage projects in rare neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular, neurodegenerative, ophthalmology, and hematology diseases. The position will be based in Basel, Switzerland.

Your responsibilities:

• You run and administer discovery aspects of rare disease projects as effective team member internally as well as externally with a specific focus on rare, monogenic disorders.


• Nominate and triage partnering opportunities to expand the unit’s capabilities and drive the existing portfolio


• Lead due diligence efforts of the science and technical capabilities for potential external partnerships


• Lead nonclinical activities and provide pharmacology and disease area expertise as part of a matrixed team for late stage development programs


• As part of the Rare Disease leadership, work to develop a strategy for a sustainable pipeline of drug development programs for rare, monogenic diseases


• Responsible for delivery of the Rare Disease pre-clinical strategy and portfolio


• Build internal capabilities around novel modalities such as gene therapy and gene editing


• Coordinate efforts to develop exploratory fluid biomarkers


• Identify and build relationships with key opinion leaders in areas of research focus


• Work closely with patient advocate and family organizations


• Represent the Rare Disease unit and its strategy to key internal and external stakeholders.


• Serve as a visionary leader committed to bringing novel medicines to patients in need.
   

Who you are

• You hold a PhD with professional and scientific experience in rare diseases (neuroscience preferred) and have at least 10 years of post-graduate experience in the pharmaceutical industry in preclinical research.


• You demonstrated strong capacities in managing teams and in leading projects


• You have a strong commitment to patients with rare neurological, neuromuscular, ophthalmic and genetically-defined diseases including those affecting children


• You have experience with identifying, coordinating and leading collaborations with external academic or biotech/pharma partners to achieve mutually successful working relationships


• Familiarity with AAV-based gene therapy desired


• You have a track record of innovative research in the field of rare diseases, including publications in peer-reviewed journals


• You are flexible, able to work and lead multidisciplinary teams and have excellent communication skills in English.


• You have a demonstrated passion and commitment for rare disease drug discovery.
   

Are you ready to apply? We want someone who thinks beyond the job offered - someone who knows that this position can be a rare springboard to many other opportunities at Roche.

Roche embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

If you still have questions, please check our FAQs and videos on careers.roche.ch/faq.