Description of Role

Centessa Pharmaceuticals is seeking an Executive Director/Head of Toxicology to provide scientific and strategic leadership for nonclinical safety across discovery and development programs, with an emphasis on small‑molecule therapeutics. This role leads toxicology and safety pharmacology strategy to support target selection, lead optimization, IND‑enabling activities, and clinical advancement. Reporting to our SVP, Nonclinical & Translational Development, the Head of Toxicology partners closely with cross‑functional teams and represents nonclinical safety in regulatory interactions while building a strong, high‑performing toxicology organization. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of toxicologists and technical/operational staff, fostering scientific excellence and professional growth
• Define and execute nonclinical safety strategies across discovery, preclinical, and clinical stages
• Provide expert toxicology and safety pharmacology input to cross‑functional development teams
• Lead nonclinical sub‑teams as an integrated development head, providing cross‑functional oversight across Toxicology, DMPK, Bioanalytical Sciences, and Clinical Pharmacology to ensure aligned, program‑ready nonclinical strategies
• Serve as the primary nonclinical representative on Program Development Teams (PDTs) and at internal governance and external forums, effectively championing program strategy, presenting to regulatory authorities, and holding scientific ground with senior leadership, partners, CROs, and health authorities
• Design, oversee, and interpret GLP, non‑GLP, investigative, and in vitro toxicology studies
• Develop safety strategies for new targets, lead optimization programs, and platform technologies
• Oversee toxicology and safety pharmacology studies conducted internally and at CROs
• Ensure high scientific quality, compliance, and timely delivery of nonclinical study outputs
• Author and critically review toxicology sections of regulatory documents (e.g., pre‑IND, IND, IBs)
• Partner with biology, DMPK, pathology, pharmacology, clinical, and regulatory colleagues to drive integrated decision‑making
• Present nonclinical safety data and risk assessments to project teams and senior R&D leadership
• Serve as the primary nonclinical safety representative in regulatory agency interactions
• Support product defense and regulatory submissions through robust scientific rationale
• Provide strategic guidance on safety issue resolution and investigational toxicology approaches
• Contribute to portfolio‑level planning and prioritization of nonclinical safety resources
• Build scalable toxicology capabilities to support a growing and diverse pipeline

Qualifications

• PhD in Toxicology, Pharmacology, Pathology, DVM, or related discipline; board certification (e.g., DABT, ERT) - required
• 18+ years of experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology R&D with a strong track record in nonclinical and regulatory toxicology
• Proven ability to function as an upward‑facing nonclinical leader and generalist, with the credibility and judgment to represent project development team agenda at decisional governance meetings, engage confidently with regulatory agencies, and serve as a trusted development partner to senior leadership
• Deep expertise supporting small‑molecule programs across discovery, IND‑enabling, and early clinical development
• Strong working knowledge of national and international GLP guidelines
• Demonstrated experience defining and executing nonclinical safety strategies to support diverse pipelines and novel biology
• Proven leadership experience building, managing, and mentoring toxicology teams within a collaborative, matrixed environment
• Extensive experience preparing and reviewing nonclinical sections of global regulatory submissions and engaging with health authorities (FDA, EMA)
• Strong ability to integrate complex nonclinical datasets across toxicology, pathology, DMPK, and pharmacology to inform development decisions
• Experience overseeing outsourced toxicology and safety pharmacology studies and managing CRO partnerships
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to partner effectively across Early Development, Research, and Regulatory functions in a fast‑paced environment

Compensation 

The annual base salary range for this position is $320,000.00 to $350,000.00. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and job knowledge. 

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. Centessa also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program. 

Work Location

The Executive Director, Head of Toxicology role is a remote role based in the US, with occasional travel. 

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

Description of Role

Centessa is seeking an experienced Senior Director, Clinical Pharmacology to provide scientific and strategic leadership for clinical pharmacology across a diverse pipeline spanning early development through late-stage and registrational programs. Reporting to the Executive Director, Clinical Pharmacology, this position is accountable for developing and executing clinical pharmacology strategies that address the unique challenges of neuroscience drug development, including CNS exposure, dose optimization, and translational relevance. The Senior Director partners closely with cross-functional teams and represents clinical pharmacology in regulatory interactions to enable efficient, data-driven advancement of therapies across our neuroscience portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead clinical pharmacology strategy for CNS and neuroscience programs from first‑in‑human through registrational and post‑marketing stages 
• Design, execute, and interpret clinical pharmacology studies, including FIH, multiple‑ascending dose, DDI, biopharmaceutics, and patient studies 
• Drive dose selection and optimization by integrating PK, PD, safety, efficacy, and CNS‑specific biomarkers  
• Lead model‑informed drug development, including population PK, PK/PD, and exposure–response analyses relevant to CNS targets and clinical safety
• Assess and guide strategies for CNS exposure, brain penetration, target engagement, and translational biomarkers  
• Serve as the clinical pharmacology lead on program teams, clinical sub‑teams, and trial working groups 
• Author and oversee clinical pharmacology sections of regulatory documents (e.g., INDs, CTAs, IBs, NDAs)  
• Represent clinical pharmacology in interactions with FDA and other global health authorities, supporting dose justification and labeling discussions  
• Partner closely with DMPK, Translational Sciences, Clinical Development, Biomarkers, Biostatistics, CMC, and Regulatory Affairs  
• Oversee CROs and external vendors conducting clinical pharmacology and modeling activities  
• Ensure timely communication and clear interpretation of clinical pharmacology results to internal stakeholders 
• Contribute to portfolio strategy, program prioritization, risk mitigation, and long‑range clinical development planning for CNS assets 
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert on clinical pharmacology 
• Mentor and develop clinical pharmacology talent as the pipeline and organization grow  
• Ensure high‑quality, submission‑ready documentation aligned with global regulatory standards 

Qualifications

• PhD, PharmD, or MD in Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related discipline 
• 8–12+ years of experience in clinical pharmacology within biopharma, with demonstrated impact in clinical drug development 
• Extensive experience developing and executing clinical pharmacology strategies for early‑ through late‑stage programs, including registrational support 
• Strong expertise in PK, PD, PK/PD integration, exposure–response analyses, and drug–drug interaction assessment 
• Demonstrated experience applying quantitative clinical pharmacology approaches (e.g., population PK, mechanistic PK/PD modeling) to inform CNS dose selection and optimization  
• Proficiency with clinical pharmacology tools and platforms such as NONMEM, R, Phoenix WinNonlin, SimCyp, or equivalent 
• Experience authoring and delivering clinical pharmacology components of regulatory submissions (e.g., INDs, CTAs, NDAs) and interacting with global health authorities  
• Strong understanding of translational PK, CNS exposure considerations, and biomarker integration in neuroscience drug development  
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills with the ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment 

Compensation 

The annual base salary range for this position is $270,000.00 to $295,000.00. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and job knowledge. 

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. Centessa also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program. 

Work Location

The Senior Director, Clinical Pharmacology role is a remote role based in the US, with occasional travel. 

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

Description of Role

Centessa is seeking a Senior Scientist in Discovery DMPK to partner with pharmacologists and medicinal chemists to support the identification of lead candidates with optimal DMPK properties for potential progression into development. Reporting to the Executive Director, DMPK, this role requires understanding of pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic (PK/PD), and ADME principles to enable triaging & progression of small molecule leads. A qualified candidate will have previous experience in PK and PK/PD modeling, ideally for CNS drug candidates, and an understanding of vital ADME properties for CNS drug candidate progression.

Key Responsibilities

• Design profiling strategies (including in vitro ADME assays) to evaluate compounds and series emerging from hit identification effort
• Design PK/PD strategies to advance lead identification and optimization series
• Protocol development and data analysis of PK and PK/PD studies for proof-of-concept studies
• Review statements of work (SOWs) to ensure alignment with project objectives
• Analyze and interpret in vitro and in vivo PK and PK/PD data, ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Utilize AI tools in prediction of PK properties and guide the use of such technology in supporting SAR development in lead identification and optimization phases
• Author and review compound checklists for drug candidate progression
• Represent the DMPK function in project team meetings; present results and contribute to data-driven decision-making.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or a related field
• Minimum of 4 years of industry experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting
• Proficiency with Phoenix WinNonlin and other software for PK and PK/PD modeling in small molecule drug discovery is essential
• Previous work in the early discovery and lead optimization of CNS drug candidates is essential
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively
• Collaborative mindset and sense of urgency
• Proactive and excellent communication skills

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $160,000 - $180,000. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and job knowledge.

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and participation in our equity program, allowing you to share in Centessa’s long-term success.

Centessa also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

Work Location

The Sr. Scientist, DMPK is a remote role based in the US, with infrequent travel (~10%).

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt