Assistant Director - Scientific Portfolio & Early Development IMID

We’re building the future of medical dermatology by focusing on unmet patient needs and giving people the space to think independently, take ownership and make an impact that matters.

Our purpose is simple: to transform patients’ lives by addressing real needs. We work with care, act with courage, keep things simple and focus our innovation where it makes a difference.

Recognised as a Top Employer in Spain since 2008 and in Germany since 2025, we continue to invest in an environment where people can grow and move forward. 

If you care differently, you belong here. 

This role sits within the IMID Derma Area and supports the IMID Derma Area Executive Director and IMID Therapeutic Area Group (TAG) by ensuring that scientific and early development considerations are appropriately reflected in disease strategy, portfolio recommendations and external opportunity assessments. The role acts as a bridge between Disease Biology, Clinical Development and Portfolio & Disease Strategy, translating disease priorities into portfolio-relevant scientific evaluation criteria and integrating scientific and development perspectives into strategic recommendations. The role does not own scientific discovery or clinical development, but ensures that both are appropriately integrated into portfolio choices, acting as a key bridge between Disease Biology, Clinical Development and Portfolio & Disease Strategy.

Key responsibilities

·   Translate disease biology insights into portfolio-relevant scientific priorities and focus areas, including pre-candidate strategic directions.

·   Provide preliminary assessment of biological rationale, tractability and translational robustness of internal and external opportunities.

·   Support the cross-functional assessment of internal and external opportunities by consolidating scientific and early development inputs.

·   Contribute to the assessment of external assets and partnership opportunities from a scientific portfolio perspective.

·   Support comparative evaluation of opportunities using agreed scientific and strategic criteria.

·   Ensure portfolio recommendations appropriately incorporate: (i) Disease Biology views regarding biological rationale, therapeutic approaches and translational evidence; and (ii) Clinical Development views regarding development feasibility, proof-of-concept requirements and clinical development considerations.

·   Support discussions around evidence requirements, biomarkers and translational strategies relevant to achieving meaningful proof of concept.

·   Facilitate visibility of scientific and development risks associated with proposed opportunities.

·   Provide scientific input to portfolio prioritization and asset-level decisions, ensuring alignment with disease strategy.

·   Challenge assumptions on mechanism validity, differentiation potential and early development feasibility.

·   Integrate input from Disease Biology and Clinical Development into portfolio and asset recommendations.

·   Support definition of scientific guardrails for external search and opportunity filtering, as well as portfolio assessments.

Ensure portfolio discussions in governance forums appropriately reflect scientific opportunities, risks and uncertainties.

Education & Experience

·  Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy or a related scientific discipline (PhD, MD, PharmD or equivalent strongly preferred).

·  8-10+ years of experience within the biopharmaceutical industry, spanning Disease Biology, Translational Medicine, Clinical Development, Early Development and/or Portfolio Strategy.

·  Strong experience in drug discovery, translational science and early clinical development, with demonstrated understanding of candidate selection and development decision-making.

·  Proven experience evaluating scientific opportunities, mechanisms of action, target biology, biomarkers and development feasibility across multiple assets.

·  Experience supporting asset strategy, portfolio reviews, governance discussions or investment decision-making processes.

·  Demonstrated ability to integrate scientific, clinical and portfolio perspectives into strategic recommendations.

·  Experience working in highly matrixed cross-functional environments involving Research, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs and Portfolio functions.

·  Strong understanding of external innovation assessment, including licensing opportunities, scientific due diligence inputs and opportunity screening.

·  Experience presenting complex scientific concepts and recommendations to senior stakeholders and governance committees.

·  Prior experience and expertise in the IMID Derma Area space.

·  Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with proven ability to facilitate alignment across diverse functions.

Proficient level of English is required; other languages are highly appreciated.