Principal Scientist - PK/PD Leader

Job Introduction

PK/PD Leader

Location: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
Department: Pharmaron Drug Discovery
Level: Principal Scientist

About Pharmaron

Pharmaron is a global contract research and manufacturing organization (CRO/CDMO) helping pharma and biotech companies bring new therapies to life. With over 25,000 employees worldwide across 28 locations in the UK, US, China, and Singapore, we support drug discovery through to manufacturing with fully integrated high-quality services.

We're proud of the impact we make and just last year, we supported 887 discovery projects, 1,100+ CMC programs, and 1,397 clinical trials across all phases. Our teams are involved in everything from small molecules, ADC's, biologics, and gene therapies and we work with more than 3,300 global customers. To learn more, visit www.pharmaron.com

The Role

We are seeking an experienced PK/PD Leader to provide scientific leadership in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling, simulation and quantitative pharmacology across our global drug discovery and development organisation.

This is a highly influential opportunity for an established modelling scientist who combines deep technical expertise with the ability to shape scientific strategy, lead complex client programmes and develop organisational capability.

You will lead the design and delivery of PK/PD modelling strategies spanning discovery through clinical development. By integrating pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, biomarker, efficacy and safety data, you will provide the quantitative insight needed to support candidate selection, translation to humans, dose and regimen selection, and wider clinical development decisions.

Working across global DMPK, discovery and development teams, you will help strengthen our integrated quantitative pharmacology offering while enhancing Pharmaron’s scientific reputation with clients and the wider scientific community.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Provide scientific leadership for the design, execution, interpretation and communication of PK/PD modelling and simulation programmes.
• Work with the global DMPK leadership team to define and implement our PK/PD modelling and quantitative pharmacology strategy.
• Develop fit-for-purpose models integrating PK data with pharmacology, biomarkers, efficacy and safety endpoints.
• Quantify exposure-response relationships and translate modelling results into clear, evidence-based project recommendations.
• Apply translational PK/PD approaches to support: 
  • Candidate selection
  • Proof-of-concept strategies
  • Prediction of human efficacious doses
  • Dose and regimen selection
  • Therapeutic index assessment
  • Clinical study design
• Provide scientific leadership across compartmental PK, exposure-response, direct and indirect response, mechanistic and semi-mechanistic PK/PD, disease progression and population modelling approaches.
• Lead client-facing programmes, including modelling strategy development, scientific discussions, proposals, scopes of work, reports and presentations.
• Provide senior scientific input to multidisciplinary project teams and influence decisions through clear quantitative interpretation of preclinical and clinical data.
• Mentor, train and provide technical guidance to scientists working in PK/PD modelling and quantitative pharmacology.
• Establish appropriate modelling software, workflows, analytical standards, documentation and model-quality practices.
• Identify opportunities for scientific innovation, service development and the continued growth of our global PK/PD capabilities.
• Build our external scientific profile through publications, conference presentations, webinars and collaboration with Business Development and Marketing.

About You

You will be an accomplished PK/PD modelling scientist with substantial experience supporting pharmaceutical drug discovery and/or development programmes.

You will bring:

• A BSc or higher degree in a relevant quantitative or scientific discipline, such as mathematics, engineering, bioscience or pharmaceutical sciences.
• Significant industry experience delivering PK/PD modelling and simulation programmes.
• In-depth knowledge of PK/PD modelling principles and methodologies, including: 
  • Compartmental PK
  • Exposure-response modelling
  • Direct and indirect response models
  • Mechanistic and semi-mechanistic PK/PD
  • Disease progression modelling
  • Population modelling approaches
• Experience using relevant modelling and analytical software, such as MATLAB, NONMEM, Monolix, Phoenix WinNonlin, R, or equivalent platforms.
• Broad knowledge of PK, DMPK, quantitative pharmacology and translational science across drug discovery and development.
• Strong understanding of the biological and pharmacological drivers of drug response, including target engagement, biomarkers, efficacy, safety and sources of variability.
• Experience translating modelling outputs into practical recommendations relating to compound progression, dose and regimen selection, study design and risk mitigation.
• Strong quantitative skills encompassing model development, parameter estimation, model qualification, simulation, sensitivity and uncertainty assessment, and the interpretation of complex datasets.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary and matrix project teams.
• A track record of scientific leadership, stakeholder engagement and influencing project decisions.
• Evidence of scientific publications and presentations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex quantitative findings clearly to scientific and non-specialist audiences.

Desirable Experience

It would be advantageous if you also have:

• A PhD in a relevant quantitative or scientific discipline.
• Experience working across global teams, cultures and organisational boundaries.
• Knowledge of both small molecules and larger or novel modalities, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates and peptides.
• Experience integrating PK, pharmacology, biomarker, efficacy and safety data to inform translational and clinical decisions.
• Experience applying quantitative pharmacology analyses to regulatory submissions or interactions with regulatory authorities.

What You’ll Bring to the Team

Beyond your scientific expertise, you will be:

• Passionate about scientific innovation and solving complex drug-development challenges.
• Comfortable operating both independently and collaboratively.
• Able to adapt your communication and working style to different clients, cultures and project environments.
• An effective mentor who enjoys developing scientific capability in others.
• Confident influencing senior stakeholders and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Commercially aware, with an understanding of how scientific excellence supports client relationships and business growth.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to:

• Shape the future direction of PK/PD modelling and quantitative pharmacology within a global drug discovery and development organisation.
• Influence programmes from early discovery through clinical development.
• Work on scientifically diverse client projects across therapeutic areas and molecular modalities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary scientific teams around the world.
• Develop people, modelling capability and innovative quantitative services.
• Build your external scientific profile through publications, conferences and industry engagement.

If you are an established PK/PD modelling scientist ready to combine technical leadership, client engagement and strategic capability development, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Apply now to help translate complex data into better drug-development decisions.

Collaborative Culture: Thrive in our inclusive and collaborative environment, where teamwork and innovation go hand in hand. Here, your voice matters, and your contributions make a real impact. "Employees Number One" and "Clients Centered" are the core cultural values at Pharmaron. Our culture, which sets Pharmaron apart from other organizations, has evolved from our deep commitment to our employees, partners and collaborators.

Pharmaron is a premier service provider for the life sciences industry. Founded in 2004, Pharmaron has invested in its people and facilities and established a broad spectrum of research, development, and manufacturing service capabilities throughout the entire drug discovery, preclinical, and clinical development process across multiple therapeutic modalities, including small molecules, biologics, and CGT products. With over 25,000 employees and operations in the U.S., the U.K. and China. Pharmaron has an excellent track record in delivering R&D solutions to its partners in North America, Europe, Japan, and China.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer, Pharmaron values diversity and inclusion in the workplace, fostering an environment where all individuals are empowered to succeed. Join us in our mission to make a difference in the world of life sciences.