FORMA Therapeutics is seeking a VP of Biology to drive FORMA’s current and future discovery research and translational biology to
advance products from target selection to the clinic. This is a key leadership role reporting directly to the Head of Research and Development. The ideal candidate will be adept at working within an open, matrixed, multi-disciplinary team and possess a passion for exploration of novel biology, to address unmet needs of patients with cancer and other serious diseases. In this role, the VP of Biology will also play a critical leadership role in guiding teams through the assessment and development of molecules in discovery and clinical
development, such as mode of action studies, in vitro and in vivo models, and building pre-clinical support for IND enabling activities and beyond.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic and innovative scientist who will provide leadership, guidance and management to a broad range of biology-related activities in the discovery and translational teams. It is critical that the candidate is experienced with the drug discovery and development process as evidenced by key contributions to the discovery of new therapies that have advanced to clinical proof of concept. The candidate should also be able to develop and mentor project leaders and support cross-functional and other collaborative activities.

Essential Functions:

• Build and lead a world class Discovery and Translational Biology team while driving an innovative culture that cultivates teamwork and optimizes performance to advance novel, innovative compounds
• Lead by example with a high level of emotional intelligence and effectively collaborate with leaders in Early Discovery, Early Development, Chemistry and other functional groups
• Provide scientific expertise/direction and leadership to the Discovery Biology organization. A strong level of experience and accomplishment in the oncology therapeutic area is essential
• Lead the identification and prosecution of a sustainable flow of actionable biology targets for screening and discovery to achieve FORMA’s drug discovery goals with the ultimate objective to bring unprecedented new medicines to patients
• Actively assist in seeking, driving and managing product and technology alliances with academia, government and industry partners
• Work with biology project teams to set objectives and address specific challenges and meet goals.
• Effectively apply state-of-the-art technologies and best practices to improve operational efficiency
• Ensure performance standards are maintained and that experimental work is performed to a consistently high standard
• Provide critical cancer biology expertise for FORMA’s portfolio
• Provide the necessary expertise in in vivo pharmacology and in tumor model systems (transgenic, syngeneic and xenogeneic) to define the anti-cancer therapeutic activity of FORMA’s portfolio
• Serve as subject matter expert in preparing and presenting research results at external scientific conferences
• Active member on the Research Leadership Team, playing a critical role in the development and execution of FORMA’s research and development strategy
• Operationally responsible for the biology research team and its deliverables

Qualifications, Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in appropriate Biological Sciences Discipline; Oncology (preferred)
• At least 15 years industry experience in the discovery of potential novel therapeutics, preferably small molecules
• Experience in leading translational biology efforts to advance early projects through Phase I
• A record of building, leading highly productive teams, with a strong record of organizational experience
• Demonstrated scientific leadership in cancer biology, an innovative aptitude, coupled with strong practical execution
• Balances leadership strength with self-awareness, confidence and humility
• Exceptional track record of publication in high impact, high visibility scientific journals
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Track record of establishing expertise in in vivo pharmacology across different disease areas. Expertise in cancer pharmacology is highly preferred
• Experience in managing external research collaborations with academic institutions as well as companies
• Ability to balance execution of tasks required to accomplish goals with creating an environment of scientific curiosity, innovation and open exchange of ideas