At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative DMPK strategies to revolutionise drug discovery and development.
- Company: Join Recursion, a pioneering TechBio company transforming lives through advanced drug discovery.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, equity compensation, and comprehensive benefits package.
- Other info: Dynamic, collaborative environment with opportunities for rapid career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in drug discovery while working at the intersection of biology and technology.
- Qualifications: PhD in relevant field with 15+ years in pharma or biotech, plus strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 166500 - 208100 € per year.
Your work will change lives. Including your own.
The Opportunity
At Recursion we are redefining drug discovery by uniting industrial-scale data generation with sophisticated computational models. We are seeking a visionary Head of DMPK to join our leadership team. You will lead the DMPK strategy to transition our internal and partnered programs from early hit-identification through to IND-enabling studies and early clinical development. But this is not a traditional DMPK role. You will be a key architect in an environment that is pushing the boundaries of “predict more, test less” - bridging the gap between high-throughput, experimentally derived data generation and predictive modeling.
Your Impact
- Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the overarching DMPK strategy for a diverse therapeutic area portfolio, primarily focused on small molecules with the agility to support emerging modalities (e.g. peptides, ADCs, proximity-inducing therapeutics).
- Scientific Rigor and Project Acceleration: Ensure high degree of scientific excellence as programs move from early discovery into development ensuring robust human dose projections, DDI assessments, and supporting translational PK/PD strategies.
- Tech-Forward Collaboration: Partner with Data Science and ML teams to refine our predictive ADME models, transforming how we prioritize compounds and de-risking the portfolio.
- External Partnerships: Act as a strategic subject matter expert for high-stakes external partnerships by collaborating with internal scientific leaders and external counterparts with transparency and technical rigor.
- Talent Development: Develop and lead a high-performing team. You won't just manage - you will amplify the talents of your team, fostering an environment of active learning and rapid adaptation.
- Cross-Functional Synergy: A critical component of multidisciplinary project teams. A critical partner to Toxicology, Translation and Design ensuring that DMPK insights are integrated into the earliest stages of target validation and lead optimization.
Who You Are
- The Academic Foundation: You hold a PhD (or equivalent) in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Metabolism, Pharmacology, or a related field.
- The Industry Veteran: You have a proven track record of moving multiple programs from Discovery into Development (typically 15+ years) in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
- The Nimble Mindset: You are comfortable working at the intersection of biology and technology. You are cautiously optimistic that data-driven, computational approaches are the future of drug discovery.
- The Modality Expert: Deep expertise in small molecule DMPK is essential. Experience with related modalities (ADCs, proximity-inducing or peptides) is a distinct advantage.
- The Regulatory Navigator: You are intimately familiar with IND submission requirements and have a history of successfully navigating regulatory interactions.
- The Collaborative Leader: You value "One Team" over silos. You are known for strong, transparent working relationships and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Technical Skills & Expertise
- Expertise in in vitro & in vivo ADME as well as contemporary PK/PD modeling.
- Extending to the properties and data sets commensurate with CNS exposure (or conversely restricting exposure to peripheral tissues).
- Experience with human PK and efficacious dose prediction.
- Proficiency in managing CROs to ensure high-quality data and timely delivery.
- Knowledge of biotransformation and metabolic pathways.
- Extensive experience in working with external collaborators in all shapes and forms (CROs, SMEs, Large Pharma).
Working Location & Compensation:
This is an office-based, hybrid position at an office located in London, England. Employees are expected to work in the office at least 50% of the time. At Recursion, we believe that every employee should be compensated fairly. Based on the skill and level of experience required for this role, the estimated current annual base range for this role is £166,500 to £208,100. You will also be eligible for an annual bonus and equity compensation, as well as a comprehensive benefits package.
The Values We Hope You Share:
- We act boldly with integrity. We are unconstrained in our thinking, take calculated risks, and push boundaries, but never at the expense of ethics, science, or trust.
- We care deeply and engage directly. Caring means holding a deep sense of responsibility and respect - showing up, speaking honestly, and taking action.
- We learn actively and adapt rapidly. Progress comes from doing. We experiment, test, and refine, embracing iteration over perfection.
- We move with urgency because patients are waiting. Speed isn’t about rushing but about moving the needle every day.
- We take ownership and accountability. Through ownership and accountability, we enable trust and autonomy—leaders take accountability for decisive action, and teams own outcomes together.
- We are One Recursion. True cross-functional collaboration is about trust, clarity, humility, and impact. Through sharing, we can be greater than the sum of our individual capabilities.
Our values underpin the employee experience at Recursion. They are the character and personality of the company demonstrated through how we communicate, support one another, spend our time, make decisions, and celebrate collectively.
More About Recursion
Recursion (NASDAQ: RXRX) is a clinical-stage TechBio company decoding biology to radically improve lives. Recursion is advancing a portfolio of differentiated investigational medicines across its wholly owned and partnered pipeline in oncology, rare disease, neuroscience, immunology, and other therapeutic areas with significant unmet need. Enabling its mission is the Recursion OS, an AI-native, end-to-end drug discovery and development platform integrating biology, chemistry, and clinical development into a unified intelligence system. Powered by proprietary multimodal data, purpose-built AI models, and bilingual teams fluent in both science and AI, the Recursion OS is designed to translate complex science into medicines that matter — faster, better, and at scale — for patients who are waiting.
Recursion’s platform infrastructure is anchored in Salt Lake City, Utah and Milton Park, Oxfordshire, where its automated biology and chemistry laboratories generate proprietary data at industrial scale. Recursion also maintains offices in New York, Montréal, and London, three global hubs for talent and leadership at the intersection of AI and scientific innovation.
Recursion is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, local, or provincial human rights legislation. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
Recruitment & Staffing Agencies: Recursion Pharmaceuticals and its affiliate companies do not accept resumes from any source other than candidates. The submission of resumes by recruitment or staffing agencies to Recursion or its employees is strictly prohibited unless contacted directly by Recursion’s internal Talent Acquisition team. Any resume submitted by an agency in the absence of a signed agreement will automatically become the property of Recursion, and Recursion will not owe any referral or other fees. Our team will communicate directly with candidates who are not represented by an agent or intermediary unless otherwise agreed to prior to interviewing for the job.
Head of DMPK in London employer: Recursion
At Recursion, we are not just redefining drug discovery; we are creating a vibrant work culture that prioritises innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. As the Head of DMPK, you will be at the forefront of transformative science in our London office, where we foster an environment of active learning and rapid adaptation, ensuring that every team member's talents are amplified. With competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a commitment to ethical practices, Recursion is an exceptional employer for those seeking meaningful and impactful careers in the biotech industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of DMPK in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company thoroughly, understand their mission, and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Practise common interview questions and think of examples that showcase your skills and achievements.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Use this opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and mention something specific from the interview that resonated with you.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team at Recursion.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of DMPK in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let your enthusiasm for drug discovery and DMPK shine through in your application. We want to see how your vision aligns with our mission to redefine the industry and change lives.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights your relevant experience, especially in moving programs from Discovery to Development. We love seeing specific examples of your achievements that demonstrate your expertise in small molecules and related modalities.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your thoughts on how you can contribute to our tech-forward collaboration and strategic leadership in DMPK.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Recursion!
How to prepare for a job interview at Recursion
✨Know Your DMPK Inside Out
Make sure you have a solid grasp of DMPK principles, especially in relation to small molecules and emerging modalities. Brush up on your knowledge of human PK and efficacious dose prediction, as well as the latest trends in predictive modelling. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and vision during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of DMPK, you'll need to lead a high-performing team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you've successfully developed talent in the past. Share specific examples of how you've fostered collaboration and active learning within your teams to amplify their strengths.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration
Since this role requires working closely with various teams, think about how you can bridge gaps between disciplines. Prepare examples of past experiences where you've successfully collaborated with Data Science, Toxicology, or other departments. Highlight your ability to influence stakeholders and drive projects forward.
✨Understand the Regulatory Landscape
Familiarise yourself with IND submission requirements and regulatory interactions. Be ready to discuss your experience navigating these processes and how you can leverage that knowledge to benefit the company. This will show that you're not just a scientific expert but also a strategic thinker who understands the bigger picture.