Job Details

Associate Director, Protein Homeostasis Discovery Biology

Working with Us Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren't words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You'll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives.

Location: San Diego, CA US (On-site) Reports to: Executive Director, Protein Homeostasis TRC

The Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center at BMS is a fundamental Oncology research engine delivering oncology and hematology therapeutics to patients. The TRC has a major focus on exploiting BMS' expertise in protein degradation to discover and develop therapies aimed at tumor intrinsic vulnerabilities and mechanisms of resistance to existing cancer therapeutics. This focus on protein degradation allows us to attack protein classes that were previously deemed undruggable.

Position Summary

The Discovery Biology Department in Protein Homeostasis Thematic Research Center (PH TRC) at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) is seeking a strategic and collaborative Associate Director to lead discovery biology initiatives focused on delivering transformative therapeutics and advancing research across hematologic malignancies, immunology, neurodegeneration, virology, genetic diseases and solid tumors. As a scientific leader in the Discovery Biology Department, you will drive the identification, validation, and advancement of novel drug targets by leveraging multidisciplinary expertise in disease biology, molecular pharmacology, and translational models. The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping research strategies, mentoring teams, and fostering innovation to accelerate pipeline progression.

Position Responsibilities

In the role as an Associate Director within Protein Homeostasis Discovery Biology, the ideal candidate:

Leadership & Strategy

• Leads highly complex, strategic programs and exercises significant autonomy in determining objectives and deliverables.
• Directs cross-functional project teams in the design, execution, and interpretation of preclinical research programs focused on protein homeostasis pathways.
• Develops and implements department strategy for target validation, mechanism-of-action, and disease positioning across multiple oncology and non-oncology indications.
• Shapes portfolio strategy by driving go/no-go decision-making, achievement of key milestone, and optimal resource allocation to advance therapeutic programs.

Scientific Excellence

• Oversee development and optimization of advanced cell-based and molecular assays supporting drug discovery and translational research, including novel protein degraders, E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting, and 3D/organoid tumor models.
• Guide mechanistic studies and target validation experiments using state-of-the-art technologies (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, inducible shRNA, lentiviral systems, functional and biochemical assays).
• Ensure data integrity, high-quality reporting, and presentation of results to internal governance boards and external scientific forums.

Collaboration & Innovation

• Foster partnerships with internal groups (medicinal chemistry, bioinformatics, translational and clinical teams) and external collaborators (academia, biotech, CROs) to expand capabilities and accelerate discovery efforts.
• Champion adoption and deployment of innovative technologies and platforms to enhance pipeline success.

Team Development

• Directly manages a team of scientists, overseeing goal-setting, performance management, coaching, and providing input into hiring, promotions, and compensation decisions.
• Actively mentors and develops junior scientists, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Leads team development initiatives, promotes multidisciplinary collaboration, and ensures the integration of diverse scientific perspectives to drive innovation and advance departmental goals.

Communication & Documentation

• Prepare and review scientific reports, regulatory documents, publications, and patent applications.
• Communicate findings and strategic updates effectively to internal and external stakeholders.

Quality & Compliance

• Ensure all research activities comply with regulatory guidelines and uphold BMS standards for scientific rigor and integrity.

Experience

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree with 12+ years of academic and/or industry experience
• Master's Degree with 10+ years of academic and/or industry experience
• Or Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in the Life Sciences with 8+ years of academic and/or industry experience
• 4+ years of leadership experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Immunology, Neuroscience, or a related field with at least 8 years of relevant industry or postdoctoral experience; Master's degree with 10+ years or Bachelor's degree with 12+ years will also be considered. Minimum 4 years of direct team leadership and management experience required. Advanced degree and proven leadership preferred.
• Demonstrated expertise in scientific leadership for drug discovery, target validation, and translational research, particularly in protein homeostasis, oncology, hematology or related areas.
• Proficient in mammalian cell culture, advanced molecular and cellular techniques (CRISPR/Cas9, shRNA, lentiviral systems, western blotting, immunoprecipitation, flow cytometry, functional and 3D/organoid assays), and disease-relevant model development.
• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex projects in dynamic environments.
• Hands-on experience with development of protein degraders, high-content biology platforms, and disease models.
• Skilled in scientific data analysis tools (GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, Excel, PowerPoint) with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with a record of scientific publications and regulatory submissions.
• Proven ability to mentor, motivate, and develop staff, with a strong commitment to quality, adaptability, and cross-functional collaboration.

Why Join the Protein Homeostasis TRC at BMS?

Join a pioneering research center dedicated to advancing the science of protein homeostasis and delivering breakthrough therapies for patients with serious diseases. At BMS, you'll be empowered to drive innovation, shape portfolio strategy, and lead multidisciplinary teams in a collaborative, inclusive environment. We offer competitive benefits, resources for professional growth, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patients' lives.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers With a single vision as inspiring as "Transforming patients' lives through science ", every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role: Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to ...@bms.com. Visit careers.bms.com/ee