Septerna is a biotechnology company based in South San Francisco, CA on a mission to develop life-changing medicines for patients with the vision to become the industry-leading G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-focused drug discovery company. The company’s Native Complex Platform™ recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular context. This approach enables novel access to modern structural and screening technologies used in industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire class of GPCRs. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule programs with potential for growth to target many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date.
We are excited to expand our multidisciplinary team of individuals focused on creating revolutionary medicines to address the unmet needs of patients. At Septerna we strive to embrace diversity of thought, expertise, and background through collaboration. To join our ambitious team, be prepared to bring your real self to work every day; grow and learn from a talented team of drug hunters, scientists, and business professionals; and contribute your passion, creativity, and energy to accomplish our mission. We share a fearless pursuit of ground-breaking innovations and cultivate an environment where our employees succeed by learning from each other and working as a team.
We are committed to the development of meaningful therapeutics for patients with indications of high unmet need. This is a tremendous opportunity to work with talented individuals on the frontlines of therapeutic discovery and development. You will directly help move therapies through preclinical research, positioning them for success in the clinic. The successful candidate will add their passion, unique talents, and expertise to a dynamic team motivated to discover new disease-modifying therapeutics for patients in a fast-paced environment.
For more information see: www.septerna.com.
THE ROLE
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Business Applications to lead the design, delivery, and optimization of business-focused technology solutions across organization. In this role, you'll lead strategic initiatives that bridge business needs with innovative solutions. This role requires a deep understanding of enterprise application landscapes grounded in understanding the unique regulatory, operational, and commercial needs of the pharmaceutical industry. The ideal candidate will act as a critical bridge between business functions and IT, ensuring that solutions directly enable business goals, streamline operations, and support compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership: Lead the development and execution of the business applications roadmap, aligned with company objectives and long-term IT strategy.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with cross-functional leaders to understand needs, gather requirements, and define application strategies that deliver measurable business outcomes. Lead discovery sessions with stakeholders to identify pain points and translate them into tangible solution requirements
- Solution Delivery: Oversee solution design, implementation, integration, and support of core business applications including ERP (NetSuite), HRIS (BambooHR), Payroll (ADP), Procure to Pay, T&E,and workflow automation platforms (Workato).
- Innovation & Optimization: Evaluate and implement emerging technologies that enhance efficiency, data quality, and compliance in areas like clinical development, supply chain, and product commercialization. Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies
- Compliance Management: Manage IT General Controls for SOX compliance, ensuring effectiveness of said controls and providing guidance on future improvements as the organization grows.
- Vendor & Partner Management: Manage third-party software providers, consultants, and systems integrators to ensure delivery quality, value, and adherence to timelines and budgets.
- Team Leadership: Build and lead a high-performing team of business analysts, application managers, and technical leads. Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in information systems, Business, or related field required; MBA or Master’s in a technical or scientific discipline preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in enterprise business applications; 5+ years in a leadership role with direct reports.
- Demonstrated success implementing and optimizing systems within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
- Strong knowledge of global regulatory frameworks.
- Demonstrable strategic thinking and business acumen.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven project management and change leadership experience.
- Strong understanding of pharmaceutical business processes (e.g., clinical trials, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, commercialization).
- Proficiency in modern application architectures, integration, and SaaS platforms.
The anticipated salary range for candidates who will work in South San Francisco, CA is $235,000 - $255,000. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location and relevant education or training. Septerna's compensation package also includes benefits, stock options, and annual target bonus for full-time positions.
We are an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
Note to Employment Agencies: Please do not forward any agency resumes. The company will not be responsible for any fees related to resumes that are unsolicited.
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What We Do
Septerna is on a mission to make the promise of future GPCR medicines a reality for patients. Combining the latest advances in biochemical, structural and computational drug discovery approaches, we have built an industrialized platform to precisely control and modulate GPCR biology and pharmacology to discover and develop new high-impact medicines. With our Native Complex™ platform, we are opening a new frontier in GPCR small molecule discovery technologies to expand the druggable GPCR landscape. We are always looking for talented scientists, drug hunters, and business professionals to join our mission to launch a new era of GPCR medicines. If you’re passionate about innovation, energized by teamwork, and fueled by the desire to change patient lives, join us and become a part of the Septerna story!
