SUMMARY/JOB PURPOSE
The DMPK Director has strong scientific, technical and leadership skills to develop and implement DMPK and modeling and simulation strategies to advance drug candidates from discovery to development stage and build comprehensive DMPK packages to enable successful drug registration. The director is responsible for providing strategic and technical subject matter expertise as well as scientific accountability for the DMPK support of several programs in Exelixis' portfolio.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the IND- and NDA-enabling ADME work; characterize the ADME properties of molecules and collaborate to establish in vitro to in vivo correlations; ensure that all DMPK studies and analyses are consistent with regulatory guidance
- Analyze and interpret preclinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data to inform drug development decisions
- Closely partner with Discovery to evolve translational ADME strategies and collaborate on roll-out and execution to ensure deep integration of knowledge from Discovery to Development
- Work collaboratively with other functional partners including Translational Medicine, CMC, Toxicology, Clinical Development and Regulatory to deliver on project and corporate objectives
- Prepare high quality regulatory documents including IND, CTA, and NDA filings; prepare DMPK components of nonclinical and clinical study protocols, nonclinical and clinical study reports, and investigator brochures
- Support functional area reviews for due diligence evaluations
- Conduct scientific presentations to senior management, project teams and internal/external collaborators
- Stay up-to-date with advancements in DMPK research and identify and integrate emerging science to advance the portfolio
- Maintain external scientific visibility through publications
- Contribute to a science-driven, goal-oriented culture that values innovation, teamwork, agility, transparency, accountability and empowerment
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Complies with all policies and standards
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
- No supervisory responsibilities
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS & ABILITIES
Education
- PhD degree in Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences or other relevant field and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in DMPK in the pharmaceutical industry; or,
- Equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience
- Minimum 8 years experience in DMPK
- Expert knowledge of in vitro and in vivo ADME studies
- Experience managing external DMPK work at CROs
- Extensive experience in identifying clinical candidates through balancing ADME, pharmacology and toxicology properties and progressing molecules into clinical trials
- Solid experience in utilization of physiologically-based and empirical modeling and simulation techniques to characterize drug-drug interactions and biopharmaceutics liabilities
- Experience with submission of IND/NDA/BLA and global marketing applicatiions
- Experience with antibody drug conjugates is a plus
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Required:
- Extensive scientific and technical knowledge around drug metabolism and drug transporters, including enzymology and enzyme kinetics and in virto to in vivo extrapolation
- Demonstration of independent thought/creativity in science and drug discovery
- Experience in applying emerging science and technologies to strengthen and improve research capabilities
- In-depth knowledge of current practices and issues in DMPK (including regulatory requirements), PKPD and translational sciences
- Excellent collaborative verbal and written communication skills
- Able to work well with multi-disciplinary teams
- Works on problems of diverse scope where analysis and review of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors. Works on ADME complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors
- Exercises independent judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results
- Thrives in a fast-paced business environment
- Function is a highly matrixed team environment
- Find creative solutions to unique and complex problems
#LI-JP1
Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this position is $166,500 - $236,500 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate’s geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.If you have a disability and need an accommodation in relation to the recruiting process, please email us at: [email protected].
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Our office is a modern space that fosters collaboration and creativity. Teams work closely together, sharing ideas and solutions in a supportive atmosphere. We provide all necessary equipment, including dual monitors and ergonomic chairs, to ensure a comfortable workspace.
DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.
Skills Required
- PhD in Drug Metabolism, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a relevant field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- At least 8 years of relevant DMPK experience in the pharmaceutical industry
- Expert knowledge of in vitro and in vivo ADME studies
- Experience managing external DMPK work at contract research organizations
- Experience identifying clinical candidates by balancing ADME, pharmacology, and toxicology properties
- Experience progressing molecules into clinical trials
- Experience using physiologically based and empirical modeling and simulation techniques
- Experience characterizing drug-drug interactions and biopharmaceutics liabilities
- Experience with IND, NDA, BLA, and global marketing application submissions
- Extensive knowledge of drug metabolism, drug transporters, enzymology, enzyme kinetics, and in vitro to in vivo extrapolation
- In-depth knowledge of DMPK, regulatory requirements, PKPD, and translational sciences
- Strong collaborative verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams in a highly matrixed environment
- Ability to independently evaluate complex scientific problems and select appropriate methods and techniques
- Experience with antibody-drug conjugates
Exelixis Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Exelixis and has not been reviewed or approved by Exelixis.
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Retirement Support — Retirement plans are highlighted as a strength, featuring a 401(k) with generous company contributions and immediate vesting. This emphasis signals strong long‑term financial support within the total rewards package.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is positioned as comprehensive, with multiple medical plan options (HDHP with HSA, EPO, and Kaiser HMO in CA) and employer HSA contributions in 2026. Posted plan documents and contribution details indicate structured support for managing care and costs.
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Parental & Family Support — Family support is robust, including fully paid parental leave, caregiver leave, and expanded fertility benefits. Additional elements such as grandparent leave and backup care broaden assistance across life stages.
Exelixis Insights
What We Do
Every Exelixis employee is united in an ambitious cause: to launch innovative medicines that give patients and their families hope for the future. In this pursuit, we know our employees are our most valuable asset. After operating in the challenging biotech sector for more than 25 years, we have a proven track record of resiliency in the face of adversity. The success of our lead product has provided a solid commercial foundation allowing us to reinvigorate our research efforts, and grow our team in areas such as Drug Discovery, Clinical Development and Commercial. As we expand our global partnerships and further reinvest in R&D to help us discover the next breakthrough for difficult-to-treat cancers, we’re seeking to add talented, dedicated employees to power our mission. Cancer is our cause. Make it yours, too. Please see our Community Guidelines: bit.ly/2XXw9w3 For more information about Exelixis, please visit www.exelixis.com, follow @ExelixisInc on Twitter or like Exelixis, Inc. on Facebook.
