Morgan Prestwich - Life Science & Healthcare Executive Search
Director Preclinical Strategy and Portfolio
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Director, Preclinical Strategy & Portfolio – Anti-Infectives
Our client is a highly regarded organisation at the forefront of translational life sciences research, with a strong commitment to advancing innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs. As part of its continued growth, they are seeking to appoint a Director, Preclinical Strategy & Portfolio with a focus on Anti-Infectives and in particular Antimicrobial Resistance, to provide strategic scientific leadership across a high-impact research portfolio.
This is a pivotal leadership appointment for an established expert in anti-infective drug discovery who is passionate about translating world-class science into meaningful patient outcomes. The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping preclinical strategy, guiding complex research programmes, and influencing the direction of a diverse portfolio spanning therapeutic and diagnostic innovation.
Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will provide strategic oversight across multiple internal and collaborative programmes, ensuring scientific excellence, effective portfolio governance, and the successful progression of assets through key preclinical milestones towards clinical development. You will also foster strong relationships with academic, industry, and funding partners while providing inspirational leadership within a collaborative, matrixed research environment.
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The Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Shape the scientific strategy for a nationally and internationally recognised anti-infectives portfolio.
- Lead a diverse range of innovative preclinical drug discovery and translational research programmes.
- Influence portfolio direction, investment decisions, and programme prioritisation at a strategic level.
- Work alongside highly respected scientific leaders and external collaborators across academia, biotechnology, and industry.
- Mentor and develop multidisciplinary scientific and project leadership teams.
- Contribute to research with the potential to deliver significant long-term impact for patients worldwide.
About You
You will be an accomplished scientific leader with an established reputation in anti-infective drug discovery and a track record of successfully leading complex research programmes within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or translational research settings.
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You will bring:
- Extensive experience leading anti-infective drug discovery programmes from early discovery through to late preclinical and/or IND-enabling studies.
- A strong understanding of the scientific, operational, and strategic requirements needed to progress innovative therapies through preclinical development.
- Demonstrated success leading complex research portfolios involving multiple stakeholders, collaborations, and external partnerships.
- Experience building, leading, and developing high-performing multidisciplinary teams within matrix organisations.
- Outstanding strategic thinking, scientific judgement, and decision-making capabilities.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the credibility to engage senior scientific leaders, executive stakeholders, and external partners.
- A collaborative leadership style with a passion for developing people and fostering scientific excellence.
- Experience across multiple therapeutic modalities would be advantageous.
- A PhD in a relevant scientific discipline; postdoctoral research experience is desirable.
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