PhD in biological sciences or equivalent technical training
Degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field
15+ years of industry experience in product discovery and development
4+ years managing research teams and projects
Strong understanding of FDA drug development requirements and regulatory readiness
Experience managing cross-functional and distributed teams with U.S. and German collaboration
Exceptional communication skills with a connection to German business culture preferred
Experience in high-growth or emerging biotech/pharma environments
Responsibilities
Own and develop the end-to-end Pharmaceutical development strategy
Establish and execute the long-term product development roadmap
Oversee CDMO operations and foster a culture of scientific rigor
Collaborate with Business Development for product expertise
Prioritize and manage complex development projects
Act as primary technical ambassador in the U.S.
Interface between executive management, German operations, and external partners
Drive cross-functional alignment across development and quality
Ensure technical documentation standards are upheld
Create and track KPIs for development performance
Benefits
Excellent medical, dental, and vision plans
Company-paid holidays
Additional employee benefits package potential
Full Job Description
Job Description
Laxxon Medical is seeking a Head of Pharmaceutical Development to serve as a key scientific leader focused on our U.S. operations. This role is designed for a technically grounded leader who is experienced in translating complex, non-traditional manufacturing technologies into robust, regulatory-viable development programs while representing the company to investors, partners, and the broader scientific community. This role will lead the buildout and operational expansion of the activities and presence in the U.S. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between high-level innovation and industrial execution.
Responsibilities:
Own and further develop the end-to-end Pharmaceutical development strategy.
Establish and execute the long-term product development roadmap, including portfolio prioritization, milestone planning, and resource allocation.
Responsible for dotted line and oversight of the CDMO, keeping R&D colleagues across Laxxon's locations informed by fostering a culture of execution, scientific rigor, and continuous professional development.
Collaborate with the Head of Business Development, providing product expertise useful in KOL management, speaker events, and sales presentations.
Prioritize and oversee complex development projects from formulation through to GMP-adjacent stages.
Act as the primary technical ambassador in the U.S., delivering high-impact presentations, driving scientific publications, and engaging with investors and pharmaceutical clients.
Serve as the critical interface between executive management, German-based operations, and external partners (academia, industry, and regulatory bodies).
Drive cross-functional alignment between development, quality, and investor relations.
Ensure all R&D activities maintain the highest standards of technical documentation and reproducibility.
Create and track KPIs for development performance, including timelines, technical milestones, budget adherence, quality metrics, and regulatory readiness.
Requirements:
PhD in biological sciences (e.g., molecular biology, immunology, bioengineering, biochemistry, etc.) or equivalent technical training
Degree in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, or a related field
15+ years of industry experience with a focus on product discovery and development, including 4+ years guiding successful research teams and managing productive research projects and collaborations
Demonstrated success managing scientific teams and translating R&D projects into structured, commercial-ready programs.
Deep understanding of quality systems and FDA drug development requirements; specifically, managing the transition of R&D assets through NDA and 505(b)(2) pathways while ensuring "regulatory readiness" and rigorous documentation standards.
Experience managing cross-functional and geographically distributed teams, ideally including U.S. and German collaboration.
Exceptional communication skills. A strong connection to or understanding of German business culture (or German language skills) is highly preferred to maintain synergy with our European R&D and production site.
Prior experience in a small, high-growth, venture-backed, or emerging biotech/pharma environment preferred.
Demonstrated ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on and execution-oriented.
Pay Range & Benefits:
The base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $300,000; The pay range provided is an estimated base range for this role. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and education.
We offer an excellent benefits program, including Medical, Dental, and Vision plans, company-paid holidays, and more!
