How you'll make an impact:The Senior Director of Formulation Development will provide scientific leadership for preformulation and early stage formulation activities across our portfolio of small molecule programs. This individual will serve as a hands-on scientific expert and team leader, driving enabling formulation strategies from candidate selection through early clinical development, with a focus on solving complex drug delivery and bioavailability challenges inherent to degrader molecules. The successful candidate will partner closely with Research, DMPK, and CMC functions to advance programs efficiently through IND and into early-stage clinical studies. This role requires deep scientific expertise in enabling formulation technologies, a strong track record in early-stage pharmaceutical development, and the ability to work collaboratively across functions in a fast-paced biotech environment.
Responsibilities- Lead early formulation development activities across programs, providing scientific direction on preformulation characterization, enabling formulation strategies, and drug product design for preclinical and early clinical stages
- Apply deep scientific expertise in preformulation, biopharmaceutics, and enabling formulation technologies to support candidate progression decisions and advance programs from discovery through IND
- Drive innovation in enabling formulation technologies to address solubility and bioavailability challenges across the early pipeline
- Design and execute phase-appropriate formulation and drug product development strategies for preclinical toxicology studies and early clinical programs
- Provide scientific and technical guidance; coordinate with external CROs and CDMOs to execute early formulation and drug product programs
- Contribute to establishing phase-appropriate best practices, SOPs, and experimental frameworks for early formulation development activities
- Manage outsourced early formulation and drug product activities with CROs and CDMOs, ensuring scientific quality, timelines, and technical objectives are met
- Support CMC regulatory strategy for drug product development and contribute to preparation of drug product IND sections
- Ensure compliance with applicable GMP and regulatory requirements
Skills and experience you'll bring:- Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline with 15+ years of relevant pharmaceutical industry experience, with a focus on early-stage formulation development
- Demonstrated scientific expertise in early-stage pharmaceutical development, with a track record of advancing small molecule programs from discovery through IND and into clinical development
- Strong understanding of preformulation, biopharmaceutics, formulation development, and oral solid dose drug product manufacturing for small molecules
- Deep expertise in formulation approaches for poorly soluble compounds, including application of enabling technologies to improve bioavailability and product performance
- Proven track record of advancing small molecule programs through IND, with hands-on expertise in preformulation characterization, enabling formulation development, and early clinical drug product design
- Strong knowledge of GMP requirements, regulatory expectations, and evolving industry trends
- Experience coordinating with external CROs and CDMOs to deliver formulation development objectives
- Strong scientific communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners
Compensation
- Kymera offers a competitive compensation package that recognizes both results and capabilities through market-based, performance-driven pay.
- The anticipated base salary range for this role is $235,000 - $330,000, with eligibility for annual bonus, equity participation, and comprehensive benefits.
- Actual salary is based on a holistic evaluation of the specific role/level as well as each candidate's depth of experience and the capabilities they bring to the position.
