Vice President, Discovery
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Vice President, Discovery
Job Summary and Purpose
The Vice President, Discovery is an enterprise executive responsible for therapeutic area strategy, scientific innovation, and delivery of the discovery portfolio across biologics and small molecule modalities.
Ideally located at our Philadelphia site the role provides strategic and operational leadership from target concept and lead identification through Proof of Concept (PoC), including the early industrialization required to enable PoC studies. The VP leads both internal R&D capabilities and the external innovation ecosystem to ensure sustainable pipeline generation, scientific excellence, and long-term enterprise value creation.
Working in close partnership with Franchise leadership, the VP ensures strong alignment between discovery strategy, therapeutic area priorities, and commercial opportunity. This role reports directly to the EVP, Research & Development.
Responsibilities and Key Duties
1. Therapeutic Area & Modality Strategy
• Define and lead therapeutic domain strategies aligned with corporate growth priorities and long-range R&D investment planning.
• Provide scientific leadership across biotherapeutic and small molecule discovery platforms.
• Partner with Franchise leadership to ensure discovery priorities reflect therapeutic strategy, market opportunity, and portfolio needs.
• Align discovery strategy with commercial opportunity, competitive landscape, and enterprise portfolio value creation objectives.
• Present portfolio strategy, investment priorities, and risk assessments to executive governance bodies.
2. Enterprise Innovation Leadership
Internal Innovation
• Establish and govern innovation frameworks across Discovery and Translational Sciences.
• Member of the Companion Animal (CA) Species Portfolio Offer Committee which oversees the Ceva CA product portfolio identifying new opportunities matching customer needs
• Drive target identification, platform innovation, and early pipeline expansion across therapeutic domains.
• Build scalable discovery capabilities including digital enablement, advanced analytics, and data-driven decision-making.
• Foster a culture of scientific rigor, creativity, and disciplined experimentation.
External Innovation
• Lead external innovation strategy including academic collaborations, biotech partnerships, platform alliances, and scientific consortia.
• Identify and evaluate external opportunities that complement internal capabilities and therapeutic priorities.
• Collaborate with Business Development on in-licensing and co-development opportunities.
• Position the organization as a preferred partner within its therapeutic focus areas.
3. End-to-End Portfolio Accountability to PoC
• Accountable for program progression from target concept through discovery and delivery of Proof of Concept (D0-ready candidates).
• Implement disciplined portfolio governance and prioritization frameworks to optimize probability of technical success and R&D return on investment.
• Lead portfolio reviews through established governance structures including Scientific Steering Committees (SSC) and program governance forums.
• Allocate capital, talent, and external resources strategically across programs and modalities.
• Lead resolution of complex scientific and technical risks; escalate strategic decisions as required.
4. Operational Excellence & Organizational Transformation
• Design and implement scalable discovery operating models supporting biologics and small molecule innovation.
• Establish performance metrics tied to cycle time, cost efficiency, technical success rates, and portfolio value creation.
• Lead transformation initiatives that enhance agility, accountability, and scientific productivity.
5. Global Matrix & Cross-Functional Leadership
• Ensure strong alignment across Discovery, Development, Regulatory Affairs, GID, GMSQ, Manufacturing, and Commercial organizations.
• Anticipate downstream development requirements and collaborate with Development teams to ensure seamless asset transitions beyond PoC.
• Lead effectively within a global matrix environment, resolving cross-functional prioritization challenges.
• Provide executive visibility on major risks, resource constraints, and portfolio trade-offs.
• Represent the organization at key industry forums, scientific congresses, and regulatory interactions.
6. Organizational & Cultural Leadership
• Build and lead a high-performing, multidisciplinary discovery organization.
• Develop senior leadership capability and succession pipelines across therapeutic areas and modalities.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, inclusion, and scientific excellence.
• Champion and embed company values, core competencies, and leadership principles.
Scope & Enterprise Impact
• Enterprise oversight of discovery innovation across biologics and small molecules.
• Accountability for therapeutic domain strategy and early pipeline value creation.
• Direct influence on long-range R&D investment strategy and corporate growth planning.
• Executive representation in portfolio governance, external partnerships, and strategic alliances.
Core Competencies
• Shape solutions out of complexity
• Client focus
• Collaborating with empathy
• Engage and develop
• Drive ambition and accountability
• Influence others
Technical / Functional Competencies
• Deep expertise in drug discovery science across biologics and/or small molecule modalities.
• Strong command of portfolio governance, stage-gate processes, and R&D investment decision frameworks.
• Proficiency in translational science and the path from target identification to Proof of Concept.
• Experience building and scaling discovery platforms, including digital and data-driven approaches.
• Working knowledge of regulatory expectations for early development programs.
• Ability to evaluate and structure external partnerships, licensing opportunities, and scientific alliances.
Qualifications
Education
• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences discipline (e.g., Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry) required; MBA or equivalent business training a plus.
Experience
• 15+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery, with at least 5 years in a senior executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing programs from early discovery through Proof of Concept across biologics and/or small molecule modalities.
• Proven success leading and transforming large, multidisciplinary R&D organizations within a global matrix environment.
• Experience managing complex external innovation ecosystems including academic, biotech, and platform partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence executive leadership, board-level stakeholders, and external scientific communities.
Physical Requirements
While performing the responsibilities of this position, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and use their hands and fingers to handle, feel, and manipulate keys on a keyboard. Occasionally, the employee will be required to stand, walk, and move between office and laboratory environments. Close vision is required to view a computer monitor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
Working Conditions
This position is primarily office-based with regular engagement across global R&D sites. The role operates within a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment with frequent interaction with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners. Flexibility to accommodate global time zones is required.
Travel Required
Significant domestic and international travel required; approximately 25-35%, with potential for higher frequency depending on pipeline activity, governance schedules, and partnership engagements.
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with the position. It is not an employment contract. Ceva reserves the right to modify job duties and/or job descriptions at any time to meet the needs of the business.
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Qualifications
Education
• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant life sciences discipline (e.g., Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry) required; MBA or equivalent business training a plus.
Experience
• 15+ years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology drug discovery, with at least 5 years in a senior executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated track record of advancing programs from early discovery through Proof of Concept across biologics and/or small molecule modalities.
• Proven success leading and transforming large, multidisciplinary R&D organizations within a global matrix environment.
• Experience managing complex external innovation ecosystems including academic, biotech, and platform partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence executive leadership, board-level stakeholders, and external scientific communities.
