Senior Director, DMPK Project Leader

Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, is a clinical-stage company developing orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonists as a new class of medicines for the treatment of narcolepsy and potentially other sleep-wake disorders. Centessa’s lead investigational candidate – cleminorexton (formerly ORX750) – is being developed for narcolepsy type 1, narcolepsy type 2, and idiopathic hypersomnia. Centessa's OX2R agonist portfolio includes additional clinical and preclinical-stage assets with potential utility across a broader range of neurological, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions.

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Centessa was recognized as a Great Place to Work ® in 2026.

Description of Role

Senior Director, DMPK Project Leader ensures delivery of all DMPK related activities working collaboratively as part of a cross-functional program team. These include nonclinical PK experiments, in vitro ADME, biotransformation studies, bioanalytical and toxicokinetic analysis. This role supports understanding pharmacokinetic, toxicokinetic, and ADME principles to enable progression of drug candidates across the portfolio. A qualified candidate will have previous experience in PK modeling ideally for CNS drug candidates and a basic understanding of vital ADME properties for CNS drug candidate progression. Furthermore, a qualified candidate will have end-to-end experience in drug discovery and development including NDA submission; will be able to partner with both discovery and development teams to enable the identification of lead candidates with optimal DMPK properties for progression into nonclinical development and the progression of lead candidates into clinical development.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the filing of NDAs for DMPK

Deliver high-quality DMPK input and data to projects within established timelines

Utilize knowledge of DMPK to support/influence compound profiling, project progression and project strategy

Proactively calculate PK and toxicokinetic parameters, estimate safety margins and report results and interpretations to project teams and internal governance bodies

Lead, coordinate, and engage with DMPK colleagues, clinical pharmacologists, and toxicologists in project related activities

Prepare clear presentations related to the above for internal governance bodies

Qualifications

Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology or a related field

Minimum of 10 years of industry experience in a biotech or pharmaceutical setting

Expert in DMPK sciences with knowledge of drug discovery and development processes

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Experience in DMPK project leadership

Previous work in the discovery and/or development of CNS drug candidates

Experience with regulatory submissions including NDAs for small molecules

Knowledge, experience, and proficiency in supporting GLP-compliant studies

Good knowledge of all DMPK assays including the use of in silico tools for PK prediction

Proficiency with Phoenix WinNonlin and other software for NCA and PK modeling in small molecule drug discovery and development

Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and communicate scientific findings clearly and effectively

Collaborative mindset and operates with a sense of urgency

Strong, proactive communication skills

Work Location

The Senior Director, DMPK Project Leader role based in the US, with occasional travel.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $200,000.00 to $215,000.00. Individual compensation within this range will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge an location.

In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus. The Company also offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a 401(k) plan, company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, generous paid time off, and a health and wellness program.

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

EEOC Statement: Centessa Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subdisary of Eli Lilly and Company believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Please note: We will not assign referral rights for any unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies.