Description

Job Title: Bioactivity Assay Development Consultant

Location: Remote

Status: Part-Time, 20-800 hours per year

Travel: Some travel required

Hourly Rate: $100-$150

Position Summary:

We are seeking a senior-level, industry-experienced Assay Development Consultant to provide strategic and technical guidance to NIH drug discovery and development programs, including the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, the Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Program (BPN), and other neuroscience-focused therapeutic development efforts. This is an opportunity to apply deep pharmaceutical industry expertise to programs advancing innovative, non-addictive treatments for pain and other nervous system conditions.

The consultant will serve as an assay development subject-matter expert on multidisciplinary Lead Development Teams (LDTs), working collaboratively with NIH staff, principal investigators, industry consultants, contract research organizations (CROs), and other development partners.

Job Description

• Evaluate bioactivity assays and recommend strategies and experiments to optimize and validate assays supporting medicinal chemistry campaigns.
• Establish and advise on milestones for assay optimization and validation.
• Provide guidance on the design and interpretation of commonly used in vivo assays, including cognitive and behavioral tests.
• Identify assay-related developmental challenges and recommend practical strategies to address them within realistic timelines.
• Advise, strategically plan, and help manage programs spanning lead optimization, IND-enabling activities, and early clinical development.
• Serve as a technical resource to LDT members regarding assay requirements, development strategy, and logistics for drug development activities.
• Collaborate with NIH staff, consultants, CROs, and other partners on investigative studies supporting development compounds.
• Participate actively in LDT meetings, which generally occur by teleconference for approximately two hours every one to two weeks.
• Prepare for and contribute to LDT activities, with individual projects generally requiring approximately 3-10 hours per week, including meeting and preparation time.
• When requested, accompany NIH staff on visits to CRO facilities, assist with evaluation of facilities and proposed methodologies, and prepare trip reports.
• Work collaboratively across projects ranging from exploratory research through preclinical safety and, for selected programs, IND and clinical-stage development.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in a scientific discipline.
• 15+ years of assay development experience in a pharmaceutical industry setting.
• 15+ years of experience applying automated technologies and robotics relevant to pharmaceutical assays.
• Broad experience applying diverse cellular techniques in pharmaceutical assays.
• Extensive experience managing or serving as a senior leader on drug discovery projects within the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with multidisciplinary teams at a senior level, including teams involving external organizations and stakeholders at varying management levels.
• Strong ability to work collaboratively and manage competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, presentation, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Strong computer and software literacy.
• Ability to educate multidisciplinary team members, build trust, develop consensus, and maintain focus on program milestones.
• Ability and willingness to participate actively in Lead Development Team discussions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in neuroscience drug discovery and development.
• Experience developing therapeutics for pain.
• Experience with both small-molecule and biologic therapeutics for pain relief.

Apply on our website: www.kikiktagruk.com/careers

Disclaimer:

This is not to be an exclusive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the person in this job. KIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Pursuant to The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1601 et seq., and federal contractual requirements, Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation may legally grant certain preference in employment opportunities to KIC Shareholders and their Descendants. Successful candidates must adhere to KIC's Drug and Alcohol policy/testing requirements and may be required to pass a background and/or Motor Vehicle Records check. The salary range for this position is based on several factors, including relevant experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.

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