Director, In Silico Discovery, EU CADD

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Data Analytics & Computational Sciences

Job Sub Function:

Data Science

Job Category:

People Leader

All Job Posting Locations:

Beerse, Antwerp, Belgium

Job Description:

Location: Belgium (Beerse) (Hybrid)

Position Overview

We are seeking a creative, self‑motivated leader to elevate the impact of our portfolio‑facing CADD team. You proactively see opportunities to improve discovery decisions across the portfolio. You will drive programs toward NMEs by strengthening partnerships across portfolio and global discovery chemistry teams and rapidly growing the impact of innovative computational design in small‑molecule discovery. In this role, you will guide the European CADD team in Beerse, Belgium and Toledo, Spain in applying both commercial and internally developed software solutions across the Johnson & Johnson portfolio. You are a highly collaborative leader passionate about advancing small‑molecule design through computational innovation. This position offers the opportunity to join a diverse, global community of computational scientists dedicated to delivering transformative medicines to patients.

As a Director in our global CADD organization, you will lead a high‑performing team of portfolio‑facing CADD scientists to drive the strategic application of computational design across our small‑molecule portfolio. With a vision of predict first, you will partner closely with portfolio teams and the broader In Silico Discovery organization to ensure the most effective AI/ML, and computational methodologies are deployed to accelerate programs toward NMEs.

You will play a pivotal role in crafting our discovery strategies, leading cross‑functional collaboration, championing change, and representing our work externally. Reporting to the Senior Director of In Silico Discovery, Global CADD, you will help advance innovation across a wide range of modalities while developing and empowering a strong, cohesive team.

If you excel in building high‑performing teams, thrive in a fast‑moving and innovative environment, and are passionate about the impact computational approaches can have on drug discovery, we invite you to join us in bringing transformative therapies to patients worldwide.

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead portfolio-facing CADD teams across European sites (Beerse, Belgium and Toledo, Spain), aligning support with portfolio priorities and ensuring high-quality delivery.

• Partner across In Silico Discovery to align resourcing and engagement, increasing impact across Janssen’s portfolio programs.

• Set the computational design innovation strategy across modalities (e.g., small molecules, degraders, RIPTACs, molecular glues, peptides, siRNA) to keep the portfolio at the forefront of “predict first” discovery.

• Drive computational chemistry design and optimization using commercial and internal computational and AI/ML tools, building a “predict first” capability with Global Discovery Chemistry and ISD partners.

• Coach and develop CADD scientists and people leaders, supporting performance management and meaningful career growth in a matrix environment.

• Represent In Silico Discovery externally through consortia, publications, and conference participation as needed.

• Co-lead external innovation partnerships to advance ISD and enterprise priorities; evaluate build/buy/partner options, including due diligence for partnering or M&A opportunities.

• Oversees the creation of models such that models are scalable and reusable for multiple use cases and across functions and geographies​.

• Foster a scientifically rigorous, inclusive, and collaborative culture focused on continuous learning and innovation.

• Proactively creates a purpose driven environment by aligning Johnson & Johnson’s Credo and Leadership Imperatives with the strategies and goals of the team and enterprise.

• Communicates strategically to highlight In Silico Discovery initiatives, activities, and achievements that bring positive visibility to the organization.

Professional Experience and Qualifications

Required:

• A PhD and a minimum of 10 years of experience in drug discovery with industry or related leadership experience.

• Hybrid role in Beerse, Belgium; with a regular on-site presence in Beerse, Belgium to lead the EU CADD team in Beerse, Belgium and Toledo, Spain.

• Travel of 20% or more of the time may be required, both between the two EU sites and to our US sites.

• Demonstrated expertise in the field of applied computation, and small molecule drug discovery is required.

• Deep understanding of pharmaceutical discovery and optimization processes.

• Deep understanding of advancing initial hits for targets on the path to and including NMEs (new molecular entities entering development).

• Demonstrated experience in developing and applying methods in small molecule modalities, such as peptides, degraders, molecular glues, proximity inducers, or other small molecule modalities.

• Proven experience building teams, mentoring, and managing people’s career progression.

Preferred:

• Experience in generating data visualizations in tools (e.g. Spotfire, Vortex, Tableau, DataWarrior, etc.).

• Demonstrated experience in a range of small molecule modalities (e.g. traditional SM, BRo5, degraders, RIPTAC, GLUE, peptides) is preferred.

• Hands-on experience with large scale data curation, aggregation, manipulation, integration, mining, and analysis, including structured and unstructured data sources.

• Demonstrated experience across multiple small molecule modalities, drug discovery protein targets, and therapeutic areas.

• Ability to organize and communicate complex data sets in a clear and concise manner to key stakeholders from diverse backgrounds

• Prior experience working with or leading collaborations with external academic, biotechnology, and contract research organizations.

• Strong publications, patents, and/or proven record of supporting discovery of clinical/pre-clinical candidates.

• Strong motivation, passion, and commitment to science and patients.

• Availability to travel up to 20% yearly is preferred (international as well as domestic)

 

 

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers, internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

 

 

Required Skills:

 

 

Preferred Skills:

Advanced Analytics, Budget Management, Compliance Management, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Data Privacy Standards, Data Quality, Data Reporting, Data Savvy, Data Science, Data Visualization, Developing Others, Digital Fluency, Inclusive Leadership, Leadership, Program Management, Strategic Thinking, Succession Planning

Global healthcare company spanning pharmaceuticals, medtech, and consumer health products. Headquartered in New Brunswick, NJ.

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