Senior Director, Head of Structural Biology

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a Senior Director, Head of Structural Biology, to lead the scientific strategy, team development, and operations of our Structural Biology group. The group integrates X-ray crystallography, NMR, and cryo-EM to advance oncology drug discovery through Revolution Medicines’ tri-complex molecular glue platform. You will partner closely with medicinal and computational chemistry to guide compound design and optimization, and with project teams and biologists to address structure-function relationships and mechanisms of action. Beyond individual programs, you will define the next stage of our structural biology capabilities, identifying the technologies, talent and external partnerships that will most improve discovery decisions and extend the reach of the platform. You will shape how we understand and design compound-induced protein interactions, translating molecular recognition and cooperativity and conformational dynamics into better molecules and new therapeutic opportunities for patients. This role combines deep scientific judgment with strategic leadership, cross-functional influence, and accountability for group performance and resources.

Responsibilities

• Set and execute the Structural Biology strategy in partnership with research leadership, aligning near-term program needs and long-term capability development with portfolio and platform priorities.

• Lead and develop a high-performing team of scientists across crystallography, NMR, and cryo-EM; establish clear expectations, provide coaching, and support career growth.

• Partner with medicinal, computational, and digital discovery scientists to integrate experimental structures, predictive models, and molecular simulations into actionable hypotheses that guide molecular design, structure-activity relationship interpretation, compound optimization, and experimental validation, with appropriate assessment of confidence and risk.

• Work closely with project teams and the Structural Biology group to define structure-function questions and design integrated studies with biochemistry, biophysics, and cellular biology that test mechanistic hypotheses and inform program decisions.

• Lead investigations into the molecular underpinnings of the tri-complex glue platform, including recognition of protein partners, ternary complex architecture, cooperativity, conformational dynamics, and selectivity; identify principles that inform new targets and discovery approaches.

• Direct the complementary application of crystallography, NMR, and cryo-EM, selecting approaches appropriate to each scientific question and guiding solutions to challenging protein and complex characterization problems.

• Own prioritization and resource allocation across the group, balancing program delivery with exploratory platform research.

• Model scientific rigor, integrity, and commitment to patients; build an inclusive culture of collaboration, constructive debate, accountability, and continuous learning.

Required Skills, Experience and Education:

• PhD in structural biology, biophysics, biochemistry, or a related discipline, with 12+ years biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry experience and a demonstrated record of scientific and people leadership.

• Proven ability to lead a structural biology group, develop scientific leaders, and translate research strategy into priorities, resource plans, and measurable outcomes across multiple discovery programs.

• Deep expertise in at least one of X-ray crystallography, NMR, or cryo-EM, with sufficient breadth across all three to guide specialists, evaluate data critically, and develop an integrated experimental strategy.

• Strong track record of applying structural biology to small molecule drug discovery in close partnership with medicinal chemistry, including translating structural findings into compound design and optimization decisions.

• Expertise in protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions, complex assembly, and structure-function analysis, with the ability to integrate structural, biophysical, biochemical, and cellular evidence into testable mechanistic models.

• Experience integrating structural methods with computational modeling, molecular simulation, or complementary biophysical approaches to explain molecular recognition and dynamics.

• Demonstrated strategic judgment in solving complex scientific problems, anticipating capability needs, and managing competing priorities, budgets, and internal and external resources.

• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills, including the ability to influence senior stakeholders, build alignment, and communicate uncertainty and scientific tradeoffs.

• A leadership approach that develops talent, welcomes diverse perspectives, maintains high scientific and ethical standards, and sustains effective collaboration in a growing research organization.

• Experience establishing or expanding structural biology capabilities and external collaborations in a growing biotechnology organization.

• Experience with molecular glues or other small molecules that induce or stabilize protein interactions, including familiarity with characterization of ternary complexes, cooperativity, and mechanisms of selectivity, is highly desirable.

#LI-SB1 #LI-Onsite