SENIOR PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST

Hirundo Biosciences member of Gedeon Richter

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SENIOR PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST / DIRECTOR — ENDOMETRIOSIS (DISEASE BIOLOGY)

Vacancy: Senior Principal Scientist / Director — Endometriosis (Disease Biology)

Department: Disease Biology

Type of Contract: Permanent

Working Time: Full-time (40 hours/week)

Location: Leuven — Haasrode (near the motorway) — partly on-site, partly homeworking

Desired Start Date: As soon as possible

Reports To: Head of Disease Biology

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated scientific leader to join our Disease Biology department as a Senior Principal Scientist / Director, leading our Endometriosis area.

In this role, you will lead a team of scientists supporting innovative drug discovery programs and drive hypothesis-driven target validation. You will be accountable for advancing endometriosis drug discovery projects, shaping the scientific strategy and portfolio of projects in this area in close collaboration with the Head of Disease Biology, and contribute to business development (BD) evaluations. You will evolve a differentiated disease biology platform, integrating complex translational assays through internal efforts and external collaborations with CROs and leading academic groups.

This position is based in Leuven — Haasrode (near the motorway), with a partial homeworking arrangement, given the nature of the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and execute the endometriosis biology strategy aligned with portfolio priorities.
• Partner closely with the Head of Disease Biology to shape the overall research direction and pipeline.
• Lead and progress drug discovery programs to preclinical candidate nomination.
• Drive "fit-for-purpose" biology to enable fast, robust go/no-go decisions on validating novel targets.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of scientists, fostering a hands-on, accountable, and solution-oriented culture, ensuring high scientific standards, operational efficiency, and strong team engagement.
• Drive internal innovation while leveraging CROs and academic collaborations effectively.
• Contribute to the scientific evaluation of BD opportunities (targets, assets, platforms), providing input on biological rationale, differentiation and translational potential.
• Support external scientific publications, presentations and internal communications.

Key Competencies

• Strong scientific leadership with the ability to translate strategy into execution.
• Deep expertise in disease biology and drug discovery, ideally within endometriosis or related fields (inflammation, fibrosis, reproductive biology).
• Demonstrated expertise applying human-relevant translational models in drug discovery and/or preclinical research context.
• Proven effectiveness working with cross-functional scientific and data science stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Strong communication skills able to present to senior management.
• Strong collaboration skills, both internally and with external partners.
• Ability to critically assess novel targets, emerging opportunities & technologies/platforms within the context of R&D needs.
• Ability to lead and inspire teams

Education & Experience

• PhD in Biology, Pharmacology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.
• 10–15+ years of relevant experience in biotech or pharmaceutical R&D.
• Demonstrated track record in drug discovery, including target validation and progression of programs towards clinical stage, documented by patents and publications.
• Prior experience leading drug discovery projects and managing scientific teams.
• As we are an international group, strong proficiency in English, both spoken and written, is essential for this role.

Why Join Us?

You will be part of a dynamic and highly motivated team, playing a key role in advancing innovative therapies for women affected by endometriosis. This is a unique opportunity to combine scientific leadership and strategic impact in a fast-paced, collaborative environment focused on delivering meaningful breakthroughs. xirbnpk

How to Apply

Only applications submitted by email to (Nick Vandeghinste) and (Caroline Hendrickx) will be considered.