Location:
San Francisco, CA, or Boulder, CO
About Xylo:
Xylo Bio is developing targeted neurotherapeutics to transform the lives of patients with neurological and psychiatric conditions. By combining advanced neuroscience with computational drug discovery, Xylo is evolving a category-defining GPCR platform to produce neuroplastogens capable of rewiring neural circuits and restoring brain function.
Role Overview:
The VP, R&D will oversee and actively participate in executing Xylo’s R&D program. This includes managing our medicinal chemistry efforts, compound screening activities, and preparation for clinical development. The VP will serve as a strategic partner to the CSO and Director of Medicinal Chemistry, offering technical expertise and operational leadership to advance Xylo’s scientific and organizational goals. This leader will play a critical role on the executive team, bridging high-level strategy with day-to-day execution.
Key Responsibilities:
• Oversee Xylo’s drug discovery and development program, ensuring alignment with scientific and corporate objectives.
• Actively manage CROs and external partnerships for in vitro and in vivo compound screening, guiding optimization and lead selection processes.
• Work closely with Xylo’s CSO and Director of Medicinal Chemistry to inform strategic decisions, prioritize resources, and drive program success.
• Identify and address gaps in Xylo’s R&D strategy, including supporting hiring efforts to build a robust scientific team.
• Spearhead grant writing initiatives to secure funding and support ongoing and future research efforts.
• Contribute scientific expertise across projects, maintaining flexibility to support various team and organizational needs.
• Manage and provide strategic direction for the R&D team of FTEs and consultants. Foster a collaborative, innovative, and results-driven culture within the R&D team.
Qualifications:
• Proven leadership experience as a scientific founder, CSO, or senior scientific leader in a preclinical-stage, CNS-focused (psychiatry, neurology) biotech company.
• A track record of successful execution of R&D strategies with experience transitioning multiple assets to the clinic (ideally in the CNS space).
• Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Neuroscience, or a related field, with substantial expertise in drug discovery and development.
• Hands-on experience in compound screening, in vitro/in vivo assays, and methodologies relevant to CNS drug discovery.
• Experience in the selection of clinical lead candidates and navigation of pre-IND and IND-enabling activities en route to FIH trials.
• Demonstrated success managing relationships with CROs, vendors, and academic/government research partners.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders verbally and in writing.
• Flexibility and adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with a history of building and leading collaborative teams. Experience managing remote teams/projects and willingness to work across time-zones is a must.
• Demonstrated success leading grant applications is highly desirable.
Why Join Xylo?
This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape Xylo’s drug discovery initiatives at a pivotal stage in the company’s growth. As VP, R&D, you will work with an exceptional team of innovators to develop transformative therapies in brain health, contribute to Xylo’s strategic vision, and make a lasting impact in the field of neuroscience. If you feel energized by what you read here, but are not sure you meet every requirement, please consider applying!
Xylo is committed to operating a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. We expect every Xylosider to cultivate and maintain our company values of Honesty, Empathy, Accountability, Diversity, and Self-reliance. Through these values, our team maintains a community where everyone feels included, respected, and encouraged to learn and grow. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees, we take responsibility for self-examination of our unconscious bias, and strive for the best inclusionary hiring practices.
