Associate Director | High-Throughput Biology

The Position

Our global High Throughput Biology (HTB) group plays a central role driving innovation across Boehringer Ingelheim’s early drug discovery portfolio up to drug candidate status. As Associate Director HTB, you will provide scientific and strategic leadership across assay development, drug Screening & Profiling, and cross-site collaboration. You will shape how HTB contributes to target enablement, hit finding, compound profiling, mode of action/molecular pharmacology understanding, and decision making together with our partner functions.
Join us to shape the future of our discovery engine by enabling high quality, high throughput approaches and delivering decisive project impact.

This position is to be filled in Biberach

Discover our Biberach site: xplorebiberach.com

Tasks & responsibilities

  • In your new role, you will lead and coordinate a team of 2–4 lab heads and their associated bench scientists, ensuring effective capacity management in close alignment with global HTB peers and partner functions such as Therapeutic Areas, Medicinal Chemistry, and CROs.
  • You will ensure scientific excellence across assay development as well as Screening and Profiling activities, with a strong focus on automation, high data quality, and robust throughput for all supported projects.
  • Furthermore, you will shape and implement HTB-wide initiatives, including automation, digitalization, and high-throughput profiling strategies, in line with the global gHTB strategy, while acting as an experienced scientific and strategic partner in cross-functional project teams.
  • You will assess project proposals and strategically guide the development of comprehensive HTB plans that are fully aligned with biological objectives, safety considerations, and modality strategies.
  • Beyond this, you will proactively anticipate scientific and technological needs by monitoring internal portfolio trends and external innovation, deriving and proposing HTB-relevant strategic initiatives to ensure long-term innovation and sustainability.
  • Finally, you will mentor, coach, and develop your team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning and building sustainable scientific and operational excellence.

Requirements

  • PhD in Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or related field with several years of leadership experience in industry drug discovery
  • Proven track record in HT‑assay development, screening & profiling, automation, or complex cellular systems, ideally across multiple target classes or modalities
  • Strong scientific judgment and the ability to evaluate project readiness (new therapeutic concepts, modality, safety)
  • Demonstrated experience in leading scientific teams and working cross‑functionally in matrixed environments
  • Strategic mindset with the ability to anticipate future scientific needs and translate them into actionable initiatives
  • Excellent communication skills tailored to scientists, project teams, and leadership stakeholders

Applications from persons with severe disabilities are warmly welcomed. In cases of equal qualifications, such applicants will be given preferential consideration in the selection process. 

Ready to contact us?

If you have any questions about the job posting or process - please contact our HR Direct Team, Tel: +49 (0) 6132 77-3330 or via mail: hr.de@boehringer-ingelheim.com

Recruitment process:

Step 1: Online application - The job posting is presumably online until June 3rd, 2026. We reserve the right to take the posting offline beforehand. Applications up to June 3rd,2026 are guaranteed to be considered.
Step 2: Virtual meeting in the period of mid June
Step 3: On-Site interviews end of June
Please submit your application documents in English.