Senior Vice President, Chemistry & CMC at Rezo in San Francisco, CA

Job description

About Rezo Therapeutics Rezo is a different kind of biopharma company. Our mission is to dramatically increase the success rate of drug development by building a disease-agnostic, fully-integrated, network biology platform that will redefine our understanding of human disease and ability to treat it. We are leveraging a unique integrated approach, combining capabilities in genetics, proteomics, structural biology and AI to generate deep biological insights and novel therapeutic approaches. Located in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission Bay neighborhood, Rezo is in close proximity to UCSF, numerous urban amenities, and outdoor recreational opportunities. We recognize that realizing our mission depends as much on our people as it does on our science and are building a workplace that fosters collaboration, respect, and diversity where contributing to your team’s success is valued as highly as individual achievements. If you’re passionate about team science and breaking down barriers to progress in drug development, please consider joining us! The Opportunity Rezo Therapeutics is advancing a new approach to small-molecule drug discovery focused on targeting disease-relevant protein complexes. We are seeking an accomplished Senior Vice President of Chemistry & CMC to lead medicinal chemistry and the transition of innovative programs from advanced lead optimization through development candidate nomination, IND-enabling development, and clinical readiness. This executive will combine scientific judgment with practical execution. What You'll Do: Own chemistry strategy and execution across the small-molecule portfolio, with particular focus on late-stage lead optimization, candidate quality, developability, and clear nomination criteria Lead integrated compound optimization using structural and mechanistic insights, pharmacology, DMPK, safety, physicochemical properties, synthetic tractability, and translational objectives; anticipate and resolve program risks Drive rigorous development candidate selection, including definition of backup strategies and assessment of route scalability, formulation feasibility, and intellectual property Lead the CMC strategy for nominated candidates through IND-enabling studies and first-in-human readiness, spanning drug substance, drug product, analytical development, and phase-appropriate control strategies Provide accountable oversight of CROs and CDMOs: partner selection, scopes of work, technical decisions, budgets, quality, risk mitigation, technology transfer, and milestone delivery Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing internal chemistry organization while leveraging external capabilities; establish a culture of scientific rigor, transparent decision-making, urgency, and accountability Collaborate closely with biology, structural biology, computational sciences, pharmacology, and leadership to integrate emerging data and make disciplined portfolio decisions Lead the expansion of our chemistry platform for the identification and optimization of protein complex modulators Lead intellectual property strategy with patent counsel; communicate program progress effectively to executive leadership, investors, and the Board What You'll Bring: PhD in chemistry, or a closely related discipline, with approximately 15–20+ years of relevant pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry experience and significant progressive leadership responsibility A compelling track record of late-stage small-molecule lead optimization and successful development candidate nomination for oncology indication, with direct accountability for advancing at least assets through IND-enabling studies Strong medicinal chemistry expertise, including optimizing oral exposure of beyond-Rule-of-5 molecules Substantive hands-on leadership of small-molecule CMC activities Clear, persuasive communication and the ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a resource-conscious, fast-moving biotech environment Leadership Profile The su