Head of Toxicology

From £81,225 plus generous benefits package, including:
34 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays) • Generous pension plan • Hybrid working • Health care cash back • Private medical insurance • Discounted gym and retail benefits • 3 x life insurance • Employee advice line • Free onsite car parking

Location

Lhasa Limited, Granary Wharf House, 2 Canal Wharf, Leeds LS11 5PS. We support hybrid working with a typical week involving 2 days in the office.

About Lhasa Limited

Lhasa Limited is a not-for-profit scientific software company dedicated to improving human health through innovative solutions for chemical safety assessment. For over 40 years, we've been at the forefront of developing decision support systems and leading data-sharing initiatives that help scientists make better decisions about chemical safety. Following our acquisition of Molecular Networks and Altamira, we've expanded our capabilities in cheminformatics and molecular modelling, strengthening our position as a leader in predictive toxicology. Our scientific software is trusted by leading pharmaceutical, agrochemical, chemical, and personal care companies worldwide, as well as by academia and regulatory bodies.

Summary of the role

We are seeking an exceptional Head of Toxicology to join our science team, reporting directly to the Director of Science. This is a pivotal role that will shape our scientific direction and impact across the toxicology landscape. As a senior leader, you will drive our toxicology strategy, represent Lhasa externally, and lead a talented team of scientists working on predictive toxicology solutions.

The ideal candidate will possess a unique blend of deep scientific expertise, strategic vision, and leadership capabilities. You must be adept at navigating the evolving regulatory landscape while identifying emerging scientific trends that could impact our products and members. Your ability to synthesise complex toxicological data and translate it into practical applications will be crucial for our continued innovation.

This role requires someone who can seamlessly bridge the gap between the scientific world of toxicology and the technical world of software development, ensuring that the company's products truly meet the needs of Lhasa's members while remaining scientifically sound and regulatorily compliant. You should have a proven track record of influencing without authority and building consensus among diverse stakeholders, from regulatory bodies to industry scientists and other business stakeholders.

Critical skills for success include:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to anticipate industry trends, identify scientific opportunities, and develop long-term strategies that align with Lhasa's purpose.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of mechanistic toxicology across multiple endpoints and the application of in silico approaches to toxicological problems.
• Translational Capability: Skill in translating complex toxicological concepts into practical software solutions.
• New Approach Methodologies (NAMs): Extensive knowledge of alternative methods in toxicology, including in vitro assays, high-throughput screening, organ-on-chip technologies, and computational approaches that reduce or replace animal testing.
• Regulatory Insight: Comprehensive knowledge of global regulatory frameworks and the ability to anticipate how they will evolve, particularly regarding the acceptance of NAMs.
• Cheminformatics Understanding: Familiarity with molecular modelling, QSAR development, and other cheminformatics approaches.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences, from toxicologists to software developers to business leaders.
• Relationship Building: Proven ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with industry partners, regulators, and any relevant stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Experience in building high-performing scientific teams and fostering a culture of innovation, knowledge sharing and scientific excellence.
• Change Management: Capacity to lead organisational change and drive adoption of new scientific approaches.

As Head of Toxicology, you will be at the forefront of shaping how predictive toxicology evolves in a rapidly changing scientific and regulatory environment.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Leadership

• Provide expert toxicological guidance across all relevant Lhasa products and services.
• Drive scientific strategy for product development and enhancement in various toxicology domains, including genetic toxicity, carcinogenicity, developmental and reproductive toxicology, skin sensitisation, and emerging areas such as NAMs.
• Stay current in scientific advances, methodologies and regulatory changes and trends to identify new opportunities.
• Contribute to our scientific publications and presentations at international conferences and Lhasa events.
• Develop and validate scientific approaches that can be implemented in software solutions.
• Ensure scientific accuracy of all toxicology-related content in the software.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop a team of toxicologists with diverse expertise.
• Create a collaborative, innovative environment that cultivates scientific excellence.
• Establish clear goals and objectives aligned with organisational strategy.
• Support professional development and knowledge sharing within the team.

Product Development

• Collaborate with the Solution teams (software development, product owners) to help translate complex toxicology concepts into functional software requirements which are aligned to members needs.
• Identify gaps in current software offerings and opportunities for new tools.
• Ensure scientific integrity and validity of toxicological predictions and assessments.
• Guide user experience design to ensure the software meets real-world toxicology workflow needs.

External Engagement

• Represent Lhasa at scientific conferences and industry events and forums.
• Build and maintain relationships with regulatory agencies, academic institutions, and industry partners.
• Publish scientific papers demonstrating the validity and utility of the company's approaches.
• Participate in industry working groups to shape standards and guidelines, and potentially lead collaborative research initiatives on NAMs.
• Engage with regulatory authorities to understand evolving requirements and advocate for science-based approaches.
• Collect feedback from the toxicology community to inform product development.
• Promote the acceptance and implementation of alternative methods in toxicological assessments.
• Work with marketing to ensure accurate scientific messaging.
• Help define and communicate the scientific value proposition of Lhasa's solutions.
• Evaluate alternative approaches from a scientific perspective.

Qualifications and Experience

• PhD or equivalent experience in Toxicology, Pharmacology, or related discipline.
• Significant experience in toxicology with a track record of scientific excellence.
• Demonstrated expertise in NAMs and alternative testing strategies.
• Leadership experience managing scientific teams.
• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements for chemical safety assessment.
• Experience in computational toxicology or in silico approaches.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex scientific concepts to any audiences.
• Experience engaging with regulatory bodies and industry consortia.

Why Join Lhasa Limited?

• Purpose-Driven Work: Contribute to safer chemicals and medicines that benefit human health and the environment.
• Scientific Impact: Shape the future of computational toxicology and in silico approaches.
• Collaborative Culture: Work within a not-for-profit that values sharing knowledge and collaboration over competition.
• Innovation Focus: Be part of developing next-generation tools that transform chemical safety assessment.
• Expanded Capabilities: Leverage the combined strengths of Lhasa Limited, Molecular Networks and Altamira.
• Work-Life Balance: Benefit from our supportive work environment and flexible working arrangements.
• Development Opportunities: Access to continuous learning, conference attendance, and professional growth.
• Global Reach: Interact with scientists worldwide and make a global impact.
• Competitive Package: Excellent salary, benefits, and relocation assistance if required.

Ready to lead Lhasa's Toxicology Team?

At Lhasa Limited, we're passionate about using computational approaches to advance chemical safety science and create solutions that matter to protect human health. If you share our vision and want to lead a team making significant contributions to this field, we want to hear from you.

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Equal opportunities statement Lhasa Limited aims to ensure that no job applicant, colleague, or worker receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, caste, national or ethnic origins, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy related reasons, marital or civil partnership status . click apply for full job details