Executive Director – LLMs and AI in Life Sciences
Panda Intelligence is pleased to be present an exceptional senior leadership opportunity with one of the world's most renowned and pioneering TechBio companies in the Life Sciences sector. Founded by a revered leadership team of AI and drug discovery veterans with roots in Harvard University, Princeton University, Merck and Mount Sinai, team members have been featured in lists by Endpoints News and Business Insider including 40U40 and top entrepreneurs to watch.
The team is now seeking an AI architect to drive the strategic application and amplify the organization's LLM capabilities across the whole organization.
The ideal candidate is not only technically adept but also a strategic thinker who can align cutting-edge technology solutions with business objectives. They will possess a deep understanding of the life sciences domain, excellent leadership capabilities, and a proven ability to empower teams while fostering collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Define and execute a strategy for integrating LLMs into workflows across drug discovery, development, and commercialization.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to identify opportunities for LLM-driven innovation, focusing on measurable impact and value creation.
AI/LLM Innovation & Application
- Spearhead the adoption of LLMs in diverse applications, such as:
- Literature review and insights extraction.
- Predictive modeling for clinical trials and regulatory documentation.
- Automated generation of reports, protocols, or scientific writing.
- Enhancing operational efficiencies across departments.
- Develop custom LLM-based tools and workflows tailored to organizational needs, leveraging technologies like fine-tuned GPT models or domain-specific LLMs (e.g., BioGPT).
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with R&D, regulatory, commercial, and clinical teams to align LLM applications with functional needs.
- Build relationships with external AI/biotech partners, vendors, and academia to bring in fresh insights and best practices.
Team Development & Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and grow a multidisciplinary team of data scientists, engineers, and life sciences professionals.
- Foster a culture of innovation, ensuring the team remains at the forefront of AI and LLM advancements.
Operational Excellence
- Develop frameworks for managing data quality, governance, and integration with LLMs to ensure ethical, compliant, and effective AI use.
- Oversee implementation and scaling of LLM models across enterprise-level initiatives.
Qualifications:
- Advanced degree in life sciences, computational biology, bioinformatics, AI/ML, or a related field (Ph.D. preferred but not required with sufficient experience).
- 10+ years of experience in life sciences, with at least 5 years in AI/ML applications.
- Proven track record in implementing AI/LLM technologies in biotech or pharmaceutical environments.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing complex projects at scale.
- Strong understanding of LLMs and associated technologies, such as Hugging Face, LangChain, or similar frameworks.
- Familiarity with life sciences datasets, ontologies, and regulations (e.g., FDA, EMA).
- Demonstrated ability to connect technical solutions with broader organizational objectives.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a focus on empowering teams and building consensus.