The Molecular Pharmacology Branch (MPB) mission is to improve the treatment of recalcitrant, rare and neglected cancers through the identification of potential targets, the screening of new and known agents, the identification of genomic vulnerabilities and the identification of potential therapeutic combinations using state-of-the-art molecular characterization, mechanism-of-action techniques. In support of this mission, the MPB operates four laboratories at the National Cancer Institute-Frederick campus. While the Translational Support Laboratory is a federal laboratory, the other three laboratories are operated by the contractor that holds the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (FNLCR) contract with the NCI (currently Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc): the NCI60 Screening Laboratory, the In Vitro Screening Laboratory, and the Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory. KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIESThe Lead Scientist will: Serve as the scientific lead for the NCI60 screening and the Target Validation and Screening labs Work with and lead teams to develop new screening techniques, discover compound hits, and to contribute scientifically to projects Write scientific articles and patents and present data at relevant national and international meetings Serve as the main contact point for multi-disciplinary project teams for both initial compound screening and validation and testing of SAR compounds Lead a group of 6-8 technicians/scientists with direct responsibility for their management, motivation, and career development BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Possession of a Doctoral degree to include (eg, DVM, D.Sc., MD, Ph.D.) from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in a related field (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for US equivalency. In addition to educational requirements, a minimum of eight (8) years of post-graduate experience including five (5) years of independent, competent, and innovative research in a field of specialty Three (3) or more years of managerial experience is required Must be an excellent team player with well-documented leadership skills Excellent communication, troubleshooting, and organizational skills required Candidates should be forward-thinking with exceptional problem-solving skills and of the highest integrity Must be able to obtain and maintain a clearance PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience in high throughput screening Good understanding of enzyme kinetics Knowledge of protein-protein interactions Prior industry/ biotech experience Leadership skills Excellent communication, troubleshooting and organizational skills Expected Competencies: Must have in-depth knowledge and expertise in target identification and validation, high, medium and low throughput screening assay design and development, hit confirmation, data mining, robotics and screening automation, and a good understanding of enzyme kinetics and protein-protein interactions Experience in executing biochemical, cell-based, siRNA as well as high content screening campaigns for varied target classes Hands-on experience in data processing, data reduction and analysis, and a solid expertise in interrogating, interpreting, and summarizing large volumes of data with adequate reporting and statistical analysis and respect for timelines Must have a good understanding of enzyme kinetics Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)