Job Description: Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).

Location: Chandigarh, India.

Reports To: CEO, Venus Medicine Research Centre.

Team Leadership: Leads the entire R&D organization, including Formulation Development (Novel & Generic), Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Cell Culture, Preclinical (ADME/Tox), Bioanalytical, Analytical Research, Drug Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Research, Pharmacovigilance, Medical Affairs, and IPR.

Our Company: At the Forefront of the Global Fight Against AMR.

We are a research-driven pharmaceutical organization with a critical mission: to develop novel solutions to combat the global threat of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), with a particular focus on multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens.

Our R&D wing, Venus Medicine Research Centre, is built on a foundation of deep scientific expertise and is advancing a multi-faceted pipeline that includes innovative formulation platforms, novel molecular entities, and pioneering gene-based therapies.

The Opportunity: Architect of Our Scientific Future.

This is a career-defining opportunity for a visionary scientific leader to join our executive team as Chief Scientific Officer.

The CSO will be the single point of accountability for our entire R&D strategy and execution, from early discovery through to clinical development and medical affairs. You will be entrusted with shaping the future of our pipeline, which includes:

- Advancing a late-stage asset: Driving our lead candidate through clinical development, leveraging our proprietary RENAL GUARD platform to solve the critical challenge of antibiotic-induced nephrotoxicity.

- Driving a novel asset into the clinic: Shepherd our promising BL+BLI program from its current late-preclinical stage through IND/CTA-enabling studies and into early clinical development.

- Pioneering a new frontier: Charting the course for our gene therapy platform for AMR and building a robust pipeline of next-generation therapeutics.

This role demands a leader who can provide strategic direction across a diverse set of scientific disciplines, fostering a culture of innovation and rigor to transform groundbreaking science into clinically meaningful and commercially viable medicines.

Key Responsibilities: Driving Scientific Vision & R&D Excellence.

1. R&D Strategy & Pipeline Leadership:

- Architect and champion the company's overarching R&D strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and the evolving landscape of AMR.

- Champion a 'line-of-sight' translational approach, ensuring that scientific programs are designed with a clear understanding of clinical utility, regulatory pathways, manufacturing scalability, and commercial viability.

- Drive portfolio management decisions, balancing the progression of late-stage assets, the advancement of early-stage novel programs, and the exploration of new technologies.

- Establish scientific priorities, allocate resources effectively, and define key milestones and metrics for all R&D programs.

2. Scientific & Technical Oversight:

- Provide expert scientific and technical leadership across all therapeutic programs, with a deep focus on antibacterial drug development.

- Guide the clinical development strategy for VRP-034 and the RENAL GUARD platform, overseeing trial design, execution, and regulatory interactions.

- Direct the preclinical development of the novel BLI program, ensuring robust data packages are generated to support national and global regulatory filings.

- Lead the strategic direction for the gene therapy platform, critically evaluating and implementing novel approaches for in vivo delivery of genetic material to combat bacterial resistance.

3. Organizational Leadership & Team Development:

- Lead and inspire a large, multi-disciplinary R&D organization of over 60 scientists and professionals.

- Champion the growth and development of the Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, and Pharmacovigilance functions to support our evolving pipeline of novel therapeutics.

- Foster a dynamic, collaborative, and high-performance culture grounded in scientific excellence, data-driven decision-making, and a sense of urgency.

- Mentor senior scientific leaders and cultivate the next generation of talent within the organization.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration & External Representation:

- Serve as the company's lead scientific spokesperson, representing our science and vision to the board, investors, regulatory agencies, and the international scientific community.

- Forge strong collaborative partnerships with the CEO and the heads of Strategy and Business Development to evaluate external innovation and in-licensing opportunities.

- Ensure seamless integration and communication between R&D and Manufacturing, Quality, and Commercial teams to facilitate smooth technology transfer and product lifecycle management.

5. Regulatory & Intellectual Property Strategy:

- In partnership with the Head of DRA, guide the regulatory strategy for our novel drug pipeline, ensuring successful filings and interactions with global health authorities (e.g., MHRA, EMA).

- Work closely with the IPR team to build and defend a formidable intellectual property portfolio around our core platforms and pipeline assets.

Ideal Candidate Profile: A Leader in Antibacterial R&D.

Essential Qualifications:

- Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline (e.g., Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology) or an M.D. is required.

- An M.D./Ph.D. with a strong research and clinical background in infectious diseases is highly desirable.

Depth of Experience:

- 15-20+ years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, with at least 10 years in a senior leadership role overseeing significant R&D functions.

- Indispensable, deep domain expertise and a proven track record in antibacterial drug discovery and development is non-negotiable.

- Demonstrable experience successfully advancing drug candidates from preclinical stages through to at least Phase II/III clinical trials.

- Experience with diverse therapeutic modalities, including small molecules and ideally biologics or advanced therapies (e.g., gene therapy, cell therapy).

- Proven track record of leading, mentoring, and developing large, multi-disciplinary scientific teams.

Critical Skills & Knowledge:

- Strong research credentials demonstrated by a track record of high-quality publications, patents, and presentations at major scientific conferences.

- Strong translational medicine mindset, with a proven ability to connect early-stage science with clinical development, manufacturing scale-up challenges, and commercial realities.

- Expert-level understanding of AMR mechanisms, antibacterial pharmacology, PK/PD principles, and modern drug discovery techniques.

- Deep knowledge of clinical trial design and regulatory pathways for anti-infective agents with global health authorities.

- Proficiency in modern R&D methodologies, including a strong understanding of biostatistics, clinical trial data analysis, and an appreciation for the application of new technologies (e.g., AI/ML in drug discovery, digital health tools) to accelerate development.

- Broad scientific intellect with the ability to think strategically across diverse fieldsfrom formulation science and molecular biology to preclinical toxicology and clinical researchand connect them to a unified goal.

- Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling scientific vision and complex data to a wide range of audiences, from specialist scientists to board members and investors.

Personal Attributes & Mindset:

- A visionary and strategic thinker with a passion for tackling major challenges in global health.

- An inspirational and collaborative leader who leads by influence and scientific credibility.

- High degree of scientific curiosity, integrity, and intellectual rigor.

- Results-oriented with a strong sense of accountability and the ability to make tough, data-driven decisions.

Preferred Additional Experience:

- Strong familiarity with advanced analytical and characterization techniques (e.g., NMR, Mass Spectrometry, FTIR, Chromatography) for complex formulations.