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Caris Life Sciences

Vice President of Peptide Therapeutics

LocationTempe, AZ - 85281
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
Company size1,001–5,000 people
First seen1w ago
Last seen2d ago
At Caris, we understand that cancer is an ugly word—a word no one wants to hear, but one that connects us all. That’s why we’re not just transforming cancer care—we’re changing lives.
We introduced precision medicine to the world and built an industry around the idea that every patient deserves answers as unique as their DNA. Backed by cutting-edge molecular science and AI, we ask ourselves every day: “What would I do if this patient were my mom?” That question drives everything we do.
But our mission doesn’t stop with cancer. We’re pushing the frontiers of medicine and leading a revolution in healthcare—driven by innovation, compassion, and purpose.
Join us in our mission to improve the human condition across multiple diseases. If you’re passionate about meaningful work and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, Caris is where your impact begins.
Position Summary
The VP of Peptide Therapeutics will build and lead the Company’s peptide therapeutics function and be responsible for the strategic direction, portfolio leadership, organizational development, and advancement of peptide-based therapeutics intended to target clinically relevant genetic mutations. This role will oversee scientific strategy and execution across peptide therapeutic discovery, formulation development, candidate optimization, translational development, and portfolio management.This position will work cross-functionally with research, molecular oncology, bioinformatics, translational medicine, clinical development, regulatory, quality, business development, and external partners to advance peptide-based drug candidates from concept through preclinical development. The VP will provide executive scientific leadership, establish long-term strategic priorities, oversee organizational growth, manage portfolio investment decisions, and ensure peptide therapeutic programs are aligned with Caris’ broader precision medicine, therapeutic development, and business objectives.
Job Responsibilities
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Lead the strategic direction and execution of peptide therapeutic programs focused on targeting disease-associated mutations.
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Oversee peptide design, synthesis strategy, formulation development, optimization, characterization, and candidate selection.
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Direct the development of peptide-based drug candidates, including evaluation of potency, selectivity, stability, delivery, manufacturability, and translational relevance.
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Partner with genomics, bioinformatics, molecular biology, oncology, and translational science teams to identify mutation-driven therapeutic opportunities.
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Establish and manage workflows for peptide formulation, screening, lead optimization, and preclinical candidate advancement.
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Evaluate emerging peptide drug discovery technologies, delivery platforms, conjugation strategies, and formulation approaches to enhance therapeutic performance.
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Provide scientific oversight for internal teams, contract research organizations, academic collaborators, and external development partners.
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Design and review studies supporting mechanism of action, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and early development planning.
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Translate mutation biology and molecular profiling insights into actionable peptide therapeutic development strategies.
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Build project plans, define milestones, manage timelines, assess risks, and communicate program progress to senior leadership.
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Support intellectual property strategy through invention disclosure, patent review, and competitive landscape assessment.
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Contribute to regulatory and quality documentation related to peptide therapeutic development, as applicable.
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Build, scale, and optimize the peptide therapeutics organization through organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and development of scientific managers and senior leaders.
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Maintain current knowledge of peptide therapeutics, precision oncology, targeted drug development, formulation science, and relevant regulatory expectations.
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Establish departmental goals, operating plans, key performance indicators, and success metrics to drive scientific, operational, and strategic outcomes.
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Own the peptide therapeutics portfolio strategy, including long-term roadmap development, portfolio prioritization, investment planning, resource allocation, and advancement decisions across multiple therapeutic programs.
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Serve as the executive sponsor for peptide therapeutic programs and represent the function in governance, portfolio review, and strategic planning forums, including presentation of portfolio strategy, investment recommendations, program performance, risks, and resource requirements to executive leadership.
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Develop, manage, and maintain ownership of the peptide therapeutics budget, including operating expenditures, capital investments, technology investments, external research spending, headcount planning, and strategic allocation of resources across the therapeutic portfolio.
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Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and oversee strategic collaborations, licensing opportunities, academic partnerships, contract research relationships, and external alliances that support portfolio advancement and organizational growth.
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Represent the Company with biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners, scientific advisory boards, investors, key opinion leaders, and regulatory stakeholders, as appropriate.
Required Qualifications
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Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical Biology, Bioengineering, Pharmacology, or a related scientific discipline.
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15+ years of relevant experience in peptide therapeutics, drug discovery, formulation development, pharmaceutical development, or targeted therapeutic development.
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Demonstrated experience leading peptide design, formulation, synthesis strategy, characterization, optimization, or development programs.
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Experience advancing therapeutic candidates through discovery, lead optimization, or preclinical development.
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Strong understanding of peptide chemistry, peptide stability, delivery technologies, formulation principles, analytical characterization, and developability considerations.
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Experience managing scientific teams, external partners, CROs, or matrixed development programs.
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Demonstrated ability to translate biological targets or mutation-specific insights into therapeutic development strategies.
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Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex scientific information to executive, technical, and cross-functional audiences.
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Proven ability to manage multiple projects, timelines, priorities, and stakeholders in a fast-paced scientific environment.
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Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, Outlook, and general working knowledge of Internet for business use.
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Demonstrated experience leading therapeutic discovery and development organizations with responsibility for scientific strategy, portfolio management, and organizational leadership.
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Proven experience building, scaling, and managing multidisciplinary scientific organizations within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or translational research environments.
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Experience with departmental budget ownership, financial planning, capital allocation, and resource management for research and development organizations.
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Demonstrated success managing a portfolio of therapeutic programs and making strategic investment, prioritization, and resource allocation decisions.
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Experience leading through subordinate managers and developing senior scientific leaders.
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Proven ability to influence executive decision-making and drive enterprise-level scientific and business strategy.
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Experience establishing and managing strategic partnerships, collaborations, licensing arrangements, or external research alliances.
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience in oncology, precision medicine, genomics-informed drug development, or mutation-specific therapeutic targeting.
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Experience with peptide conjugates, macrocyclic peptides, stapled peptides, cell-penetrating peptides, peptide-drug conjugates, or targeted delivery systems.
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Experience with IND-enabling studies, CMC planning, GLP toxicology preparation, or regulatory interactions for therapeutic candidates.
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Experience working in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or translational research environments.
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Familiarity with computational peptide design, structure-based drug design, AI-enabled discovery, or molecular modeling approaches.
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Experience contributing to patent filings, scientific publications, or external research collaborations.
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Prior experience building or leading a peptide therapeutics function or platform.
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Prior experience serving on executive leadership teams or participating in corporate governance, portfolio review, or strategic planning committees.
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Experience presenting portfolio strategy, investment recommendations, and development plans to executive leadership, Boards of Directors, investors, or governance bodies.
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Experience leading business development evaluations, partnership strategy, licensing transactions, or strategic alliance management.
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Track record of building new scientific functions, technology platforms, or therapeutic franchises.
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Experience managing complex multi-program portfolios in oncology, precision medicine, targeted therapeutics, or related therapeutic areas.
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Prior experience supporting fundraising, investor relations, or strategic corporate initiatives within biotechnology or pharmaceutical organizations.
Physical Demands
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Must possess ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
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Must possess ability to perform work using a computer, keyboard, mouse, and telephone.
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May require occasional work in laboratory or research environments, including adherence to applicable safety procedures and use of required personal protective equipment.
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May require occasional lifting of laboratory materials, supplies, or equipment up to 25 pounds.
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Must be able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders in person, by phone, and through virtual meeting platforms.
Training
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All job specific, safety, and compliance training are assigned based on the job functions associated with this employee.
Other
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This position may require periodic travel to scientific conferences, partner sites, vendor facilities, or other company locations.
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This position may require some evenings, weekends, and/or holidays based on business needs, project timelines, or urgent program requirements.
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Job may require after-hours response to time-sensitive scientific, operational, or program-related issues.
Legal
Conditions of Employment: Individual must successfully complete pre-employment process, which includes criminal background check, drug screening, credit check ( applicable for certain positions) and reference verification.
This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Caris Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability.
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