About the team you’ll join

We are seeking an R&D Team Manager to lead and scale our drug discovery team.

You will report directly to Nicolas, the Head of Drug Discovery Platform at Aqemia. Nicolas oversees our largest team: the Platform, which comprises 30 individuals at Aqemia.

We currently have three distinct management positions available, and your assignment will be based on your skills and expertise. Each of these teams is composed of three to five mid-level cross-functional professionals specializing in areas such as Machine Learning or Computational Chemistry.

The objectives of the three different teams are as follows:

• Identify the most relevant chemical starting points to kick-start many drug discovery programs.

• Expand chemical series toward highly potents molecules and enable Drug Discovery programs to start studying cell efficacy.

• Optimize highly potents molecules to make them active in cell-lines and then demonstrate in-vivo efficacy.

Your role as a R&D team Manager at AQEMIA

As a R&D Team Manager, you will be responsible for planning, strategizing, and executing complex problem-solving initiatives. Your role will involve breaking down intricate problems into solvable tasks, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, and translating business needs into pragmatic solutions.

Team setup and strategy

• Plan and develop comprehensive strategies to address complex problems in an uncertain environment.

• Decompose large, intricate problems into manageable tasks that can be effectively solved with technology and machine learning.

Aqemia scientific methodology and rigor

• Apply a scientific approach to all aspects of problem-solving, prioritizing empirical evidence over opinions.

• Foster a culture of rigorous experimentation and data-driven decision-making within the team.

• Translate business problems into practical solutions, ensuring that the team maintains a focus on delivering tangible value.

• Understand the core business issues, identify the necessary skills to address them and develop solutions accordingly.

• Navigate and manage ambiguity and uncertainty, clearly explaining challenges to the team.

• Provide the team with the autonomy to evolve in a dynamic and changing environment.

Team building and development

• Recruit, build, and develop a high-performing team capable of solving complex problems.

• Create a positive work environment that encourages engagement, motivation, and continuous learning.

• Provide regular feedback, coaching, and development opportunities to team members.

• Foster a collaborative environment by connecting your team with other teams at Aqemia.

• Approximately 6-8 years of experience, including significant individual contributor roles with a strong technical background in machine learning, computer sciences, or computational chemistry.

• Strong technical background with experience in solving complex problems in applied sciences.

• Excellent methodology and rigorous approach to research.

• Have significant team management experience in a cross-functional environment, fostering daily growth by instilling the right reflexes, asking the right questions, sharing perspectives, and providing insights on areas for improvement to advance their careers and enhance performance.

• Proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams.

• Pragmatic mindset with the ability to deliver regular value and adapt to changing priorities.

• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to provide clear direction in an uncertain environment.

• Effective communicator, able to engage and motivate team members and stakeholders.

• You thrive on working collaboratively in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment that keeps everyone on track.

1. Discovery call with Recruiter.

2. Interview with Hiring Manager (30-40 minutes) - Nicolas.

3. On-site business case assessment (2 hours total):

   Business case evaluation (1 hour 15 minutes) - Nicolas and Marc.

   Deepdive to manager skills (30-40 minutes) - Marion (Head of People).

4. Culture fit interview with Emmanuelle (Co-founder & COO).

5. Final culture fit interview with Maximilien (Co-founder & CEO).