Job Description

Overview

We are seeking a highly motivated, PhD-level scientist to lead our rapidly growing cellular assay team, part of the Hit Identification & Profiling group at Crelux in Munich, Germany. This is a demanding, high-visibility leadership role: you will take full ownership of building, structuring, and scaling the team while personally driving the design, execution, and interpretation of cellular functional assays that validate the activity of small molecules and other therapeutic modalities. Your expertise in cutting-edge methodologies will be crucial in delivering high-quality data that underpins the success of our client projects. Strong, proven team leadership experience in an industry setting is required, along with the resilience and hands-on drive to lead a fast-paced, fast-growing organization. This position is based on-site at our Munich facility; it does not offer home-office or remote work. Close, regular interaction and alignment with the global WuXi AppTec team is essential to this role.

Responsibilities

• Lead, build, and scale a fast-growing team of PhD-level and lab scientists, including hiring, mentoring, and day-to-day performance management
• Design and conduct cellular functional assays for hit characterization, high-throughput screening, and compound profiling
• Lead the development of state-of-the-art assays, ensuring innovative and high-quality designs for cellular profiling and characterization of small molecule activity and other modalities
• Optimize, miniaturize, and automate robust screening assays to enhance their efficiency and reliability
• Work closely and on-site with cross-functional teams at Crelux to ensure the successful delivery of client projects, contributing to their overall success
• Act together with the Department head as the key scientific liaison between the Munich cell biology team and the global WuXi AppTec cell biology team, ensuring close, regular alignment on strategy, scientific standards, and project timelines across sites

Qualifications

• PhD (m/f/d) in Biology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, or a related scientific field
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in mammalian cell culture and developing cellular functional assays for drug development projects
• 3+ years of proven experience leading and growing a scientific team, ideally in a fast-paced, high-throughput environment. Experience working in a CRO offering cell biology services is a plus.
• Expertise in designing advanced cellular assays to assess the activity of small molecules and other modalities (e.g., target engagement, signaling, and reporter assays)
• Experience with 3D models, primary cells, and/or organoids is a plus
• Experience with Membrane targets as GPCRs is a plus
• Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 tools is an advantage
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills in English (German is a plus)
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently, while also thriving in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment
• Willingness and ability to work full-time on-site at our Munich facility; this role does not offer home-office or remote work, and requires close, in-person collaboration with the global WuXi AppTec team