Head of Applied Biosciences

Company Overview

Outer Biosciences’ mission is to improve human skin health by discovering and developing novel bioactives that are more effective and safer than anything available today. Founded by a scientific team with deep experience in engineering advanced organ systems, our fully integrated technology platform combines complex, long-lasting, clinically relevant ex vivo skin models with multimodal data analysis and predictive machine learning. We help pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and cosmetic partners evaluate therapeutic approaches, drug-induced skin toxicity, and the efficacy and biological effects of products and ingredients. Company overview here.

Role Overview

Outer Biosciences is seeking a Head of Applied Biosciences to lead our applied science team, which conducts client-sponsored research and collaborative programs. This is a director-level, highly external-facing role focused on scientific leadership, team development, building trusted relationships with research partners, and ensuring that each project is completed successfully from initial discussion through final delivery. The role will translate partner needs into scientifically rigorous programs, coordinate internal research & development resources, interpret integrated datasets, and communicate clear conclusions and scientific recommendations. This is not a bench-based position; the role requires close collaboration with commercial, product development, and project management teams to ensure high-quality execution and meaningful scientific outcomes. The ideal candidate combines broad expertise in skin biology and translational research with strong commercial judgment, scientific program leadership, data interpretation, and presentation skills across pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer or skin-care applications. This person will report directly to the Chief Scientific Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the applied science team, ensuring scientific rigor, data quality, and successful delivery of client-sponsored studies.
• Translate client objectives into proposals and protocols, defining models, controls, donor plans, endpoints, and interpretation criteria; guide troubleshooting and scientific decisions.
• Serve as the senior scientific contact for clients, managing expectations and communicating progress, unexpected results, study limitations, and changes in plans.
• Manage concurrent programs, including scope, timelines, budgets, staffing, shared resources, and deliverables; resolve competing priorities and address risks early.
• Review integrated datasets and oversee client reports and presentations with scientifically supported conclusions, clear limitations, and recommended next steps.
• Collaborate with internal discovery and model development, data science, laboratory operations, and commercial teams to align study objectives with technical feasibility and capacity.
• Build trusted client relationships and identify follow-on studies and collaborative opportunities with the commercial team, drawing on Outer Bio’s broader scientific capabilities.
• Establish consistent study planning, scientific review, reporting, and client communication practices to improve quality and efficiency.
• Represent Outer Bio at scientific conferences and industry events, presenting research findings and platform capabilities to scientific and industry audiences.

Qualifications and Skills

• Minimum Education: PhD or equivalent advanced degree in skin biology, dermatology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, bioengineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, consumer-health, CRO, or scientific services settings.
• Strong expertise in skin biology and translational research, with demonstrated judgement in experimental design, troubleshooting, data interpretation, and assessment of model limitations.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable: skin immunology, skin disease biology, skin aging, or cutaneous pharmacology and toxicology.
• Demonstrated success leading a contract research services portfolio and/or complex external scientific programs involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted client relationships and support new and expanded research opportunities in partnership with the commercial team through consultative scientific engagement, proposal development, excellent delivery, and identification of follow-on opportunities.
• Exceptional scientific communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex datasets, limitations, and recommended next steps while maintaining client trust.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing and mentoring scientists, alongside effective collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, with the ability to create accountability and coordinate scientific, operational, analytical, and commercial contributors across concurrent programs.
• Highly organized, proactive, pragmatic, and resilient.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and successfully deliver multiple concurrent studies, balancing scientific rigor, client needs, timelines, budgets, and shared resources.

We are deeply committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion in all its forms and practices. As a company we promote inclusion and desire to work with people from all walks of life. As we grow our team, we strive to be the change we want to see. If your experience is somewhat different from what we've described and you believe you can bring value and contribute to the role, we'd be honored to learn more about you.