Chief Scientific Officer

Job Title

Chief Scientific Officer

Job Description

An exciting opportunity is available for a Chief Scientific Officer to join the New Medicines and Diagnostics Division at Australia’s pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Program

The Bridging Barriers in Brain Cancer (B3C) program aims to transform the lives of people affected by brain cancer by developing pioneering new medicines capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Led by WEHI, B3C is establishing a platform-enabled drug discovery and development pipeline, focused on targeted drug conjugates designed to deliver potent anti-cancer therapies into the brain. B3C brings together a highly multidisciplinary team across partner organisations, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Monash University, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Queensland and the University of Technology Sydney, with the long-term ambition of transitioning B3C into a successful biotech spinout. B3C represents a unique opportunity to build a purpose-driven, translational drug development centre from the ground up, integrating discovery science, preclinical development, translational strategy and commercial readiness.

About the Position

Reporting to the Centre Director, the B3C Chief Scientific Officer is a senior leadership role responsible for setting the scientific vision and driving delivery of B3C’s research and translational objectives. The role will provide strategic oversight across all scientific workstreams, ensure scientific excellence and integration across partner organisations, and guide portfolio prioritisation and decision-making. The Chief Scientific Officer will lead and mentor the scientific teams, working closely with workstream leads to align discovery, preclinical development, and translational activities. The role will be involved in the scientific governance of the program, including target selection processes, data integration, milestone review, and go/no-go decision frameworks. In close collaboration with the Centre Director and Program Operations Manager, the CSO will help shape the program’s evolution toward external investment, commercial partnerships, and eventual spinout. The CSO will also play a key role in representing B3C externally, engaging with scientific advisory boards, funders, industry partners, and the broader research community to strengthen the program’s visibility and impact.

Selection Criteria
Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• PhD or MD/PhD in a relevant scientific discipline.

• Significant leadership experience in drug discovery and development, either in neurology, oncology or related therapeutic areas.

• Demonstrated experience advancing assets from early discovery through preclinical development.

• Strong understanding of translational science and the pathway toward clinical and commercial development.

• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and integrate complex scientific programs.

• Experience operating within or alongside industry, biotech, or translational environments.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage scientific, governance, and industry audiences.

Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience with drug conjugates, biologics, or blood–brain barrier targeting strategies.

• Prior involvement in biotech formation, licensing, or investment processes.

• Experience working across multi-institutional or international collaborations.

• Familiarity with regulatory considerations relevant to early-stage therapeutic development.

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Terms of Appointment
This position is available for a period of five years, in a full or part time capacity (0.6 - 1.0 FTE). Salary is Research Employee Level D ($173,441-$191,080).  Very attractive salary packaging options are available for general living expenses, meal entertainment, novated leasing and more. 12% superannuation payable, plus up to a further 5% after the first 6 months of service via our matching superannuation scheme.

General enquiries can be directed to Guillaume Lessene on glessene@wehi.edu.au.

A position description is available here.

How to Apply
Please apply by uploading your CV, cover letter and a document addressing the key selection criteria in pdf format.

Application Closing Date:  Wednesday 27 May 2026