Vice President, Research

Who we are:

At Agios, we are fueled by connections to transform rare diseases. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture – one that sparks bold thinking and strengthens our connections with each other and with the rare disease communities we serve. We embrace diverse backgrounds with respect, active listening, and a commitment to inclusion – because our differences shape how we hire, collaborate, and innovate. Our team’s proven track record of executional excellence, combined with our depth of expertise and dedication, enables us to develop innovative medicines that reflect the priorities of rare disease communities. Our commitment is more than scientific – it’s deeply personal, grounded in the meaningful connections we have built. To learn more, visit www.agios.com and follow Agios on LinkedIn and X.

The impact you will make:

Agios Pharmaceuticals is searching for a dynamic Vice President, Research to join and lead our innovative Research team. We want someone who cares about this important work, and who’s driven to connect to our mission of providing novel therapies to rare disease communities. The VP, Research is a senior scientific leader responsible for advancing the company’s discovery and translational research strategy and delivering high-quality candidates into clinical development. Additionally, this role plays a central role in advancing our Business Development strategy by identifying and assessing innovative opportunities to strategically expand and diversify our portfolio. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer and Head of R&D, this role will lead and integrate core research functions including Translational Research, Pharmacology, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK), and Toxicology.

This visionary leader will play a critical role in shaping the scientific direction of the organization, ensuring rigorous target and candidate evaluation, and translating foundational science into differentiated clinical programs. They will work closely with Clinical Development & Translational Medicine, Regulatory, CMC, and Business Development teams to enable rigorous, data-driven decision making that accelerates the development of safe and effective therapies.

As a key member of the R&D leadership team, the VP will foster a collaborative, high-performance research organization that supports innovation while maintaining a strong focus on execution and impact for patients.

What you will do:

Research Strategy & Portfolio Leadership

Provide forward-looking scientific leadership that defines the future direction of the Research organization while navigating a rapidly evolving portfolio. This leader will balance long-term research vision with real-time prioritization across organic pipeline programs and external opportunities, ensuring teams remain energized, focused, and aligned to corporate goals.
Lead the company’s research strategy and execution across translational research, pharmacology, DMPK, and toxicology to advance a robust and differentiated pipeline.
Drive scientific rigor in target validation, mechanism-of-action understanding, biomarker strategy, and preclinical candidate selection.
Guide the progression of discovery and preclinical programs toward IND-enabling studies and clinical readiness.
Partner closely with Clinical Development & Translational Medicine to ensure strong alignment between preclinical findings and clinical strategy.

Business Development Thought-Leadership & Collaboration

Partner closely with the Business Development team to evaluate external opportunities including in-licensing, collaborations, and strategic partnerships.
Oversee scientific diligence on potential assets and technologies and help assess strategic fit with the company’s research platform and pipeline.
Contribute to the scientific positioning of the company in external partnering discussions.

Cross-Functional R&D Partnership

Serve as a core member of the R&D leadership team, contributing to overall portfolio strategy, governance, and program prioritization.
Work closely with Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, and Program Management teams to ensure seamless advancement of programs from research through development.
Provide scientific leadership and input for regulatory interactions, IND strategy, and external scientific engagements.

External Scientific Engagement

Represent the company within the broader scientific community through collaborations, advisory boards, and scientific forums.
Build and maintain relationships with academic investigators, research institutions, and key external partners to enhance innovation and access to emerging science.

What you bring:

PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a relevant scientific discipline.
15+ years of experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical research with increasing scientific and organizational leadership responsibilities.
Demonstrated success advancing discovery and translational programs into clinical development.
Deep expertise across preclinical disciplines including pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, translational biology, DMPK, and toxicology.
Extensive, diverse experience supporting business development and external partnering Proven ability to lead and develop multidisciplinary scientific teams in a fast-paced biotech environment.
Experience contributing to IND strategy and regulatory interactions.
Strong strategic thinking with the ability to balance scientific innovation and operational execution.
Collaborative, visionary leader who thrives in cross-functional environments and builds genuine connections.
Committed to mentoring and developing top scientific talent.
Passionate about advancing science that delivers meaningful impact for patients.
Excellent communication skills and ability to influence across functions and executive leadership.
Approximately 15% annual travel (domestic and international) is required for this position.

Concerned that you don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! At Agios, we value each other’s differences and recognize that teams thrive when everyone brings their unique experiences to the table. We are dedicated to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible environment where all employees can bring their whole selves to work. If you’re excited about this role but your previous experience doesn’t align perfectly with the job description, we still encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another opening!

Work Location:

Location Agnostic: Work location for this role is based on employee's individual preference. This role has the ability to be either remote in the US or hybrid in our Cambridge Headquarters. Hybrid schedules vary but are generally less than 3 days per week onsite and hybrid employees are expected to live within commutable distance to our Cambridge Headquarters. Remote employees work entirely from home except for attending Company sponsored events/ meetings. For employees who choose to work remotely, travel may be required for certain company events commensurate to the above job description.

What we will give you:

Deliberate Development. Your professional growth is one of our top priorities.
Flexibility. We’re all about individual needs. We embrace different perspectives, work styles, health and wellness approaches, care of families and productivity. When you’re at your best, we’re at our best.
Premium benefits package. We invest in the health, well-being, and security of our people with a premium benefits package that is well-rounded and flexible to help meet the varied personal and professional needs of every member of our team. For more detail on the benefits we offer at Agios, visit the Inside Agios section of our website.
Competitive and equitable performance-based compensation. This includes base salary and both short- and long-term incentives that are connected to our business strategy and vary based on individual and company performance.
- The current base salary range for this position is expected to be between $257,882 and $429,803 annualized; final salary will be determined based on various factors including, but not limited to, years of relevant experience, job knowledge, skills and proficiency, degree/education, and internal comparators.
Psychological safety. We support an environment of fearlessness. We want you to share your ideas, speak candidly and take data-informed risks to help push the boundaries.
Commitment to diversity. We strive to foster a welcoming workplace where everyone can thrive. We’re continuously looking to improve the inclusiveness of our workforce.
Commitment to community. We’re an active participant in the communities that surround us – the communities where we live, and the community of people and their loved ones in need of better treatment options for conditions that are often overlooked.

Interested in learning more about what makes our culture unique? Visit the Inside Agios section of our website.