Senior Principal Scientist, Global Efficacy – Equine Therapeutic Area

Job Introduction

Thanks for checking out our vacancy, we’re delighted you want to learn more about Dechra!

Dechra is a growing, global specialist within the world of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

Here at Dechra, our values are embedded within our culture and thrive within our family of almost 3000 colleagues globally. From manufacturing to marketing, (D)edication, (E)njoyment, (C)ourage, (H)onesty, (R)elationships and (A)mbition are at the heart of our everyday operations and the way we do business.

The Opportunity 

The Senior Principal Scientist, Global Efficacy – Equine Therapeutic Area is responsible for developing and applying efficacy strategy for equine development programs within Dechra R&D. The role provides experienced scientific, clinical, and regulatory input across the development lifecycle, ensuring that evidence-generation plans are robust, clinically relevant, aligned with regulatory expectations, and suitable to support development decisions. 

The role works with internal teams and external experts to translate equine disease understanding, clinical practice needs, and development objectives into practical study designs and evidence plans. The Senior Principal Scientist is expected to work with a high level of independence, manage complex scientific questions, and provide broad input across assigned programs.

So, what will you be doing? This role has a broad and varied scope and the successful candidate will have responsibility for duties including:

Efficacy Strategy and Scientific Input: Develop and apply efficacy strategy for assigned equine development programs, ensuring evidence-generation plans support clear development decisions and regulatory submissions.

Study Design and Oversight: Provide experienced input into equine efficacy study design and oversight, ensuring studies are clinically meaningful, scientifically robust, proportionate to risk, and feasible to deliver.

External Partner and Expert Engagement: Work with CROs, investigators, referral centres, academic partners, consultants, and KOLs to support study delivery, endpoint selection, disease model development, and data interpretation.

Disease Model and Translational Input: Contribute experienced input to equine disease models and translational tools to support current programs and future development needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with internal functions to align study design, endpoints, evidence-generation plans, risks, decisions, and documentation.

Decision Support: Provide clear scientific recommendations to support issue resolution, risk management, project planning, and development decisions.

Ideal Candidate

Here at Dechra we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer and we embrace candidates from all walks of life. We’re particularly excited to hear from those who have/are:

• DVM, VMD, or equivalent veterinary degree; or advanced degree such as MSc, PhD, doctorate, board certification, diploma, or equivalent in veterinary medicine, equine science, biomedical science, animal science, pharmacology, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in efficacy study design, execution, reporting, and interpretation, ideally including proof of concept, dose-selection, and clinical field studies. Experience working with CROs, clinical investigators, referral hospitals, academic centres, ambulatory practices, and external partners. Working knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and expectations, including FDA-CVM, USDA where applicable, EMA-CVMP, UK-VMD, VICH GCP, and GLP. 
• Ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally as required. Project leadership may be performed depending on program needs and individual capability.
• Ability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally as required. Project leadership may be performed depending on program needs and individual capability.

Desirable

• Vast experience in veterinary pharmaceutical or biopharmaceutical R&D, preferably including equine product development, equine clinical practice, or equine research. Experience with disease models, translational tools, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dose selection, field studies, and clinical endpoints relevant to equine medicine.