Senior Principal Scientist

Application deadline:  
Location: Ballerup 2750, , Denmark 
Contract type: Permanent 
Job ID: 4782 

Drive the scientific understanding that shapes the future of medical dermatology. As Senior Principal Scientist, you will play a key role in advancing disease insight, mechanism-of-action understanding, and scientific strategy across our portfolio. This is a highly influential position for a recognized scientific expert who thrives at the intersection of deep biology, translational thinking, and cross-functional collaboration. If you are motivated by scientific leadership, external engagement, and the opportunity to influence portfolio decisions, this could be your next defining role.

Your role

As Senior Principal Scientist, based in Ballerup, Denmark, you will act as the scientific go-to person within Skin Science for skin disease pathology, with deep expertise across disease understanding, biomarkers, clinical testing, and scientific evaluation. Working under the guidance of the Head of Science and in close collaboration with global project teams, you will help define scientific direction, drive mechanism-of-action understanding for clinical assets, and support decisions across the portfolio. This role combines high-level scientific leadership, external collaboration, and strategic influence across research and development.

• Lead scientific plans to expand and refine mechanism-of-action understanding for pre-clinical and clinical assets, including coordination of external studies and biomarker strategy


• Continuously assess the external scientific landscape in dermatology, immunology, inflammation, competitor activity, and disease biology to support ongoing projects and new asset evaluations


• Drive scientific evaluation of new targets, external assets, and disease opportunities, including due diligence activities and scientific support for strategic decisions


• Build and oversee academic collaborations and engage with external thought leaders to advance disease understanding and identify innovative opportunities


• Communicate scientific insights and recommendations to cross-functional teams and senior leadership, while mentoring colleagues and strengthening scientific capabilities across Skin Science and adjacent functions


• Actively contributing in disease expansion discussions within program teams

The role offers:

This role offers the opportunity to act as a key scientific driver in a global dermatology organization, with strong influence on disease understanding, asset strategy, and portfolio direction. You will work across discovery, translational research, development, and external innovation, while collaborating with leading internal experts and external scientific thought leaders to shape the future of our pipeline.

Your qualifications

To succeed in this role, we imagine that you have the following qualifications:

• PhD in biology, biochemistry, biomedicine, dermatology, or a related scientific field


• Significant (5-10 years) research experience in pharma or biotech, ideally within discovery, translational research, or clinical science


• Deep mechanistic understanding of immunology, fibrotic pathways, systemic inflammatory cascades, or skin biology


• Experience working in multidisciplinary global project teams across drug development stages


• Strong analytical, scientific communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills, preferably with experience in dermatology, rheumatology, or other inflammatory diseases


• LEO Pharma is built on collaboration, innovation and curiosity. Is this you? Can you bring this and strong decision-making, knowledge-sharing, action orientation, and the ability to communicate complex science clearly across different audiences?

Your new team

You will join Skin Science, where the focus is on advancing disease understanding and scientific insight to support our portfolio and innovation agenda in medical dermatology. The team works closely with colleagues across External Innovation, Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology/Safety Sciences, Clinical Development, Pharmaceutical Development, Medical Affairs, and New Product Strategy. In this role, you will be part of a highly collaborative scientific environment with broad reach across the organization and strong external engagement.

Your application

You do not need to upload a cover letter, but feel free to add a few sentences in your resume or CV on why this position has your interest. Please refrain from adding a photo to your CV.

Beyond the skin

Become part of LEO Pharma, a global leader in medical dermatology, as we go beyond the skin to make a lasting impact. We are the legacy-builders of the future – enabling people to have a better today and tomorrow. With the world as our lab, we are transforming innovative ideas into more effective and easier-to-use medicines. Through collaboration and partnerships, we can do much more.

At LEO Pharma, we believe in the power of individuals to drive change. Our flat organizational structure empowers you to make a visible impact and offers versatile roles for professional growth. We value diversity and welcome applications from all qualified candidates, recognizing that our different perspectives, backgrounds, and attitudes enable us to make the best decisions. Join our passionate team at LEO Pharma and be yourself as we work together to make a fundamental difference.

For certain positions, LEO Pharma might complete a background check conducted by a third party.

Join us and make an impact in, on and far beyond the skin. Apply now!

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