Executive Director, Clinical Development
BioPhase
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San Diego, CA
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Executive
Posted April 17, 2026
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Responsibilities
Commitments
Responsibilities
- Executive Director, Clinical Development (MD) On-site in San Diego Must have an MD Overview The organization is seeking a senior physician leader with extensive experience in obesity and cardiometabolic drug development to establish and lead clinical strategy across its therapeutic pipeline.
- This role will provide medical and strategic direction for programs spanning early clinical research through late-stage development, with particular focus on obesity and related metabolic disorders.
- The Executive Director will guide the advancement of novel therapeutics by integrating clinical science, regulatory strategy, and operational execution.
- Define and oversee clinical development strategy for obesity and metabolic disease programs across all phases of development.
- Provide senior medical leadership for study design, conduct, and interpretation, including endpoints, patient populations, safety oversight, and benefit–risk evaluation.
- Serve as the company’s internal medical authority for metabolic disease programs and advise executive leadership, project teams, and external partners.
- Contribute to portfolio prioritization, development sequencing, and long-term clinical planning aligned with corporate objectives.
- Clinical Program Oversight
- Provide accountability for execution and quality of assigned clinical programs.
- Oversee development of clinical protocols, amendments, and integrated development plans.
- Ensure study deliverables are completed within timelines, budget, and quality expectations.
- Direct medical governance activities and ensure appropriate patient safety oversight across trials.
- Regulatory & Safety
- Serve as the senior medical representative in interactions with regulatory agencies for assigned programs.
- Partner with Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, CMC, and Program Management to align development and submission strategies.
- Lead medical contributions to key regulatory documents including INDs, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, and regulatory briefing materials.
- Participate in regulatory meetings and health authority interactions (e.g., FDA, EMA).
- Maintain compliance with GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulations.
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead collaboration across clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, translational sciences, biostatistics, and commercial teams.
- Provide mentorship and leadership to clinical staff and contribute to building organizational capabilities in clinical development.
- External Engagement
- Build relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and advisors in obesity and metabolic disease.
- Represent the organization at scientific conferences, advisory boards, and investigator meetings.
Commitments
Ability to travel approximately 25% Preferred
Not Met Priorities
What still needs stronger evidence
Requirements
- 10+ years of clinical development experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
- Demonstrated experience leading clinical studies in obesity or metabolic disease
- Significant leadership experience, including oversight of teams or programs
- Track record of directing clinical programs across multiple development stages
- Strong understanding of drug development strategy, clinical operations, and planning
- Expertise in clinical data analysis and interpretation
- Familiarity with SOPs, GCP, ICH guidelines, and regulatory compliance
- Ability to travel approximately 25% Preferred
- Experience supporting regulatory submissions and agency interactions (IND, NDA/BLA)
- Board certification in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, or related specialty
- Experience within a clinical research or biotech operational environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation of complex data to varied audiences Core Competencies
- Strategic thinking and program prioritization
- Strong cross-functional collaboration and leadership
- Effective decision-making and problem solving
- Organizational and communication skills
Preferred Skills
- Ability to travel approximately 25% Preferred
- Board certification in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, or related specialty
Education
- (Required) – Medical degree (MD) required
Executive Director, Clinical Development (MD) On-site in San Diego Must have an MD Overview The organization is seeking a senior physician leader with extensive experience in obesity and cardiometabolic drug development to establish and lead clinical strategy across its therapeutic pipeline. This role will provide medical and strategic direction for programs spanning early clinical research through late-stage development, with particular focus on obesity and related metabolic disorders. The Executive Director will guide the advancement of novel therapeutics by integrating clinical science, regulatory strategy, and operational execution. The successful candidate will have a proven record of leading complex clinical programs, influencing cross-functional teams, and delivering high-quality clinical data in a biotechnology or pharmaceutical environment. Key Responsibilities Clinical Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
Define and oversee clinical development strategy for obesity and metabolic disease programs across all phases of development.
Provide senior medical leadership for study design, conduct, and interpretation, including endpoints, patient populations, safety oversight, and benefit–risk evaluation.
Serve as the company’s internal medical authority for metabolic disease programs and advise executive leadership, project teams, and external partners.
Contribute to portfolio prioritization, development sequencing, and long-term clinical planning aligned with corporate objectives. Clinical Program Oversight
Provide accountability for execution and quality of assigned clinical programs.
Oversee development of clinical protocols, amendments, and integrated development plans.
Ensure study deliverables are completed within timelines, budget, and quality expectations.
Direct medical governance activities and ensure appropriate patient safety oversight across trials. Regulatory & Safety
Serve as the senior medical representative in interactions with regulatory agencies for assigned programs.
Partner with Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, CMC, and Program Management to align development and submission strategies.
Lead medical contributions to key regulatory documents including INDs, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, and regulatory briefing materials.
Participate in regulatory meetings and health authority interactions (e.g., FDA, EMA).
Maintain compliance with GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulations. Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead collaboration across clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, translational sciences, biostatistics, and commercial teams.
Provide mentorship and leadership to clinical staff and contribute to building organizational capabilities in clinical development. External Engagement
Build relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and advisors in obesity and metabolic disease.
Represent the organization at scientific conferences, advisory boards, and investigator meetings. Qualifications
Medical degree (MD) required
10+ years of clinical development experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
Demonstrated experience leading clinical studies in obesity or metabolic disease
Significant leadership experience, including oversight of teams or programs
Track record of directing clinical programs across multiple development stages
Strong understanding of drug development strategy, clinical operations, and planning
Expertise in clinical data analysis and interpretation
Familiarity with SOPs, GCP, ICH guidelines, and regulatory compliance
Ability to travel approximately 25% Preferred
Experience supporting regulatory submissions and agency interactions (IND, NDA/BLA)
Board certification in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, or related specialty
Experience within a clinical research or biotech operational environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation of complex data to varied audiences Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and program prioritization
Strong cross-functional collaboration and leadership
Effective decision-making and problem solving
Organizational and communication skills
Ability to manage shifting priorities in a dynamic environment Compensation & Benefits
Full-time position
Competitive compensation based on experience
Equity participation and performance bonus eligibility
Retirement plan with employer match
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible spending programs
Life insurance and employee assistance programs
Paid time off and holidays
Define and oversee clinical development strategy for obesity and metabolic disease programs across all phases of development.
Provide senior medical leadership for study design, conduct, and interpretation, including endpoints, patient populations, safety oversight, and benefit–risk evaluation.
Serve as the company’s internal medical authority for metabolic disease programs and advise executive leadership, project teams, and external partners.
Contribute to portfolio prioritization, development sequencing, and long-term clinical planning aligned with corporate objectives. Clinical Program Oversight
Provide accountability for execution and quality of assigned clinical programs.
Oversee development of clinical protocols, amendments, and integrated development plans.
Ensure study deliverables are completed within timelines, budget, and quality expectations.
Direct medical governance activities and ensure appropriate patient safety oversight across trials. Regulatory & Safety
Serve as the senior medical representative in interactions with regulatory agencies for assigned programs.
Partner with Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, CMC, and Program Management to align development and submission strategies.
Lead medical contributions to key regulatory documents including INDs, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, and regulatory briefing materials.
Participate in regulatory meetings and health authority interactions (e.g., FDA, EMA).
Maintain compliance with GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulations. Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead collaboration across clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, translational sciences, biostatistics, and commercial teams.
Provide mentorship and leadership to clinical staff and contribute to building organizational capabilities in clinical development. External Engagement
Build relationships with key opinion leaders, investigators, and advisors in obesity and metabolic disease.
Represent the organization at scientific conferences, advisory boards, and investigator meetings. Qualifications
Medical degree (MD) required
10+ years of clinical development experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry
Demonstrated experience leading clinical studies in obesity or metabolic disease
Significant leadership experience, including oversight of teams or programs
Track record of directing clinical programs across multiple development stages
Strong understanding of drug development strategy, clinical operations, and planning
Expertise in clinical data analysis and interpretation
Familiarity with SOPs, GCP, ICH guidelines, and regulatory compliance
Ability to travel approximately 25% Preferred
Experience supporting regulatory submissions and agency interactions (IND, NDA/BLA)
Board certification in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, or related specialty
Experience within a clinical research or biotech operational environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation of complex data to varied audiences Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and program prioritization
Strong cross-functional collaboration and leadership
Effective decision-making and problem solving
Organizational and communication skills
Ability to manage shifting priorities in a dynamic environment Compensation & Benefits
Full-time position
Competitive compensation based on experience
Equity participation and performance bonus eligibility
Retirement plan with employer match
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible spending programs
Life insurance and employee assistance programs
Paid time off and holidays