Description
As the Early Development Leader (EDL), you will lead the early development of oncology medicines from candidate selection through proof of concept. You will serve as the single point of accountability for one or more oncology assets, setting a clear strategy, making evidence-based go/no-go decisions, and partnering with teams across research, clinical development, medical, regulatory, and commercial functions.
Key responsibilities:
- Own the early development strategy and serve as the single point of accountability for one or more oncology assets, from candidate selection through proof of concept.
- Define and drive translational and clinical plans , including experimental medicine studies and biomarker strategies , that support robust go/no-go decisions.
- Identify key inflection points and make clear, evidence-based decisions to advance or stop programs.
- Lead cross-functional teams, building alignment across clinical, medical, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial partners.
- Engage with external scientific, clinical, and regulatory communities to generate insights that sharpen development plans.
- Proactively identify regulatory and operational risks, putting mitigation plans in place to keep programs on track.
Basic qualifications:
- An advanced scientific or medical degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent), or a relevant bachelor's degree paired with substantial oncology development experience.
- Proven experience in early-stage oncology drug development, including translational medicine and experimental medicine design.
- A demonstrated ability to translate preclinical data into actionable clinical development plans.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix environment and driving decisions across diverse stakeholders.
- A track record of evidence-based go/no-go decision-making and defining clear development inflection points.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific plans clearly to both internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
Preferred qualifications:
- Three or more years leading oncology development programs, including experience preparing regulatory filings to initiate clinical testing.
- Experience with biomarker strategy development and clinical pharmacology considerations for first-in-human studies.
- A track record engaging external advisors, key opinion leaders, and patient communities.
- Experience in business development, due diligence, or partnership integration activities.
- Demonstrated skill in developing leaders and building high-performing teams.
- Ability to apply late-stage development and commercial launch insight to early-stage strategy.