Chief Medical Officer

Chief Medical Officer Neurology

Our client is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to address significant unmet needs for patients. The company is building a world-class team to advance its pipeline from discovery through clinical development.

The Chief Medical Officer will serve as the clinical development leader, reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team. The CMO will be responsible for shaping and executing the company's overall clinical and medical strategy, ensuring the safe, ethical, and scientifically rigorous development of the company's pipeline programs. This is a high-impact leadership role for an experienced physician-executive who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and is passionate about translating science into meaningful therapies.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical \& Medical Strategy

• Define and lead the overall clinical development strategy across the company's pipeline, from IND-enabling studies through pivotal trials and regulatory approval.
• Translate preclinical and translational data into robust, differentiated clinical development plans.
• Serve as the primary medical and scientific voice of the company with investors, board members, regulators, and external stakeholders.

Clinical Operations \& Trial Execution

• Oversee design, execution, and interpretation of clinical trials, ensuring adherence to GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Partner with Clinical Operations, Biostatistics, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure trials are appropriately powered, resourced, and executed on timeline and budget.
• Provide medical monitoring oversight and safety leadership, including chairing or participating in Data Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) as appropriate.

Regulatory \& Scientific Engagement

• Lead or support interactions with regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA, EMA), including preparation for and participation in key meetings (Pre-IND, End-of-Phase, etc.).
• Contribute medical and clinical content to regulatory filings (IND, IND amendments, NDA/BLA components as applicable).
• Represent the company at scientific conferences, advisory boards, and with key opinion leaders (KOLs).

Team \& Organizational Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing medical and clinical development team as the company scales.
• Establish and manage relationships with external medical advisors, KOLs, and clinical investigators.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Research, Regulatory, Quality, CMC, and Commercial leadership to align clinical strategy with overall corporate objectives.

Governance \& Executive Leadership

• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, contributing to corporate strategy, portfolio prioritization, and resource allocation.
• Present clinical progress and strategy to the Board of Directors and support investor diligence and fundraising activities as needed.
• Ensure patient safety and ethical conduct remain central to all clinical and medical decision-making.

Required Qualifications

• MD, board certification in Neurology preferred.
• 10\+ years of progressively senior experience in clinical development within biotech or pharma, including significant time in an industry (non-academic/non-clinical-practice) setting.
• Demonstrated success leading clinical programs from early-phase through late-stage development, including direct experience with regulatory agency interactions.
• Strong understanding of GCP, clinical trial design, biostatistics, and regulatory pathways.
• Proven leadership experience building and managing clinical/medical teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience engaging boards, investors, and external scientific/medical communities.