Meet Life Sciences is representing a neurology-focused biotech advancing innovative therapies for patients with serious central nervous system disorders. Our client is a clinically driven, early-stage organization focused on translating cutting-edge science into meaningful therapies, with a strong emphasis on rigorous development strategy and cross-functional collaboration.
Position Summary
We are seeking a Medical Director or Senior Medical Director, Clinical Development to play a key role in shaping and advancing early-stage clinical development programs in neurology. This individual will provide medical and scientific leadership across clinical strategy, study design, protocol development, medical monitoring, and cross-functional execution. The ideal candidate is a physician with biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience in early clinical development and a strong understanding of CNS drug development.
This is an excellent opportunity for a hands-on clinical development physician who thrives in a fast-paced biotech environment and wants to help build programs from an early stage.
Key Responsibilities
- Contribute to the clinical development strategy for early-stage neurology programs, including first-in-human and early proof-of-concept studies
- Provide medical leadership for assigned clinical trials, including protocol development, eligibility criteria, endpoint selection, and safety monitoring plans
- Serve as a medical monitor for ongoing studies and support review of safety data, medical data trends, and emerging benefit-risk profiles
- Partner cross-functionally with Clinical Operations, Regulatory, Biometrics, Translational Sciences, Medical Writing, and other teams to support study execution
- Author and review key clinical and regulatory documents, including protocols, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, safety narratives, and regulatory briefing materials
- Support interactions with regulatory authorities, investigators, key opinion leaders, and external advisors
- Provide clinical input into program strategy, target product profiles, and development planning
- Help identify and address clinical development risks, protocol issues, enrollment considerations, and operational challenges
- Contribute to clinical and scientific communications, including publications, presentations, and internal development updates
- Support due diligence and broader portfolio discussions as needed
Qualifications
- MD or DO required
- Medical Director: typically 3+ years of industry clinical development experience
- Senior Medical Director: typically 5+ years of industry clinical development experience with increasing strategic responsibility
- Experience in biotech, pharma, or a similarly innovative clinical-stage environment
- Prior experience supporting early-stage clinical development, ideally including Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 studies
- Background in neurology, neuroscience, or CNS-focused drug development strongly preferred
- Experience with protocol design, medical monitoring, data review, and authoring clinical/regulatory documents
- Strong understanding of clinical trial design, drug development processes, and regulatory requirements
- Excellent cross-functional communication and leadership skills
- Ability to operate effectively in a lean, collaborative biotech environment
Preferred Qualifications
- US board-certified physician in Neurology or another relevant specialty strongly preferred
- Prior experience in neurology clinical development within a biotech setting
- Experience working on programs for neurodegenerative, neuroinflammatory, neuromuscular, psychiatric, or other CNS disorders
- Familiarity with translational medicine and biomarker-driven development approaches
- Local to the San Diego area or open to being based locally
What Success Looks Like
- Provides strong medical leadership across early clinical programs
- Helps design thoughtful, efficient studies that support key development decisions
- Serves as a credible scientific and clinical voice internally and externally
- Operates as a collaborative partner across functions while maintaining strategic focus on program advancement
