Senior Medical Director (Neurology & Early Development)

Medical Director / Senior Medical Director (Neurology & Early Development)

Location: South San Francisco, CA (Onsite)

Category: Clinical Sciences / R&D

Our client is seeking a Medical Director or Senior Medical Director to lead their Neurological and Neuropsychiatric clinical portfolio.

This is a high-impact role reporting directly to the Head of Clinical Sciences. You will be the clinical architect for programs moving from preclinical discovery into human "Proof-of-Mechanism" and "Proof-of-Concept" trials.

The Impact You Will Make

• Strategic Leadership: Lead high-performing cross-functional teams to translate preclinical data into robust human clinical strategies and biomarker development.
• Experimental Medicine: Design and execute innovative "Phase 0" through Phase 2 studies to demonstrate proof-of-mechanism for novel targets in the neuropsychiatric space.
• Collaborative Discovery: Act as a key interface between research and drug development, working closely with discovery scientists and external partners to shape disease indication strategies.
• Clinical Expertise: Utilize your medical background to guide the development of preclinical models and ensure they align with human clinical needs.
• Regulatory & Scientific Content: Author and provide expert medical oversight for protocols, Investigator Brochures (IBs), Clinical Study Reports (CSRs), and regulatory submissions.

Who You Are

• Physician-Scientist: You hold an M.D. or an M.D./Ph.D. with a deep scientific mindset.
• Neurology Expert: Board certification or eligibility in Neurology or Pediatric Neurology is highly preferred.
• Proven Industry Veteran: You have 5+ years of translational or clinical drug development experience within biotech, pharma, or a top-tier academic research setting.
• Early Phase Specialist: You possess direct experience or a deep working knowledge of early clinical trial methodology (Phase 0, 1, and 2).
• Collaborative Leader: You excel in a matrixed environment, possessing the ability to lead through influence and bring out the best in cross-functional teams.

Why This Role?

This is not a traditional "late-stage" medical monitoring role. This is a position for a scientist-clinician who wants to be at the forefront of Early Development (Translational), working on novel targets that have the potential to redefine how we treat neurological diseases.