Chief Medical Officer

Pintail Solutions•San Francisco, CA

7d•Remote

About The Position

Pintail Solutions is a trusted life science partner improving global health. We work with a variety of clients including biotechs and pharmaceutical companies, CROs, academic institutions, and philanthropic organizations. Clients work with Pintail because of our breadth of experience, our ability to deliver outcomes, and our passion for every project we work on. We focus on the greater good of the client and are fearless about informing clients about what they need instead of what they may ask for. We expect everyone in the company to act like an owner and be insatiable about looking for ways to improve. We value excellence, integrity, and collaboration, and we believe we will make a greater difference in our work when we are having fun doing it. We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to lead the clinical and medical strategy for a biotechnology startup developing transformative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The CMO will be responsible for translating innovative neuroscience and disease biology into robust clinical development programs targeting disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and related neurodegenerative conditions. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CMO will shape the company’s clinical vision, oversee regulatory and clinical strategy, and build the medical organization needed to advance therapies from preclinical research through clinical development. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in CNS drug development, experience engaging regulatory agencies, and the leadership skills required in a fast-paced startup environment. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) role is focused on a west coast client raising $90M to support neurodegenerative disease drug development. The role will likely start part-time, moving to full time fairly quickly. This individual will need an entrepreneurial spirit, deep clinical trial experience, preferably from a pharma/sponsor perspective, and a mature business presence to successfully engage with internal and external business partners. Experience is oligos and brain shuttle technology is preferred.

Requirements

MD or MD/PhD with training in neurology, neuroscience, or a related discipline.
10–15+ years of clinical development experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies.
Proven experience advancing CNS therapeutics through IND and clinical development.
Deep knowledge of neurodegenerative disease biology, clinical endpoints, and biomarker strategies.
Demonstrated experience interacting with regulatory agencies in CNS drug development.
Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Nice To Haves

Clinical development experience in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Huntington’s disease, or related disorders.
Experience with oligos and brain shuttle technology.
Prior leadership role in an early-stage or venture-backed biotech company.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the overall clinical development strategy for therapies targeting neurodegenerative diseases.
Lead clinical trial design, including endpoint selection, biomarker strategy, and patient population identification.
Oversee Phase I–III clinical programs and ensure alignment with regulatory expectations and scientific best practices.
Serve as the primary medical lead in interactions with regulatory agencies (FDA, EMA, and others).
Lead preparation of clinical and medical sections of regulatory submissions, including INDs and clinical study reports.
Integrate emerging knowledge of disease mechanisms, biomarkers, and clinical endpoints in neurodegenerative disorders into development programs.
Build relationships with key opinion leaders, clinical investigators, patient advocacy groups, and academic collaborators in neurodegeneration.
Lead scientific communications, publications, and advisory board activities.
Represent the company at major scientific and medical conferences.
Partner with R&D leadership to translate discovery science into clinical candidates and development plans.
Contribute to corporate strategy, portfolio prioritization, and investor communications.
Build and lead a high-performing clinical and medical team as the company scales.