About the position
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Clinical Research Lead (Therapeutic Development) position. You will play a critical role in shaping and executing strategic programs that accelerate the development of Parkinson's disease treatments. This role will manage strategic funding and partnership programs, leading efforts to advance promising therapies while driving the scalability and adoption of new drug development tools to de-risk clinical development. The role involves cross-functional collaboration to optimize the Foundation's clinical portfolio and maximize impact on both the patient community and the Parkinson's research ecosystem. This position may be hybrid-flex with the opportunity to work from the Foundation's office in NYC or based remotely from anywhere within the U.S.
Responsibilities
- Lead and execute strategic programs that align with the Foundation's patient-centered priorities and therapeutic research vision.
- Manage research and clinical program portfolios at all stages—from concept development, review, and grant contracting to milestone management and troubleshooting during execution.
- Develop new initiatives to clarify clinical, regulatory, and commercial development paths for novel Parkinson's treatments.
- Ensure the voice of the patient is integrated into all the Foundation's therapeutic strategies.
- Manage resource allocation and prioritization to meet clinical development goals with urgency.
- Develop and deliver executive-level communications to highlight the impact of the Foundation's therapeutic funding programs.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including biopharma companies, KOLs, regulatory bodies, and patient advocacy organizations.
- Serve as a thought leader and accountability partner to cross-functional initiatives.
- Contribute to annual strategic planning for the Clinical Research department.
Requirements
- Advanced scientific (PhD, MD) or business degree (e.g., MBA) is strongly preferred.
- Proven experience in clinical research, biopharma or healthcare consulting, including managing cross-functional teams.
- Proven ability to lead complex programs, manage resources effectively, and ensure accountability for deliverables.
- Proven record of success at both strategic and tactical levels.
- Demonstrated success in driving collaboration across diverse teams and building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Nice-to-haves
- Strong alignment with the Foundation's core values of Optimism, Tenacity, Collaboration, Boldness, Adaptability, and Curiosity.
Benefits
- 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums).
- Competitive dental and vision plans.
- 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Employer paid life and disability insurance.
- 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4.
- Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.
- Discretionary bonus on an annual basis.
- Regular training courses and events for staff and leadership cultivation.
