Development Physician Oncology Development (Sr. Medical Director)

Astellas Pharma • Northbrook, IL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into VALUE for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. This role is responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of trials within a given late phase program or multiple early-phase programs in the Immuno-Oncology group. The position reports to the Medical Lead for the given program(s) and is accountable for defining the strategy and execution of assigned trials. The role requires a clinical team leader with a clear understanding of areas of responsibilities and accountabilities, who is also a team player comfortable in situations where the role serves as a consultant and support to other functions, particularly the asset area. An understanding of the criticality of information and knowledge management, partnership and collaboration required in drug development is essential.

Requirements

• MD or MD/PhD with oncology fellowship complete.
• Board certified with patient treatment experience beyond fellowship preferred.
• 5 years of pharmaceutical industry experience specifically in clinical trial design and execution in a bio-pharmaceutical development organization or a balance of experience at an academic institution and a pharmaceutical company.
• Proven record of designing clinical trials that can produce high quality data in a timely manner for decision making.
• Documented experience planning and managing clinical trials, serving as medical monitor, managing trial execution in coordination with clinical operations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Experience working in global teams and a global matrixed, remote working environment.
• Aware of cultural diversity and how to influence and manage in a multi-cultural organization.
• Highest level of scientific integrity and impeccable work ethics.

Nice To Haves

• Extensive experience in gastroesophageal or thoracic oncology or immuno-oncology in solid tumors
• Prior clinical research experience in an academic setting
• Experience in all phases of Clinical Development and interfaces with Drug Discovery through Marketing.
• Direct experience leading global regulatory marketing authorization submissions and defense of those submissions

Responsibilities

• Collaborates effectively with key internal and external stakeholders as a member of the asset team and leader of the clinical study team to advance one or more clinical trials.
• Serves as Medical Monitor with responsibility for safety monitoring, ensuring patient safety on clinical study is maintained.
• Generates safety related documents, such as medical monitoring reports and the safety database, to ensure that the reporting of SAEs is current and complete.
• Collaborates closely with safety officer in writing and/or reviewing Safety Narratives, Investigator Letters, and other safety documentation for site-reported safety events.
• Coordinates with Safety Officer on program for appropriate benefit-risk assessments, planning FIH study dose selection and escalation path for early-phase programs, safety management on trials, provides clinical input and review of clinical documents, statistical analysis plans, interim and final analyses on trials, publications, CSRs, DSURs and other critical documents.
• Assimilates Research, Clinical Pharmacology, Biomarker, medical safety, Toxicology (early phase programs) regulatory, biostatistics, medical affairs, Health Economics, and commercial perspectives into clinical development strategies and trial designs.
• Responsible for managing the process of development of protocol and necessary regulatory documents.
• Accountable and responsible for development and implementation, and execution of clinical trials as part of a large complex late phase (post POC, established market) program or a group of earlier stage programs, in alignment with Asset and overall clinical strategy.
• In late phase program serves as the Lead for an indication specific clinical development team and is responsible and accountable for both strategy and execution of the clinical development plan for that indication or line of therapy.
• In earlier phases, serves as the clinical lead for the entire clinical development strategy and execution for a given program.
• Acquires public knowledge regarding therapeutic landscape, potential competitor products and serves as clinical voice regarding the potential for impact on planned clinical, medical affairs and commercial strategies.
• Creates and maintains scientific/clinical networks and seeks external opinion leader as appropriate.
• Serves as the clinical interface during clinical advisory boards, investigator meetings, and interactions with opinion leaders.
• Serves as the clinical interface in regulatory authority interactions.
• Accountable for clinical development milestones for their given trials.
• Supports Medical lead and Asset team at governance meetings and is able to present the clinical development plan in a succinct and clear manner at such meetings.
• Works with Development Scientists and Clinical Operation Leads to ensure efficient and streamlined execution of clinical trials and acquisition and interpretation of high-quality clinical data to inform program-level decision making and overall development strategies.
• Designs scientifically rigorous, cost-effective, and patient-centric clinical trials in accordance with the Clinical development Plan.
• Accountable for Clinical trial scope development and authoring of the protocol, IB, ICF as appropriate, in coordination with development scientists, clinical operations, medical writing and regulatory.
• Responsible for keeping medical lead, asset lead and Development Head informed on progress of trials, risks, planned/required mitigations, and changes to timelines and budgets.
• Supports clinical development related initiatives as needed.
• Leads and/or participates in scientific and medical training to other team members and external clients, investigators, and other site staff as it pertains to assigned studies.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down
• 401(k) match and annual company contribution
• Company paid life insurance
• Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions
• Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions
• Company fleet vehicle for eligible positions
• Referral bonus program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree