Early Development Leader (Oncology R & D)
About The Position
As the Early Development Leader (EDL), you will lead the early development of oncology medicines from candidate selection through proof of concept. As the single point of accountability for your asset, you will set a clear strategy, make evidence-based go/no-go decisions, and partner with teams across research, clinical development, medical, regulatory, and commercial functions. We value scientific curiosity, decisive leadership, strong collaboration, and an unwavering focus on patient impact. This role offers significant growth potential and visible influence across the pipeline. You will join a collaborative, matrixed R&D environment that bridges discovery science and clinical development. Working alongside multidisciplinary colleagues and external partners, you will design and deliver robust early development programs. We encourage open scientific discussion and practical problem-solving that accelerates development while upholding the highest scientific standards.
Requirements
- An advanced scientific or medical degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent), or a relevant bachelor's degree paired with substantial oncology development experience.
- Proven experience in early-stage oncology drug development, including translational medicine and experimental medicine design.
- A demonstrated ability to translate preclinical data into actionable clinical development plans.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix environment and driving decisions across diverse stakeholders.
- A track record of evidence-based go/no-go decision-making and defining clear development inflection points.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex scientific plans clearly to both internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Three or more years leading oncology development programs, including experience preparing regulatory filings to initiate clinical testing.
- Experience with biomarker strategy development and clinical pharmacology considerations for first-in-human studies.
- A track record engaging external advisors, key opinion leaders, and patient communities.
- Experience in business development, due diligence, or partnership integration activities.
- Demonstrated skill in developing leaders and building high-performing teams
- Ability to apply late-stage development and commercial launch insight to early-stage strategy
Responsibilities
- Own the early development strategy and serve as the single point of accountability for one or more oncology assets, from candidate selection through proof of concept.
- Define and drive translational and clinical plans — including experimental medicine studies and biomarker strategies — that support robust go/no-go decisions.
- Identify key inflection points and make clear, evidence-based decisions to advance or stop programs.
- Lead cross-functional teams, building alignment across clinical, medical, regulatory, manufacturing, and commercial partners.
- Engage with external scientific, clinical, and regulatory communities to generate insights that sharpen development plans.
- Proactively identify regulatory and operational risks, putting mitigation plans in place to keep programs on track.
Benefits
- annual bonus
- eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program
- health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family)
- retirement benefits
- paid holidays
- vacation
- paid caregiver/parental and medical leave
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
