Executive Director, Clinical Development

ADARx Pharmaceuticals Inc.•San Diego, CA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic physician leader with deep expertise in obesity and metabolic disease clinical development to help build and execute the clinical vision for the Company’s portfolio. This role will be responsible for defining and driving clinical strategies across early- and late-stage development programs, with a particular focus on obesity, cardiometabolic, and related metabolic indications. The Senior Director, Clinical Development (MD) will play a critical leadership role in advancing innovative therapies through the clinic, combining scientific rigor, regulatory insight, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate brings a strong track record of leading obesity and metabolic clinical trials, working cross-functionally, and delivering high-quality clinical outcomes in a fast-paced biotech environment.

Requirements

Medical Degree (MD).
Minimum 8+ years’ experience in leading clinical studies within the biotech/pharmaceutical industry.
Experience leading studies for obesity or metabolic disease in the pharma industry
Minimum 5 years of leadership experience with excellent line management skills.
Highly developed ethics and integrity, with demonstrated ethical medical decision-making skills.
A proven track-record of leading clinical trials at all stages.
Expertise in the areas of drug development, clinical operations and strategic planning.
Expertise in scientific and clinical data review and interpretation, including in-depth analysis and presentation of data from strategic perspectives
Expertise with SOPs, GCP, ICH guidelines, regulatory compliance requirements, and risk mitigation strategies.
25%+ travel may be required.
Strong understanding of project timelines and deliverables and plans/coordinate project work accordingly with departmental, functional, and external stakeholders.
Attention to detail while discriminating between critical and non-critical activities and to follow established processes.
Self-motivated with excellent interpersonal, organizational and communication skills with the ability to take a hands-on approach to work effectively in a dynamic and collaborative, fast-paced environment.
Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive attitude towards exploring new approaches.
Adaptable / Flexible - willing and able to adjust to multiple demands and shifting priorities as well as an ability to meet day-to-day challenges with confidence and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Experience with FDA/EMA processes (IND filing, NDA filings).
Board certification in Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism or similar discipline
Experience in operations management within a clinical research setting.
Strong leadership skills with the ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication skills with effective presentation of complex scientific data to internal and external stakeholders are essential for this role.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of clinical development strategies for obesity and metabolic disease programs across multiple stages of development.
Provide medical and scientific leadership for clinical trial design, execution, and interpretation, including endpoint selection, patient populations, safety monitoring, and benefit–risk assessments.
Serve as the primary medical expert for obesity/metabolic programs, advising internal teams, investigators, consultants, business development partners, and investors.
Contribute to long-range clinical planning and portfolio strategy to support corporate objectives.
Champion clinical excellence and accountability across all assigned programs.
Define clinical priorities and oversee the development of protocols, amendments, and integrated development plans tailored to obesity and metabolic indications.
Ensure delivery of high-quality clinical study outputs on time and within budget.
Oversee medical governance, ensuring ethical conduct and patient safety throughout all phases of clinical research.
Act as the primary medical point of contact for regulatory agencies for assigned programs.
Partner closely with Regulatory Affairs, Clinical Operations, Program Management, CMC, and other functions to ensure alignment and execution.
Lead preparation, review, and contribution to key regulatory documents, including IND submissions, investigator brochures, clinical study reports, and regulatory briefing packages.
Participate in and support FDA/EMA meetings and regulatory interactions related to obesity and metabolic disease development.
Ensure compliance with GCP, ICH guidelines, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Establish and maintain strong working relationships across clinical operations, regulatory, biostatistics, translational science, safety, and commercial teams.
Provide mentorship and guidance to clinical team members, fostering a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, continuous improvement and teamwork.
Build and maintain relationships with key external stakeholders, including key opinion leaders in obesity and metabolic disease, investigators, consultants, and patient advocacy organizations.
Represent the Company externally at scientific meetings, advisory boards, and investigator meetings as needed.