Vice President

Character Biosciences•Jersey City, NJ

1d•$330,000 - $440,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Senior Medical Director (Ophthalmology/Retina) , you will serve as the medical and scientific lead overseeing clinical programs to advance development of novel therapeutics for dry AMD. You will design and execute clinical development plans from Ph 1 through Ph 3. You will ensure the highest standards of clinical judgment, quality, and impact across all projects and teams. The ideal candidate brings at least 3 years of substantive retina clinical trial experience with a demonstrable track record of success with meaningful novel retinal therapeutics. This position reports to the Chief Medical Officer with flexibility for hybrid or remote work, including up to 20% travel to key sites, meetings, and partners. Proximity to the Brisbane, CA or Jersey City, NJ offices preferred.

Requirements

MD or DO required.
Ophthalmology residency training required
3+ years of industry experience working on AMD clinical trials (5+ for Exec Director, 8+ for VP)
Demonstrated leadership in complex clinical or industry settings, with deep therapeutic expertise in AMD
Strong track record of influencing program direction and shaping medical strategy for retina clinical programs.
Experience managing multiple concurrent retina clinical trials and collaborating with retina experts.
Knowledge of GCP/ICH guidelines
Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making abilities.
Fluent in English (verbal and written).
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (approx. 20%)

Nice To Haves

Board certification in ophthalmology strongly preferred.
Fellowship training in retina highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Serve as the medical and scientific lead for 1–2 Phase 2 retinal (dry AMD) clinical trials, directly driving protocol development, execution, and analysis.
Actively participate in the day-to-day operational management of ongoing trials, collaborating with clinical operations and CROs to ensure quality and timeline adherence.
Lead the clinical review, ongoing medical monitoring, and assessment of trial data, patient safety, and protocol deviations; be the primary medical point-of-contact for investigative sites.
Oversee and participate in the resolution of clinical trial issues, including making recommendations for protocol amendments or trial modifications as new data emerges.
Author, review, and approve clinical trial protocols, informed consent documents, Investigator Brochures, clinical study reports, and other essential study-related documentation.
Prepare, review, and contribute to regulatory submissions (e.g., INDs, CTAs, periodic safety reports) and address regulatory authority queries related to retinal programs.
Support regulatory agency and IRB/EC meetings by preparing briefing materials and presenting medical and scientific rationale for study design and conduct.
Build and maintain strong relationships with retina Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and study investigators; engage them for study design feedback, recruitment strategy, and protocol feasibility.
Lead and participate in investigator meetings; deliver protocol training and address clinical questions from sites.
Represent the company at scientific conferences, on expert panels, and in forums dedicated to retina diseases, particularly dry AMD.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional partners, including clinical operations, data management, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing, to align on study conduct, safety, and data quality.
Act as the clinical subject matter expert in cross-functional clinical study and project team meetings, providing retina-focused input on strategy, data review, and operational challenges.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of scientific advancements and competitors in dry AMD and retinal diseases, integrating emerging best practices into trial design and execution.
Support the publication and presentation of significant clinical trial results—contributing to scientific manuscripts, abstracts, and conference presentations.