Senior Vice President, Translational Science

5AM Ventures • Berkeley, CA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Renasant Bio is seeking a Senior Vice President, Translational Science to lead programs from late discovery into the clinic. This newly created role supports the company’s move toward development candidate nomination and first-in-human studies and reports directly to the Chief Scientific Officer. The SVP will be a senior drug developer overseeing biology and translational science, bringing experience taking multiple small-molecule programs through preclinical development and into Phase 1/2 trials. The role owns the path from Renasant’s biology into clinical development, with a primary focus on IND-enabling work, early clinical strategy, and initial studies in patients, grounded in a strong command of disease models and biomarkers.

The SVP will define translational strategy for the company’s corrector and potentiator programs from development candidate nomination through Phase 1/2, guide go/no-go decisions, contribute to regulatory strategy and agency interactions, and lead and develop the translational science team. The role also partners with scientific and medical leadership on clinical decisions and communicates program strategy and data to investors, partners, the Board, and company leaders.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. in a relevant scientific discipline.
• At least 15 years of drug development experience in biotech or pharma, with a proven record as a seasoned drug developer.
• Demonstrated success taking multiple programs or proofs of concept from preclinical development into Phase 1 or Phase 2 studies in patients.
• Successfully accelerated at least one program to the clinic.
• Deep small-molecule drug development experience, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, toxicology, and the path to IND.
• Track record of building, managing, and developing teams, and managing external partners such as CROs.
• Strong scientific judgment and ability to make clear decisions with incomplete data.
• Excellent communication skills with scientific, executive, Board, and investor audiences.
• Experience as a trusted thought partner to senior leadership teams.

Nice To Haves

• Experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas; renal experience is not required but is considered ideal.
• Experience in rare diseases, genetic or chronic diseases, including programs built on natural history data or surrogate endpoints.
• Biomarker strategy experience, including imaging biomarkers or regulatory biomarker qualifications.
• Direct experience leading regulatory interactions, including pre-IND meetings with the FDA.
• Hands-on experience designing and running Phase 1 and Phase 2 studies with clinical teams.
• Experience with protein-folding correctors, potentiators, or ion-channel drugs, such as in cystic fibrosis.
• Experience building a function at an early-stage, venture-backed company.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead translational strategy for corrector and potentiator programs, from development candidate nomination through Phase 1/2.
• Serve as the company’s translational science voice and guide go/no-go decisions across biology, translational science, and related program strategies.
• Own the translational strategy for moving molecules from discovery into clinical development.
• Partner with the Chief Discovery Officer and Chief Medical Officer on dose selection, endpoints, and related readouts.
• Contribute to regulatory strategy and represent the science in pre-IND and other interactions with the FDA and other agencies.
• Lead and continuously develop a high-performing translational science team.
• Serve as a thought partner to the CSO, CDO, CEO, and senior leadership team, and work closely with research leadership and the Board.
• Communicate program strategy and data clearly to investors, partners, and the Board.

What This Job Offers

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