Vice President Clinical Development #4979

GRAIL•Sunnyvale, CA

8d•$242,000 - $347,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Clinical Development provides enterprise leadership in defining and executing GRAIL’s clinical development strategy and operations. The role sets the vision, direction, and execution framework for clinical programs, aligning them with corporate objectives and scientific priorities. It oversees governance and delivery of clinical studies across phases and guides strategic decisions supporting regulatory success and product advancement. The position drives organizational excellence, develops talent, and represents Clinical Development in enterprise, regulatory, and external partnership settings in collaboration with relevant functions. It is based in Sunnyvale, California, with a flexible arrangement allowing work from the office or home. Current policy requires at least 60% (24 hours) of the total work week onsite; the schedule is determined with the manager according to team and business needs and may exceed that minimum. Tuesdays and Thursdays are key onsite days at the Sunnyvale campus. GRAIL is a healthcare company developing technologies for early cancer detection. Its multidisciplinary organization uses next-generation sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and computer and data science. GRAIL is headquartered in the Bay Area and has locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in life sciences, health sciences, or a related discipline.
20+ years of progressive experience in clinical research or development.
At least 10 years of senior leadership experience overseeing global clinical programs and cross-functional teams.
Track record of leading programs from early development through regulatory approval and post-market lifecycle management.
Deep understanding of global regulatory frameworks, clinical trial governance, and operational best practices.
Ability to provide strategic guidance, influence executive decision-making, and represent the organization externally.
Experience managing large, complex budgets and multi-regional teams.
Knowledge of applicable regulatory standards, including regulated medical device requirements (e.g., IVDD, IVDR, FDA 21 CFR 800 series, FDA 21 CFR Part 11) and regulated clinical study requirements (e.g., ICH E6 (GCP), ISO 20916, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, Part 50, Part 54, and Part 56).
Exceptional strategic leadership and organizational vision, with ability to translate corporate objectives into executable clinical plans.
Strong executive communication and negotiation skills for representing the company with regulators, partners, and key stakeholders.
Ability to foster collaboration, innovation, and accountability across diverse global teams.
Advanced business and financial acumen focused on resource optimization and portfolio value.
Commitment to scientific excellence, data integrity, and ethical clinical research practices.
High emotional intelligence, integrity, and executive presence.
Frequent domestic and international travel is required.

Nice To Haves

An MD is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Define and execute clinical development strategy across the portfolio, with accountability for multi-year clinical outcomes, evidence generation, development priorities, scientific integrity, and regulatory compliance.
Exercise strategic judgment in high-stakes decisions under ambiguity, balancing clinical, scientific, regulatory, operational, and financial considerations while anticipating risks and opportunities.
Partner with the CMO and peers in Research, Regulatory Affairs, Medical Affairs, and Commercial to shape integrated development strategies and lifecycle plans and influence enterprise-wide decisions.
Establish and evolve the Clinical Development operating model, governance, decision-making frameworks, and organizational capabilities.
Represent Clinical Development in executive forums, board discussions, and external engagements with regulators, clinical and scientific leaders, and strategic partners, in collaboration with relevant functional leaders.
Contribute to the preparation and review of major regulatory submissions, ensuring alignment with global health authority expectations.
Build, lead, and develop a multi-layer Clinical Development leadership organization, establishing accountability, succession planning, leadership capability, and a culture of innovation, quality, and continuous improvement.
Partner with executive leadership to define and manage clinical budgets, workforce planning, resource allocation, and operational resources across the portfolio.
Champion diversity in clinical research, innovation in study design, and adoption of emerging technologies.
Lead organizational change and transformation while maintaining trust, clarity, accountability, and execution momentum.
Adapt responsibilities as business needs and priorities evolve, including taking on additional responsibilities, cross-functional initiatives, new technologies or processes, support for other teams, and special projects or temporary assignments.