Vice President Clinical Development #4979

Grail•Sunnyvale, CA

6d•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 and ensures alignment with corporate objectives and scientific priorities. It oversees the governance and delivery of studies across all phases, guiding strategic decisions that support regulatory success and product advancement. The Vice President drives organizational excellence, develops talent, and represents Clinical Development in enterprise, regulatory, and external partnership settings in collaboration with relevant functions. The position is based in Sunnyvale, California, with a flexible work arrangement that allows work from the office or home. GRAIL’s current policy requires at least 60% (24 hours) of the work week on site. The schedule is determined with the manager according to team and business needs and may exceed that minimum. Tuesdays and Thursdays are key on-site days at the Sunnyvale campus. The role requires frequent domestic and international travel for governance meetings, regulatory interactions, and strategic partnership engagements. It is a full-time position with an expected annual base pay range of $242,000–$347,000. The role may also be eligible for an annual bonus and/or other incentives. GRAIL offers flexible time off or vacation, a 401(k) retirement plan with employer match, medical, dental, and vision coverage, and well-being programs.

Requirements

Advanced degree (MD, PhD, PharmD, or equivalent) in life sciences, health sciences, or a related discipline.
20 or more 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 an organization externally.
Experience managing large, complex budgets and multi-regional teams.
Regulatory knowledge appropriate to the position’s complexity and scope, including operations in regulated medical device environments (e.g., IVDD, IVDR, FDA 21 CFR 800 series, FDA 21 CFR Part 11) and development and operations in regulated clinical study environments (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 the ability to translate corporate objectives into executable clinical plans.
Strong executive communication and negotiation skills to represent the company with regulators, partners, and key stakeholders.
Ability to foster collaboration, innovation, and accountability across diverse global teams.
Advanced business and financial acumen, with a focus on resource optimization and portfolio value.
Commitment to scientific excellence, data integrity, and ethical clinical research practices.
High emotional intelligence, integrity, and executive presence.
Ability to meet frequent domestic and international travel requirements.

Nice To Haves

An MD is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the portfolio-wide clinical development strategy, 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, anticipating risks and opportunities and balancing clinical, scientific, regulatory, operational, and financial considerations.
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 needed to execute the clinical portfolio efficiently and with high quality.
Represent Clinical Development in executive forums, board discussions, and strategic external engagements, including interactions 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 initiatives that enhance 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 strategic priorities evolve, including taking on additional responsibilities, participating in cross-functional initiatives, adopting new technologies or processes, supporting other teams, and contributing to special projects or temporary assignments.