VP, Clinical Development

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals • Irvine, CA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Vice President, Clinical Development provides strategic and scientific leadership for all clinical programs, overseeing trial direction, design, execution, and data analysis and interpretation from first-in-human through proof-of-concept and approval. While anchored in early clinical development, this leader holds accountability across the full clinical development continuum, ensuring seamless strategic continuity as programs advance. A primary focus of this role is to create an adaptable early development clinical strategy to support innovative trials that require creative, forward-thinking approaches to study design, endpoints, and operational strategy. Equally critical is building and sustaining a high-performing clinical development organization: attracting top talent, cultivating the next generation of clinical leaders, and fostering a culture of scientific rigor, accountability, and continuous learning. This leader will challenge conventional paradigms, applying rigorous scientific judgment and out-of-the-box thinking to inform key development decisions across all stages. This position will oversee Clinical Sciences, Clinical Operations, Biostats/Data Mgmt and will partner cross-functionally with Regulatory Affairs, Translational Sciences, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Innovation lab, Finance and Legal to drive efficient and scientifically rigorous clinical work. This person will also work closely with the Business Development team and will be involved in clinical due diligence.

Requirements

• Advanced degree(s) in relevant field (e.g. PharmD, MD, PhD) with deep experience and demonstrated success in early clinical development
• Minimum of 15 years of biotech/pharmaceutical industry based clinical experience with broad exposure across all clinical development stages (Phase 1 through registration) and demonstrated hands-on experience designing and executing early proof-of-concept and Phase 1 clinical trials
• Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts across internal and external audiences, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams
• Established strategic leadership track record with evidence of excellent people management experience, problem solving, collaboration, and cross functional leadership
• Demonstrated track record of mentoring and developing clinical leaders; known for creating environments where high-potential scientists and physicians grow into senior decision-makers, and for building teams that consistently outperform in both scientific quality and execution speed
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute drug development strategic plans, to develop contingency plans, to provide technical and strategic advice, and to meet milestones and budgets.
• Must be willing to be “hands on” and delve into details
• Mastery of the Tarsus Leadership Competencies for Leading Teams, including: Empowering Others, Emotional Intelligence, Grows Capacity, Business Acumen, Innovative Mindset and Action.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in ophthalmology is preferred; dermatology, inflammatory diseases or infectious diseases a plus.
• Prior experience in clinical development at a start-up or small pharmaceutical company preferred

Responsibilities

• Maintains an active, hands-on role in clinical strategy and execution, directly contributing to protocol development, study design decisions, data interpretation, and cross-functional problem solving that can rapidly and robustly assess proof-of-concept in early trials
• Provides leadership and strategic oversight in the determination of study strategy, objectives, scope and schedule to meet business needs; align the team on common priorities and initiatives
• Builds, develops, and retains a world-class Clinical Development team; establishes clear role expectations, performance standards, and growth pathways that attract exceptional talent and reduce attrition; actively mentors and sponsors emerging clinical leaders, providing hands-on coaching, stretch assignments, and deliberate succession planning to grow the organization’s long-term leadership depth
• Ensures the leadership team is kept informed of study progress and that all critical issues are appropriately escalated within the organization
• Fosters a close partnership with CMO and Medical Affairs team on all studies, from study design, site selection to KOL partnerships and BD Due Diligence.
• Fosters a close partnership with Innovation Lab Leadership and help advance IL programs into Early Development and beyond
• Key Partner to BD in all due diligence for clinical assessment and development pathways along with appropriate risk assessment
• Exhibits and fosters key leadership competencies, including an innovative mindset, strong business acumen, an outcome-driven orientation, and a commitment to growing and expanding the capabilities and capacity of the team
• Drives innovation by identifying and integrating cutting-edge technologies and methodologies into early development clinical trial design
• Shapes clinical plans including timelines, budgets and oversight of clinical teams
• Represents the company with investigators, regulators and executive leadership
• Drive contributions focused on generating information that supports safe use, patient targeting, and clinical/commercial positioning
• Reviews and interprets clinical data across all development stages — with particular depth in early and mid-stage studies — applying flexible analytical frameworks and innovative data evaluation strategies to generate insights that accelerate decision-making and de-risk late-stage investment
• Serve as a senior leader, participating in the broader leadership team and guiding strategic decisions
• Actively partners with Regulatory Affairs, Translational Sciences, Operations, Medical Affairs, BD and Commercial teams to drive company and asset strategy
• Shapes and sustains a high-performance team culture grounded in scientific excellence, psychological safety, and a shared commitment to patients; instils accountability while creating an environment where bold ideas are encouraged, tested rigorously, and translated into actionable clinical decisions
• Oversees full-stage clinical development strategy — from Phase 1 through registrational trials — ensuring that the scientific rigor and adaptive thinking applied in early development translate effectively into robust late-stage programs; provides key connectivity between early exploratory work and the disciplined execution required for regulatory approval

Benefits

• health, dental and vision insurance benefits
• generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and personal days

What This Job Offers

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