Executive Director, Clinical Development – Immunology (MD)
Neurocrine Biosciences
Summary
We are seeking an accomplished physician drug development leader to help shape the future of our clinical development efforts in Immunology. As Executive Director, Clinical Development – Immunology, you will provide strategic medical and scientific leadership across the development of innovative therapies for immune-mediated diseases.
Job description
About the Role
We are seeking an accomplished physician drug development leader to help shape the future of our clinical development efforts in Immunology. As Executive Director, Clinical Development – Immunology, you will provide strategic medical and scientific leadership across the development of innovative therapies for immune-mediated diseases.
Clinical Development & Asset Strategy
- Provide strategic medical and scientific leadership across immunology clinical development initiatives, supporting development direction at the indication, asset, and portfolio levels.
- Define and drive integrated clinical development strategies that balance scientific opportunity, patient needs, regulatory considerations, and organizational priorities.
- Lead high-impact development decisions, including indication selection and prioritization, clinical development pathways, study design, endpoint strategies, and benefit-risk assessments.
- Translate emerging scientific insights, clinical evidence, and competitive intelligence into actionable strategies that inform asset differentiation and long-term development opportunities.
- Guide clinical programs through critical development milestones, applying sound scientific judgment to complex clinical, regulatory, and business decisions.
- Partner with senior R&D leadership to evaluate development opportunities, assess program risks, and influence broader portfolio priorities and investment decisions.
- Anticipate evolving scientific, regulatory, and therapeutic landscapes to identify opportunities and proactively address development challenges.
Scientific & Medical Leadership
- Provide senior-level medical and scientific oversight across Phase I–IV clinical development activities, ensuring scientific rigor, patient safety, and alignment with program objectives.
- Direct the development and evaluation of clinical development plans, protocols, Investigator's Brochures, clinical study reports, and key regulatory submission materials.
- Lead the interpretation of clinical and translational data to inform development strategy, program progression, and critical decision-making.
- Provide strategic medical leadership for regulatory submissions and health authority interactions, including IND-related activities and other key development milestones.
- Partner with Clinical Operations, Translational Medicine, Regulatory Affairs, Biostatistics, Drug Safety, and other disciplines to integrate scientific and operational perspectives into cohesive development strategies.
- Maintain strong awareness of emerging scientific advances, treatment paradigms, and unmet medical needs across immunology and related therapeutic areas.
Cross-Functional & Organizational Influence
- Serve as a senior scientific and strategic advisor to clinical development teams and R&D leadership, influencing decisions across programs, functions, and organizational levels.
- Lead and contribute to multidisciplinary development teams, fostering alignment on scientific strategy, development priorities, and critical program decisions.
- Exercise independent judgment in navigating complex development challenges, balancing scientific rigor, development risk, and business considerations.
- Build and sustain relationships with key opinion leaders, clinical investigators, academic collaborators, and external scientific partners.
- Represent Neurocrine in scientific forums, investigator meetings, regulatory discussions, and external collaborations.
- Contribute to the evaluation of emerging therapeutic approaches and development opportunities that may inform the organization's broader scientific and portfolio strategy.
People & Organizational Leadership
- Provide scientific vision, strategic direction, and leadership to clinical development professionals and multidisciplinary teams.
- Lead, mentor, and develop talent, fostering a culture of scientific excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
- Influence and guide teams through complex decisions, organizational priorities, and evolving development needs.
- Partner with functional leadership to strengthen clinical development capabilities, optimize processes, and support long-term organizational effectiveness.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- MD required
- 6+ years of experience in clinical research and development (Phase I–IV) in pharmaceutical/biotechnology company and/or combination of clinical research/academic environment
- Broad clinical and scientific expertise in immunology, immune-mediated diseases, or related therapeutic areas
- Experience in rheumatology, dermatology, gastroenterology, or other areas of immunology is highly desirable
- Demonstrated success in pharmaceutical or biotechnology clinical development, including experience shaping and advancing clinical development strategies across programs, assets, or indications
- Strong understanding of drug development across Phase I–IV, including clinical trial design, regulatory strategy, clinical data interpretation, and development decision-making
- Ability to integrate scientific, clinical, translational, and regulatory considerations into comprehensive development strategies
- Strong knowledge of applicable regulatory requirements, clinical research standards, and the conduct of clinical studies
- Experience contributing to regulatory submissions and interactions with health authorities
- Demonstrated ability to operate as a strategic clinical development leader, influencing development direction beyond individual studies
- Experience leading multidisciplinary development teams and driving complex clinical and scientific decisions
- Strong business and scientific judgment, including the ability to evaluate development risks, identify opportunities, and influence strategic priorities
- Ability to influence senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, including in matrixed environments without direct reporting authority
- Exceptional scientific communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to translate complex clinical concepts into clear strategic recommendations
- Ability to establish credibility and build trusted relationships with senior leaders, investigators, external experts, and multidisciplinary teams
- Demonstrated effectiveness in driving alignment and influencing high-impact decisions across diverse stakeholders
Benefits
- 401(k) Matching
- Paid Vacation
- Holiday & Personal Days
- Paid Caregiver/Parental Leave
- Medical Leave
- Medical, Dental & Vision
- Prescription Drug Coverage
- Annual Bonus
- Equity Long-Term Incentive
Company overview
Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading neuroscience-focused biopharmaceutical company founded in 1992 and headquartered in San Diego, California. The company specializes in discovering and developing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurocrine's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. Their flagship product, INGREZZA (valbenazine), was the first FDA-approved treatment for adults with tardive dyskinesia. The company maintains a robust pipeline with multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across core therapeutic areas, including Parkinson's disease, Tourette syndrome, and major depressive disorder. Neurocrine operates with a purpose to relieve suffering for people with great needs, applying unique insights into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NBIX and has established strategic collaborations with major pharmaceutical partners including AbbVie.