Early Clinical Development Operations Strategy and Planning, Executive Director

Schrödinger seeks an outstanding leader of Early Clinical Development Strategy & Operations (Executive Director) to join our New York team. This hire will report to the Head of Early Clinical Development and will play an essential role in a broad range of activities necessary to drive and manage critical strategic and operational aspects of a dynamic early clinical development (ECD) team.

Our ECD team supports drug development through clinical proof of concept and includes a cross-functional group of experts responsible for clinical sciences, clinical operations, regulatory sciences, regulatory operations, clinical quality and medical writing. To ensure the success of our clinical trials, this hire will be responsible for the operational strategy, planning and integration of these disciplines along with ensuring strategic collaborations with Schrodinger disciplines outside of ECD. 

Schrödinger applies a proprietary physics-based drug design and optimization platform to the drug discovery process, which expeditiously advances assets into the clinic - making this a dynamic and high-paced work environment. 

Who will love this job:

• A seasoned, self-motivated leader with a strong track record of successfully setting operational strategy, delivering on clinical program initiation and phase transition timelines and deliverables in both pharmaceutical and biotech environments. 
• Expert at gaining cross-functional alignment in order to advance molecules into the clinic and successfully execute on operational and scientific objectives in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• An excellent communicator with a strong work ethic who thrives in a dynamic, high growth, entrepreneurial environment.
• A natural mentor with a proven ability to grow and develop talent.

What you will do:

• Take primary responsibility for the strategy, planning and operational excellence of Schödinger’s clinical development capabilities and portfolio needs. This includes managing the clinical operations team, including contractors, and clinical vendors (in collaboration with the outsourcing team) to build a high-performing clinical operations group. 
• Tactically execute on agreed upon short- mid- and long-term goals to ensure the deliverables are met, on-time, on-budget and with high quality. This includes guiding and strategizing with study and program team members to plan and prioritize their work streams to achieve the departmental and organizational goals.  
• Strategically plan for and execute multiple clinical programs by establishing and maintaining interfaces with cross functional disciplines, including but not limited to, clinical sciences, regulatory sciences, CMC, clinical biomarkers, clinical pharmacology, toxicology, medical writing, project management, legal, and finance.
• Contribute to departmental resource planning (annual operating plans) and budgets.
• Support or drive internal and external meetings, including clinical program summary materials for executive-level and investor relations presentations as well as partnership diligence packages for clinical stage programs.
• Contribute to recruiting, maintaining and mentoring top talent within the early clinical development department.

What you should have:

• Degree in Life Sciences (MD, PhD, Pharm D, MS, RN or other scientific field preferred) or sufficient clinical development experience to substitute for this requirement.
• At least eight years of experience in clinical science, clinical operations, or equivalent (at least three years of early clinical development strongly preferred) in both pharmaceutical and biotech environments.
• Strong background in strategy execution and project management with an ability to partner in the planning, development, and execution of scientific, regulatory and operational strategies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, project management, problem-solving and mentoring skills
• Consulting experience, coaching experience and project management certification is a plus.

  Pay and perks: Schrödinger understands it’s people that make a company great. Because of this, we’re prepared to offer a competitive salary, stock options, and a wide range of benefits that include healthcare (with dental and vision), a 401k, pre-tax commuter benefits, a flexible work schedule, and a parental leave program. We have catered meals in the office every day, a company culture that is relaxed but engaged, and over a month of paid vacation time.  Our Administrative and Human Resources departments also plan a myriad of fun company-wide events. New York is home to our largest office, but we have teams all over the world. Schrödinger is honored to have been selected as one of